Campaign Finance/Ethics

Arizona politicians figure in Fiesta Bowl scandal 
The Fiesta Bowl scandal as reported by the New York Times the other day is roiling Phoenix. As our friend John Loredo says in this clip, “nothing is for free.” More to come, stay tuned.
- Linda Brown, AZ Advocacy Network: “This is one of the biggest abuses of power on both the part of the elected politicians and the lobbyists.“ http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/fiesta-bowl%3A-employees-reimbursed-for-political-contributions,-lawmakers-given-tickets-and-freebies
- Linda: “There's absolutely no question when you have that kind of personal access, treating people who would never otherwise have access to those kinds of gifts and opportunities, you're creating a relationship that is going to (create) a quid-pro-quo." http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Arizona-politicians-figure-in-Fiesta-Bowl-scandal-1315552.php#page-2

And the worst defense ever given for allegedly violating ethics rules, “Crandall says lobbyists for the Fiesta Bowl told him it was all on the up-and-up.” http://www.arizonaguardian.com/azg/index.php?option=com_jcs&view=jcs&layout=form&Itemid=108.

Arizona’s election law is best left alone
This LA Times speaks favorably of AZ Clean Elections. “Far from chilling speech, the Arizona law increases it.”

Meditations on hockey and democracy
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy has this blog post up about the cost of hockey tickets—and the cost of political campaigns in New York. “We don’t want a democracy that’s priced like [Madison Square Garden], where even the lowest priced ticket is out of reach for the average New Yorker.  For that to be true, we need new campaign finance laws in our fair state.”

Congress
Without the campaign donors, this wouldn’t be possible?
The New York Times editorializes. “Ordinary voters may be making a show of demanding real political change, but they are being increasingly outbid at the big money table where American politics happens.”

Is Obama giving up on global warming?
Is the White House prepping to cave to House GOP pressure to weaken EPA regulations?

McConnell leads fight against Obama’s environmental policy
There are 3 proposals that may get voted on this week in the Senate that would “revise critical parts of the Clean Air Act.” Sen. Mitch McConnell is fighting them. Look for a fact sheet from us later today.

Chamber of Commerce pressed to back Obama’s economic plans
The White House is really trying to get the Chamber on board its economic plans. Elizabeth Warren: “Not one other banking regulator — not one — is subject to [congressional] appropriations. Requiring the CFPB to go into every examination against a trillion-dollar company, knowing that the company could turn its lobbying force against the agency’s funding, is not a prescription for fair and evenhanded enforcement.”

Odd Alliance: Business lobby and Tea Party
“The Tea Party movement is as deeply skeptical of big business as it is of big government. Yet an examination of the Institute for Liberty shows how Washington’s influence industry has adapted itself to the Tea Party era.”

Obama campaign racks up large legal fees
The Obama campaign has been racking up plenty of legal fees since Election Day 2008, including some spent battling suits challenging his citizenship.

AARP is next on GOP target list
“Republicans have launched an assault on AARP, which joins a growing list of groups supportive of the Democrats’ agenda that are being targeted by conservatives.”