Fair Elections/Campaign Finance
House Democrats to Obama: Require Contractors to Disclose Political Donations
“More than 60 House Democrats have signed a letter asking President Obama to issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose political contributions.”

LePage Administration: Exclude Gubernatorial Candidates From Clean Election Law
“The LePage administration on Thursday said it's standing neutral as the state's ethics commission begins work conforming Maine's clean elections law following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision against states awarding public money to candidates facing well-heeled opponents.
However, Dan Billings, chief legal counsel for the administration, said the high court's decision should signal the end of the clean elections law for gubernatorial candidates.”

50 Politicos to Watch
Politico profiles Bob Bauer and Marc Elias, among others.

The Influence Industry
A round of stories including challenging the IRS on rules that keep donors secret, Mitt Romney’s “all in the family” approach, and K Street’s spending slump.

Hard Time Rare for Campaign Finance Violators
“Federal prosecutors don’t often file criminal charges involving campaign finance violations, but when they do the guilty rarely spend time behind bars.”

Congress/2012
Fewer Political Fundraisers Are Reaching for Their Pocketbooks
Some big money bundlers seem to be sitting this round out so far – with Obama lacking a challenger and the Republican field still growing – this may not be a huge surprise.

First Presidential Campaign Finance Reports Show Clouting of Wall Street, Retirees
The Center for Responsive Politics examines where President Obama’s re-election money is coming from.

Other
Does Washington Care About Ethics
Melanie Sloan of the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on the lack of ethics in Congress.

Edgar, 10 Others Arrested at Capitol
“Former Delaware County congressman Bob Edgar and 10 other clergy members from around the country were arrested Thursday in Washington after they knelt to pray in the Capitol Rotunda to protest proposed cuts in social services.”

Outsourcing Lobbyist Registration Draws Controversy
Florida is considering outsourcing its lobbyist registration to…the Florida Press Association – a for-profit group.

A Stealth Way a Bill Becomes a Law
A look at ALEC.
“This is just another hidden way for corporations to buy their way into the legislative process,” says Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause, which seeks to reduce money in politics.

Upward Mobility
“In the span of a few years, the rules of politics have been turned upside down — by the rise of the online campaign, the Citizens United Supreme Court case and three straight wave elections that wiped the electoral landscape clean. For the class of professionals who make their living in campaigns, the playbook for success has changed just as dramatically. While some of the best and the brightest are joining presidential campaigns, that’s no longer the surest route to stardom.”

Corporate Sponsored Iowa Laws Should Not Be Tolerated
From the editorial board of the Daily Iowan.