Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Who killed public financing? Eliza Newlin Carney’s latest on the House passage of legislation to repeal presidential financing. Really even/fair piece on the issue. Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart: “There are some places where progress is going to be made, even as we’re fighting defensive battles in other states” Roy Barnes on Citizens United decision Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes said about the Citizens United decision, “What a crock.” Democracy Matters summit in Albany WAMC radio covered the Democracy Matters conference up in Albany this weekend. Congress/2012 Nearly one thousand people protest Republican meeting in Rancho Mirage Common Cause and a huge coalition of organizations held a protest outside the Koch Brothers secret meeting of major conservative donors over the weekend.

• Alternet: http://www.alternet.org/rights/149730/twenty-five_arrested,_thousands_converge_on_koch_brothers_billionaire%27s_caucus_in_the_california_desert
• NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/us/politics/31koch.html
• LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-koch-brothers-20110131,0,3791885.story
• Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48464.html

LeAnn Rimes GOP fundraiser had huge pricetag Freshman Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) got some flack for a fancy fundraiser he held at the W Hotel earlier this month with LeAnn Rimes. And that was before we find out that the thing cost $80,000 to put together. Race to corral campaign rainmakers for 2012 And the 2012 primary is heating up! Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) has begun calling major Republican donors telling them to “keep their powder dry” as he decides whether to run. Energy industry braces for cuts House Republicans have pledged to slash funding for energy subsidies. “Industry groups and their lobbyists are calling in their chits in what’s sure to be a highly competitive war.” Boehner aide joins American Gaming Association “The gaming industry's Washington, D.C., lobbying group has hired a longtime aide to Speaker of the House John Boehner as the organization's vice president of government affairs.” GOP presidential hopefuls to show the money Today’s the deadline for candidates to file their 2010 year-end fundraising reports. Freshman Republican snared in more campaign finance questions Florida Rep. David Rivera’s troubles are mounting. We should probably start a “Countdown to Resignation” clock. Report: Ethics investigating Meeks’ financed “The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Rep. Gregory Meeks repeatedly omitted information from his financial disclosure forms, the New York Post reported Sunday” Earmarks wane but lobbying doesn’t Their might be an earmark ban in place, but the money is still there so lobbyists are just restructuring to prepare to get the money in other ways. Ethics sets no “bright lines” for fundraising “The House Ethics Committee said last week that it knows a rules violation when it sees one, but it can’t specify what one looks like.” Ha. States/Other Groups call for publicly financed campaigns Update from Rochester on NY efforts to pass public financing.