Make sure to add our event on Thursday to your calendar! http://www.publicampaign.org/blog/2011/01/13/panel-one-year-after-citizens-united Campaign Finance/Fair Elections/Ethics “Speech and debate” clause invoked in investigations of members “A constitutional clash over whether House members are immune from many forms of Justice Department scrutiny has helped derail or slow several recent corruption investigations of lawmakers, according to court documents and sources.” First the oath, then the checks The New York Times finally editorializes on the Mike Fitzpatrick “oathgate” scandal from a few weeks ago. “Mr. Fitzpatrick turned out to be absent because he was holding a fund-raising party at the neighboring Capitol visitors’ center — a campaign donation event that House rules expressly forbid on Capitol grounds.”

• So did the Philly Inquirer, “By effectively launching his reelection bid even before taking the oath of office, Fitzpatrick comes off as cynical or clueless.”  http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-14/news/27028309_1_ethics-complaint-office-of-congressional-ethics-ethics-inquiry

Investigators look into Rep. Rivera’s “thank you” spending And freshman Rep. David Rivera’s troubles continue, with the state now looking into his “thank you” expenses after a state senate campaign. Congress Darrell Issa makes life difficult for Obama A profile on new House Oversight Chair Rep. Darrell Issa, his past indiscretions, and his plans for Obama. Defense industry woos GOP freshmen in hopes of fighting cuts Defense industry lobbyists are trying to persuade new members of Congress to stay away from cutting the defense budget.   Wall St. lays plan to push back against Dodd-Frank According to Politico’s Morning Money, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association will lay out their agenda today “for pushing back against elements of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill.” The securities and investment sector gave $78 million in 2010, according to OpenSecrets. Dead woman donates thousands of dollars to Tea Party express Somehow, a woman who died in 2007 has given several thousand dollars to a Tea Party-affiliated PAC, most recently in September of last year. This is, obviously, problematic. The end of Tom DeLay A good interview with former Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s biographer about what happened—and how he thinks DeLay will never spend a day in jail. Big health bucks roll in for K St Health care lobbying shows no sign of slowing down, even as repeal will happen today (and then die in the Senate). Lobbyists will make NFL players’ case to Congress The NFL and its players union are ramping up lobby operations in Washington hoping to either settle a labor dispute or to keep Congress out of it. Other The Governor’s Gala South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley held her inauguration last week. Key sentence at the end: “Haley’s event was paid for through private donations. Top sponsors included BlueCross BlueShield, Boeing, Duke Energy and SCANA.” Obama administration’s revolving door Just like previous administrations, a job in the White House can lead to lucrative careers after leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.