Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Candidates must inform themselves about public campaign financing
This letter from New Hampshire states calls for candidates to support public financing.

Let noncitizens contribute to U.S. elections
Something to watch: SCOTUS could decide this week what to do with the Bluman v. FEC case regarding whether noncitizens can contribute to elections.

New group formed to limit political money
NJ profiles United Republic.

A citizen's guide to Citizens United
A good guide from Center for Public Integrity.

Motivation not as critical as results
A letter in Albany calling for Congress to pass Fair Elections.

Congress/2012
Gingrich super PAC to attack Romney
"A pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC is planning to start running its own negative commercials that 'define' Mitt Romney in the next few days. signaling a potentially major escalation in the ad war that is dominating the Republican race."

Santorum wins with Romney in Iowa
Well, this isn't how this was supposed to go! And, it appears Santorum spent $1.65 per vote and Romney $113.

Super PACs are a dangerous new weapon
Ruth Marcus' latest column takes on super PACs: "Absent legislative intervention (unlikely) or regulatory action (even less likely), the super PAC is a dangerous new force in American politics. What happened in Iowa won’t stay in Iowa."

Super PACs already a winner in 2012
"No matter who wins the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night, one newcomer has already emerged victorious: 'super PACs' and other new entities that can collect donations of unlimited size from individuals and corporations."

Are Iowa caucuses harbinger of the super PAC era?
Good piece from Dan Eggen: "Adding to its cherished status as a presidential proving ground, Iowa is shaping up as a harbinger of the leading role that independent groups will play in the 2012 campaigns."

Obama under strong pressure to break precent on recess appointments
Will Obama fight back against GOP obstructionism? "President Obama is under strong pressure from liberals to use his recess-appointment power during the congressional break, but doing so would break 20 years of precedent, putting him in a tough position."
- More here: http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/richard-cordray-watch-on-again-109538.html

12 protesters busted at Democrats' Iowa war room
Occupiers got arrested after staging a die-in at the Dems' war room yesterday.

Welcome to Super PAC nation
A good piece from Greg Sargent too: "One depressing thing that’s become clear from the Iowa caucuses is that we’re entering truly uncharted terrain when it comes to the flood of unregulated ads that will soon wash over the electorate."

German-owned railway hires firm to lobby on Holocaust legislation
"Germany’s national railway has hired a strategic communications and outreach firm to lobby Congress on legislation that could clear the way for lawsuits from Holocaust survivors."

GOP primary divides Washington socialites
"If you thought all the political action is in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, think again: The race is heating up here in Washington social circles."

Other
The year of the Phoenix: A look back at 2011
Maine State Rep. Diane Russell, recently named "Most Valuable State Representative" by The Nation, has a guest post up at Working America.

Lobbyists launch 1st salvos over right-to-work bill
Interesting--Jim Bopp in the thick of union suppression efforts in Indiana just as Mitch Daniels moves to squelch rights of protesters.