Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Rep. John Yarmuth introduces bipartisan bill to get money out of politics
Rep. Yarmuth (D-Ky.), joined by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), introduced a constitutional amendment that will establish "that financial expenditures and in-kind contributions do not qualify as protected speech under the First Amendment. It also enables Congress to establish a public financing system that would serve as the sole source of funding for federal elections."

"We the people": NPR readers would ratify four new amendments
I'm shocked NPR readers feel this way! "As of Dec. 20, you've voted to abolish the Electoral College, to limit campaign contributions from corporations, to deny corporations the rights of citizens and to prohibit members of Congress from lobbying once they leave office. In our un-scientific sampling, 'ratification' required the support of two-thirds of voters."

Ethics panel says Don Young within rules
Oh, House ethics. "The House Ethics Committee has ruled that Rep. Don Young did not violate House rules by accepting $60,000 in contributions from members of one Louisiana family to his legal defense fund, but the panel will change its regulations to bar such actions in the future."

Congress/2012
Mitt Romney wants super PACs gone six months after campaign praised PAC backing him
On Morning Joe yesterday, Mitt Romney said we should get rid of super PACs not long after his campaign praised them. He also seemed to say he wants to get rid of contribution limits. It's unclear. David Donnelly: "I don't think it is any secret that Mitt Romney has been on every side of every issue, so perhaps this is another example of the politics of convenience as he is held accountable for the millions of dollars spent on his behalf."
- Our full statement--he needs to, uh, clarify his position: http://campaignmoney.org/blog/2011/12/20/watchdog-group-calls-romney-clarify-position-money-politics
- And, a timeline of his campaign finance reform position(s): http://campaignmoney.org/blog/2011/12/20/mitt-v-mitt-campaign-finance-reform
- Gingrich is mad too! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/newt-gingrich-mitt-romney-purely-dishonest-attack-ads_n_1161333.html?1324417425&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

Longtime Gingrich staffer joins Newt super PAC
Though, Newt might wanna be careful about his indignation: "Rick Tyler, a longtime spokesman for Newt Gingrich, has joined Winning Our Future as a senior adviser to the Super PAC tasked with supporting Gingrich's presidential run. "

Ex-Bush official involved in payroll tax letter touted by GOP
A lobbyist and former Bush administration official "was intimately involved in a decision by a group representing payroll processing companies to send out a letter Monday criticizing Senate-passed payroll tax legislation."

Super PACs: The bad cops of 2012
Frankly, I don't think they are that super.

It's not government's size, but who it's for
Good new piece from Robert Reich: "But the surge of cynicism engulfing America isn't about how big government has become. It's a growing perception that our government is no longer working for average people. It's for big business, Wall Street and the very rich."

Buddy Roemer's overshadowed New Hampshire retail experiment
More on Buddy Roemer!

Politico influence
Um, does the U.S. Chamber's lobbyist really make $1.7 MILLION??? There's some other good stuff in here too.

Some business lobbyists are starting to panic about the expiring payroll tax
Maybe now they'll pay attention (re: payroll tax break): "But now that political brinksmanship has imperiled even a two-month extension of the tax cut, some industry players are trying to make themselves heard amid the din on Capitol Hill."
 
EPA to unveil air pollution limits that Republicans say are threat to power grid
"The Environmental Protection Agency will unveil highly anticipated regulations on Wednesday aimed at curbing mercury and other toxic air pollutants from power plants. " Dirty energy interests and their acolytes in Congress will likely be unhappy.

Super PACs put up $7M for primaries
"Super PACs, which can take in big money in support of specific U.S. candidates, have already put up more than $7 million in early primary states."

Why GOP embraced Keystone XL oil pipeline
Interesting piece on why the GOP decided to hitch their wagon to the Keystone pipeline, though I think Bill McKibben gets it correct: “My guess is that it’s what the oil industry told them to do. They’re just pissed off, and hence, they put their team to work on the field.”

Other
Brooklyn Senator pleads guilty to taking bribes
"But the denouement of the political career of State Senator Carl Kruger, who pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges on Tuesday, goes beyond that story line, encompassing tales of romance and perhaps even sacrifice, and laying bare one of the more bizarre domestic tableaus — even by New York standards — ever uncovered by F.B.I. wiretaps."      

A Dem donor wonders when Cuomo will follow through on campaign finance, now that he can
"A Democratic fund-raiser and good-government activist is calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to stop accepting corporate donations and to fulfill his campaign pledge to tighten rules on fund-raising in New York."

County attorney wants lobbying laws overhauled after Fiesta Bowl scandal
From Arizona: "Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, who is wrapping up an eight-month investigation into the Fiesta Bowl scandal, will ask lawmakers to overhaul the state’s lobbying laws, saying financial reporting requirements are confusing and out of touch with what he believes the public demands of its elected officials."

Lawmaker calls for investigation of state Supreme Court justice
"A government watchdog group and a Democratic state lawmaker on Tuesday called for investigations into free legal services Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman received from a prominent law firm." The kicker here is that the Justice then ruled in favor of that law firm's side in two cases.

Ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to speak at Kentucky legislative ethics session
Jack Abramoff "will help teach ethics to Kentucky lawmakers during the opening week of the 2012 General Assembly."