Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Donor secrecy in political campaigns is unethical
"The enormous stash of secret money already flooding into this presidential race makes Watergate look quaint."

Who is paying for political ads?
Newt Minow and Henry Geller write that there is in fact FCC regulations around disclosing donors: "It’s been on the books for more than 75 years. Section 317 of the 1934 Communications Act provides that viewers and listeners are entitled to know who is paying for commercials."

William Jefferson appeal could weaken corruption statute
"A federal prosecutor warned Friday that if the conviction of former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) is reversed on appeal, it would place many fraudulent acts committed by lawmakers outside the scope of current bribery law."

Will Congress ban corruption in its midst?
The New York Times editorializes in favor of the Clean Up Government Act of 2011, legislation that would "strengthen the federal anti-bribery law that was considerably narrowed by a 2010 Supreme Court decision saying the statute covers only cases of outright kickback schemes, requiring proof of quid pro quo corruption."

Congress/2012
For-profit college rules scaled back after lobbying
Really interesting story on the for-profit college industry's full court press to weaken proposed rules about the industry. Check out the part where one of the CEOs, a major Democratic donor, allegedly told Sen. Tom Harkin he would "make life rough" for him.

These corps skirt taxes, cough up millions for lobbyists
The AFL looks at our report on corporations that pay more for lobbyists than they pay in taxes.

As he campaigns, Gingrich also works for profit
"As he seeks the GOP nomination, the former House speaker frequently combines traditional political campaigning with the sales job for his books and films that has earned him millions."

Evangelicals for Mitt? "Grassroots" group has close ties to the Romney campaign
Is the "Grassroots" group Evangelicals for Mitt really grassroots, or just part of the Romney campaign structure?

A big play for bigger donors
"The former House speaker is scrambling to capitalize on his surge in the polls by courting religious and conservative leaders while trying to assemble big-dollar donors to supplement the financial supporters he developed while building an advocacy group during his years away from government."

Ex-Rep. Doolittle, caught up in Abramoff scandal, now a lobbyist
On John Doolittle's post-Congress life: "Residents of the Sacramento, Calif., area once called him Republican state senator, then congressman. Federal prosecutors once called him, ominously, Representative 5. Now, starting over at the age of 61, he unashamedly calls himself a lobbyist."

Partying down K Street for the holidays
Are you on the K Street holiday party circuit? My invite must have been lost in the mail.

Disclosure rules vary for natural resources panel witnesses
If you're a industry representative appearing before the House Natural Resources Committee, disclosing your credentials, etc, is simple. If you're a nonprofit like the League of Conservation Voters, you might have to submit 100 pages.

This year's top lobbyists
National Journal has the breakdown of new research from CQ on the city's top lobbyists.

Lobbyists go to battle over Keystone pipeline
"At least 42 lobbying firms, associations and companies have lobbied on the Keystone XL pipeline since 2009, Senate records show."

Lindsey Graham calls CFPB "Stalinist"
From the Drama Queen Department: "To Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Obama administration’s new financial watchdog agency resembles something from the Stalin-era Soviet Union." Pay no attention to the Wall St. money filling his campaign.

Faith leader calls out influence of lobbyists
The executive director of the Franciscan Action Network gave a great speech at the Take Back the Capital rally last week in DC. "So I ask, and I ask all Americans to ask, what moral values and Christian principles are most of these legislators promoting when they promote policy that is not in the interest of the common good but in the interest of the wealthy and more profits for corporations."

Senators fundraising in NYC after voting with Wall Street interests
Two Senators that voted against Rich Cordray last week went to NYC over the weekend. Getting their Wall Street rewards?

Buddy Roemer: My GOP rivals are "bought and sold"
"Republican presidential candidate Buddy Roemer - the former governor of Louisiana and four-term congressman - railed against a presidential primary process that has largely frozen him out on Friday, telling Hotsheet that lawmakers from both parties are 'bought and sold.'"

McCaskill-led earmark probe finds $834 million in requests
"A six-month study of this year’s defense authorization bill has identified 115 spending proposals as earmarks worth $834 million, including 20 by Republican freshmen who campaigned against the pet projects, according to a copy of the report provided to The Washington Post."