Fair Elections/Campaign Finance A better way to run elections This letter from New Hampshire calls on Congress to pass Fair Elections. Congress Incoming GOP freshman rapidly embracing big-money fundraisers Happened quicker than I expected - “After winning election with an anti-Washington battle cry, Canseco and other incoming Republican freshmen have rapidly embraced the capital's culture of big-money fundraisers...” Sunlight’s Nancy Watzman quoted. Beltway outsider Rubio seeks insiders’ money Marco Rubio may have won by saying he’ll buck the “establishment,” but that doesn’t mean he won’t party with K Street. He has a debt retirement fundraiser this week with some of the town’s top GOP lobbyists. Common Cause Communications Director Mary Boyle is quoted: “these guys aren’t even here yet” and they’re already raising money. Bipartisanship, rare on the Hill, reigns on K Street If there’s one place where Dems and Republicans can get along—it’s on K Street with the lobbyists. Can Democrats step up their game? E.J. Dionne sat down with Mary Jo Kilroy, Tom Perriello, and Joe Sestak to talk about their losing races. Kilroy: Such voters see Washington as "a place where their interests get sold out." What they want, she says, is "to feel they're being treated as well as the bankers who get bailed out." A sordid unethical tale NYT editorial about Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), calling on the Senate Ethics Committee to act since nobody else seems willing to - “A decisive report or disciplinary action is called for, since the facts suggest the use of both influence and money to hush up the affair.” DeLay case illustrates important point of law John Bickerstaff is amazed at all the people saying Tom DeLay was wronged. “Tom DeLay wanted to be tried for his alleged violation in a court without bias. He succeeded. The judge was impartial. Defense lawyers expressed their satisfaction with the jury when it was selected. DeLay seems to have forgotten, however, that, in this country's system of justice, even politicians are subject to the rule of law. “ 72 super PACs spent $83.7 million on election http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120307026.html A lot of money this year from super PACs. And non-surprise of the day: “Most of the donations from the financial industry went to interest groups attacking Democrats, the disclosure reports show.” Black Democrats against the Office of Congressional Ethics Every member of the CBC aside from Artur Davis voted against censure—and there has been more than one CBC member critical of the OCE. Will they join with Republicans to toss it? Elections set new fundraising standards for House seats Election spending on House seats in Tennessee doubled from 2008. Investigation into Rep. jerry Lewis ends. DOJ has dropped its investigation into whether Rep. Jerry Lewis improperly steered projects to clients of a former colleague. Melanie Sloan: “Exactly what will a politician have to do for the Department of Justice to sit up and take notice?” In the States Clean Elections law not perfect, but pretty good Former Maine legislator and now lobbyist for Maine Clean Elections defends the system in this op-ed. “It has made the life of lobbyists like me more difficult. I cannot count on a legislator’s vote simply because my client or I have given a sizeable contribution.” Republicans lay claim to New York State Senate With a push for public financing in the Empire State this year, here’s this news: Republicans are now claiming they have the majority in the Senate, but Democrats are still appealing a court’s decision against a recount.