Clips Round-up for 12/2/10

Submitted by Monica Rober on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 15:00

Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Conservative and Taxpayer Groups Join Reformers in Push to Save OCE Some strange bedfellows are coming together in an effort to save the Office of Congressional Ethics. Congress Hungry kids vs. campaign spending In this op-ed, the author argues that we’re not feeing kids but we’re willing to spend $1 billion on House races (uses Public Campaign Action Fund’s analysis). Financial interests fed Frank campaign Barney Frank got a lot of help from financial interests in his last re-election campaign. Common Cause Communications Director Mary Boyle: “Are you beholden to the public and your constituents or to the donors who just saved your job?” she said. “We have a huge concern that … the public interest takes a back seat.” Financial questions follow 4 Republican freshman to Congress “Four freshman lawmakers are entering Congress amid questions and controversy over their campaign and personal finances.” Change you can believe in. Boehner’s Panama Connections Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) went down to Panama on a “fact finding mission,” time to reconnect with some old friends too. Also? The communications firm representing Panama is run by two former Boehner staffers. The DeLay verdict Wall Street Journal says the DeLay verdict is campaign finance law “run amok.” Waters wants answers on why ethics attorneys were placed on leave It was reported that two lawyers for the ethics committee were put on leave the day it was announced Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-Calif.) trial was delayed. She wants to know why. RNC Chairman Candidate Mike Duncan: There is Not Enough Money in Politics Mike Duncan told an RNC meeting yesterday that there wasn’t enough money in politics. The mother’s milk.

Justice Department opened probe of CBC Caribbean trips It looks like the DOJ opened an investigation into trips by the CBC that House ethics committee said violated House rules on corporate funded travel. DOJ won’t comment. Justice department won’t charge Ensign The DOJ will not bring charges against Sen. John Ensign, who cheated on his wife with a staffer and whose parents then provided “gifts” to the husband and wife. Nothing to see here, folks.

Arizona Supreme Court poised to strike death blow to matching funds “The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to strike a key provision of Arizona’s Clean Elections Act, leaving the future of state and national public campaign financing programs in limbo.”