Campaign Finance/Ethics
Clarence Thomas and the politicization of the Supreme Court 
Common Cause board chair Robert Reich has this post on Salon about Justice Thomas’ political problem.

The liberal campaign against SCOTUS conservatives
Ken Vogel analyzes recent pushes against Justices Scalia and Thomas—a back and forth on the merits of the claims, lots of quotes from allies, law professors, etc. A good read.

Lobbyist groups wants seat at table in coalition looking to reform biz
The American League of Lobbyists has sent a letter to the Sunlight Foundation complaining that it is being left out of a coalition looking to reform the Lobbyist Disclosure Act. Sunlight’s Ellen Miller calls the letter “hostile” and “bizarre.”

Congress
Hacked e-mails show Web’s usefulness in dirty-tricks campaigns
The Post covers the chamberleaks scandal
- Eliza Newlin Carney also covers this for National Journal: http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/rules-of-the-game/chamber-of-secrets-20110306.

Boehner: “Lobbyists help provide a service to every elected official.”
Speaker Boehner said that “lobbyists help provide a service,” which in his case, is $360k in campaign cash: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&type=I&cid=N00003675&newMem=N&recs=20.

How is it only Newt is exploring a possible presidential run?
Paul Ryan has this new piece on the Campaign Legal Center blog about how many potential 2012 candidates are already running – and should have to deal with all the regulations and rules that come with the territory. “if it quacks like a duck,” he writes...

Critics turn sights on corporate aid
The Boston Globe picks up last week’s Washington Post story on Public Campaign Action Fund and other groups effort to tie politicians to their corporate money.

Federal shutdown dodged, but lobbying battle rages on.
“Congress and the White House have temporarily averted a government shutdown, but big lobbying battles loom over dozens of major cuts House Republicans approved last month.”

Republicans protect billions in health insurance company profits
Ethan Rome, the Executive Director of HCAN, has this post on health insurance profits and quotes Public Campaign Action Fund’s post on the lobbying and campaign cash of the top 5 insurers.

States/Other
Rory Reid’s gubernatorial campaign circumvented contribution limits, created 91 shell PACs
Wow. In last year’s bid for governor, Rory Reid created 91 PACs to skirt campaign contribution limits and infuse his campaign with cash.

Public financing would return ownership to voters
This op-ed in Buffalo calls for New York to pass a Fair Elections-style system.

Clean Elections funds work, leave program letter
This letter in Maine says the legislature should stay away from any proposals to weaken Clean Elections in the state.

State Bar responds to Gov. Walker’s proposed state budget
The Wisconsin State Bar does not support efforts by Gov. Walker to gut funding streams for the state’s new judicial public financing system.