Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Legislative panel sputters on Clean Elections consensus
Ugh: A Maine House committee failed to come to a consensus yesterday to fix the Clean Elections program. They just removed the triggers.
- More here: http://www.pressherald.com/news/gop-may-get-last-word-on-clean-election-funds_2011-11-30.html

The Roberts Court's free speech double standard
Monica Youn's piece on the myth that the current U.S. Supreme Court is some great protector of free speech. "That the conservative majority of the Roberts Court are champions of free speech is a trope that simply refuses to die."

Congress/2012
GOP super PAC vows spirited fight to keep House majority
Former Sen. Norm Coleman, now an adviser for a lobbying firm and chair of American Action Network, pledges plenty of fight with the super PAC he chairs to help Republicans gain the House. How much influence can one guy have???

Mitt Romney adviser works at firm that once represented Solyndra
Oops: "One of Mitt Romney’s top advisers works for a lobbying firm that once represented Solyndra, the now-bankrupt solar energy firm that has come under scrutiny for the federal loans it received – and has been criticized by Romney himself."
- Reminder of that story we helped break a few weeks ago about Romney fundraising with Solyndra lobbyist: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/mitt-romney-solyndra_n_1032659.html

Gingrich gave push to clients, not just ideas
If it quacks like a lobbyist... "Newt Gingrich is adamant that he is not a lobbyist, but rather a visionary who traffics in ideas, not influence. But in the eight years since he started his health care consultancy, he has made millions of dollars while helping companies promote their services and gain access to state and federal officials."

American Airlines bankruptcy won't ground DC lobbying fleet
"American Airlines’s parent company may have filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, but the airline will likely continue to be a power player in the lobbying world."

Six banks that benefited most from Fed's sweetheart lending were big political players
Sunlight looks at the political influence of the big banks featured in Sunday's Bloomberg story on secret loans from the fed to banks.

Sens. Toomey, McCaskill stir pot with proposal for permanent earmarks ban
"Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) will team up on Wednesday to unveil legislation that would permanently ban earmarks in appropriations bills."
- More on the ways people are getting around the current ban: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-earmark-ban-lawmakers-try-to-direct-money-to-hundreds-of-pet-projects/2011/11/29/gIQA2L2WAO_story.html

House ethics committee warns lawmakers about insider trading
New memo: "The House Ethics Committee has warned lawmakers and staff about the dangers of 'insider trading,' following a news report suggesting lawmakers were using insider information to profit off the stock market"

Gregg Harper should work to improve--not eliminate--presidential public financing
Here's something we got out on Harper's efforts to kill presidential public financing. Remember, in 2009 at a Fair Elections hearing, he said, "you know, if it wasn't for special-interest groups coming to see us, we wouldn't have anything to do.”

Republican freshmen get reality check
It's not easy being a member of Congress, House freshman say. Maybe they should actually work to change it then?

Abramoff still doesn't have a clue
Lobbyists are really not happy with the way Jack Abramoff is treating their profesion.

About to blow
Op-ed on Occupy, etc.: "Led by the Wall Street cartel, that power is used to preserve, protect, defend and — above all — increase the wealth of the 1 percent at the expense of the 99 percent of the American people. Something’s gonna give." And, "this is a crisis of justice and democracy."

K Street files: British firm acquires Glover Park Group
WPP buys Glover Park Group, a new website has plans to help people fund tv ads, and the lobbyists for victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorist acts are upping the pressure.

Other
Ethics promises unkept
This editorial asks Rick Scott, "dude, what happened to the ethics reform you promised?"