Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
The Atlantic: Why a Democratic Tea Party Is the Best Hope for Fixing Corrupt Government
Larry Lessig argues that reforms groups need to focus on inspiring Americans rather than on coalescing behind one proposal for public financing. “Instead, the reformers should encourage innovation among members of both parties, and watch for the ideas that actually catch. Congress must aim high -- both to get America's attention and to inspire the country that this reform might work.”
 
WaPo Editorial: Hidden campaign cash
The Washington Post’s editorial board calls on the IRS to better regulate 501(c)(4) “social welfare” secret money groups: “[S]ocial welfare groups should not be allowed to serve as a conduit for hidden cash to political campaigns. A new rule by the IRS could help to stem another torrent of undisclosed donors like the one just past.”
 
ProPublica: FCC Clams Up on Its Own Transparency Initiative
Why implementation of a policy is as important as the policy itself: “But, in practice, attempts to create a full picture of political ad spending from the TV station files exposed deep flaws in the FCC’s effort as well as spotty compliance by the stations themselves.”

Congress/2012
Slate: Jim DeMint's Probably Getting a Huge Raise For Leaving The Senate
Matt Yglesias writes about the growing trend of elected representatives voluntarily retiring—some even mid-term—to join lobbying shops, often gaining enormous salary increases. More on the lucrative nature of think tank jobs from Politico.
 
Politico: Sheldon Adelson met with John Boehner, Eric Cantor
He claims the only reason he came to Washington was to be a “dutiful husband.” I guess sometimes that involves lobbying Republican leadership? “Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson met separately with House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and senior Republican campaign officials during a trip to Washington this week, sources familiar with his schedule told POLITICO.”
 
Center for Public Integrity: After big U.S. Supreme Court win, Montana nonprofit suffers string of losses
Despite its successful Jim Bopp-led effort to eliminate Montana’s ban on corporate and union political spending, American Tradition Partnership has seen some rough times. Its further efforts to weaken Montana’s campaign finance laws have stalled and the media have revealed possible instances of illegally coordinating with candidates and deceiving the IRS.
 
Bloomberg: Rural Law Firm Shields $262 Million in Secret Donations
The law firm of Holtzman Vogel Josefiak PLLC, located 50 miles outside of Washington, advised groups spending more than a quarter of the outside money spent in this election on how to hide their donors. Their practices were declared “campaign money laundering” by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
 
Center for Responsive Politics: Five New House Members, Three Senators Fall Short on Donor Disclosure
A look at the eight new members of Congress with the worst records of actually disclosing what they legally are required to reveal about their large donors.

Sunlight Reporting Group: Adelsons' $10 million checks revealed among last-minute campaign donations
Sunlight looks at the major final contributions on the 2012 race.
 
LA Times: In campaign's final weeks, Romney raised nearly $86 million
“Mitt Romney raised more than $85.9 million in the last two weeks of the presidential race, his campaign announced Thursday, detailing the GOP hopeful’s final money push in his ultimately unsuccessful bid against President Obama.”
 
USA Today: Casino CEO put millions in late effort to oust Democrats
After the final pre-election filing deadline, Sheldon Adelson gave $10 million more to Restore Our Future, $2.5 million to a super PAC supporting George Allen for Senate in Virginia, and $1 million to a group attacking Debbie Stabenow.
More from Huffington Post

More from the final FEC reports:
 
Politico: NRSC spent big late in Missouri
 
Politico: President Obama outspent Mitt Romney in last days
 
AP: 2012 Presidential campaign breaks $2 billion barrier, becoming nation's most expensive ever
 
Politico: Liberal donors gave to Priorities USA Action super PAC at 11th hour