I hope everyone is having a great 2012 so far--check out some of the stories you may have missed over the holidays. And make sure to read the NYT editorial on Gov. Cuomo's next big task: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/24/opinion/gov-cuomos-next-big-task.html

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Supreme Court upholds state ban on corporation spending
"The Montana Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court’s ruling and reinstated the state’s century-old ban on direct spending by corporations for or against political candidates."
- Read Rick Hasen's interesting analysis: http://electionlawblog.org/?p=27232

Roberts defends Supreme Court colleagues on recusal issue
"Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. defended his colleagues as 'jurists of exceptional integrity and experience' and said Saturday that it was a misconception that Supreme Court justices do not follow the same set of ethical principles as other judges."
- Here is Common Cause's response:: http://www.commonblog.com/2012/01/01/common-cause-response-to-scotus-chief-on-ethics/

The super PAC boomerang
Blah blah reformers are to blame blah blah. And this claim is laughable: "If candidates could raise unlimited funds the way they once could, super PACs wouldn't be needed. We also might get more and better candidates who are currently put off by the burden of raising money in $2,500 increments or less." More? Better? Yeah, for the people subscribing to your paper.

Super PACs will rule if Congress doesn't act
The Sacramento Bee calls for Congress to approve "legislation that would require immediate disclosure of all donations."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/03/4158420/super-pacs-will-rule-if-congress.html#storylink=cpy

Congress/2012
2011's Top 10 Money in Politics Stories
Check out our 2011 top 10 list!

48 percent say most members of Congress are corrupt
"Americans no longer merely just disapprove of their government – they believe that their elected officials are using office for personal gain, not public service:"

How Cash Has Corrupted Congress
From a press team member of Occupy Wall Street: "From its inception, OWS has focused on the concept of legalized bribery, as the continually rising cost of a political campaign—an average of $1.4 million for a successful House run, up fourfold in real dollars since 1976, and nearly $10 million for a Senate seat—has been largely subsidized by wealthy donors, corporations and special interests, in return for legislation that favors their interests."

The slush funds of Iowa
The New York Times takes on super PACs. Great closer: "There are no limits to the dollars involved, and no accountability for the candidates those dollars are buying."

Election Day registration, no photo ID requirement will help boost turnout in tomorrow's Iowa caucuses
How can we trust the legitimacy of the caucus if folks aren't required to show a voter ID? #sarcasm

Sen. Nelson could get $1M from K Street
"Sen. Ben Nelson would draw salary offers of more than $1 million per year if he decided to move to K Street after his term ends in 2013, headhunters for the lobbying industry say. "

Super PACs go stealth through first contests
Guess who found a loophole? A few super PACs found a way to get out of disclosing their donors until a few of the contests are already over.
- More on super PACs: http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/super-pacs-have-big-impact-on-campaign/article_e39003ce-da65-5e66-88da-b89913da3446.html

Newt Gingrich in Iowa: Big money and negative ads crushing him
Hey Newt, stop whining and offer solutions!
- More on this here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/us/politics/restore-our-future-attack-ads-harm-gingrich-in-iowa.html
- And super PAC spending generally here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-money-election-20120101,0,3871354.story

Voting rights, super PACs, and the media cloud the election
Katrina vanden Heuvel: "Pay attention to three issues that could affect the outcome of the election, even though they have nothing to do with the campaigns themselves" - voting restrictions, super PACs, and false equivalence in the media

Keystone supporters, foes race to influence pipeline decision
"Now that President Obama has signed the payroll-tax extension that gives him 60 days to decide whether to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the industry is ramping up efforts to ensure the controversial project is green lighted."

Murfreesboro Occupiers break camp at Civic Plaza
For some Occupiers in Murfreesboro, TN, "the national movement that started out with Occupy Wall Street is about protesting corporate control of politics and legislation."

Wall Street meets reality
Snap! "The weak economy, volatile markets, toxic mortgages and potential exposure to the euro zone are undeniably the biggest drags on banks’ profits. But bankers, their lobbyists, and the politicians who do their bidding are eager to heap outsize blame on new national and international bank rules, including trading curbs, consumer protections and higher capital requirements."

Romney Iowa event interrupted by Occupy Wall Street protesters
Mitt Romney got mic checked last night, with one protester screaming "Citizens United is not a part of the Constitution!"

Charlie Black joins Team Romney
One of McCain's top lobbyist supporters is now on board with Romney.
- More on him here: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/meet_charlie_black034485.php

A voter's clean candidate guide to the 2012 presidential elections
From Americans United to Rebuild Democracy: "At last the Iowa Caucus is upon us and the New Hampshire primary is just around the corner.  Welcome to our guide to the 2012 presidential contenders. "

Lawrence Lessig on money, corruption, and politics
Listen to this interview!

1911 United, a new super PAC, backs Barack Obama
Interesting: "President Barack Obama has a new, moneyed supporter in this new year — a super PAC dedicated to mobilizing black voters in key swing states."

Other
Mitch Daniels: Unlimited money, not protests
Mitch Daniels is trying to crack down on protests this legislative session in Indiana. Let's compare that to his position that there should be no contribution limits. Rich people can buy as much speech as they want, but let's not give regular people too much leeway.

Clean Elections: The People have spoken
Do read this o-ed by former Maine Senator Ed Youngblood on the state's Clean Elections system. "Maine does better, but weakening our law will only allow outside interests more influence over our government. Maine voters didn’t tolerate this in 1996 and they won’t tolerate it today."

Cap campaign giving before trying public financing
According to the NYDN, Albany politicians are too corrupt to get public financing. It's all about restricting spending. Um.