Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Politico: Inaugural planners seek million-dollar donors
The top “Washington” level of inaugural donor, named after the first president, involves a $1 million donation from corporations. No potential for corruption here, folks.
 
Politico Influence: Republican, Democrat plan to file new lobbying bills
Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) plan to reintroduce their bills to increase regulation and disclosure of lobbying, but support in the past has been “underwhelming.”
 
Bloomberg BNA ($$): Legal Standard for ‘Willful’ Violations Of Campaign Law Considered by Court
“The legal standard to prove a “willful” violation of campaign finance laws is being debated by federal prosecutors and defense lawyers in a major criminal case, with the Justice Department being accused of backing away from a standard used previous cases and enshrined in DOJ guidelines.”

Congress/2012
Bloomberg: Obama Investment in Reclusive Donor Yields Big Donations
On the investments the White House made in the man who eventually became the Democrats’ biggest donor, giving $12 million to Democratic campaigns and supportive outside groups: " In the past four years, Eychaner visited the White House seven times, and the president named him a trustee for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, a reflection of his interest in and philanthropy for the arts, especially ballet.”
 
Roll Call: Skeptics Query Timing of Job Negotiation Disclosures
With several members of Congress announcing they are retiring mid-term to work in the private sector, it’s important to note that the revolving door regulations that are supposed to keep job negotiations in the open have been effectively gutted.
 
Missoula Independent: Election 2012: Donor behind that Cox ad revealed
It turns out that the ad run by the Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund after the final disclosure deadline, which many thought was funded by the League of Conservation Voters, was actually bankrolled by America Votes Action Fund, which gets most of its money from large millionaire donors like Fred Eychaner.
 
Sunlight Reporting Group: Why American Crossroads' millions weren't enough on Election Day
Sunlight investigates three reasons why American Crossroads had such a poor track record of putting money into races that eventually turned out the way it wanted.
 
WaPo; Lobbyists see powerful opportunities in second term
Update to the smoke/fire saying: where there’s government action, there’s a bunch of lobbyists trying to influence what gets decided.

Other/States
New Yorker: Billionaires Warn Higher Taxes Could Prevent Them From Buying Politicians
While the American family has seen increases in the cost of food, health care and education, Mr. Adelson says, “those costs don’t compare with the cost of buying a politician, which has gone through the roof.” (Satire from Andy Borowitz)
 
WaPo: D.C. Council drags its feet on campaign finance reform
Editorial: “That the council didn’t have the time — the excuse offered for inaction — speaks to a distressing lack of urgency in addressing this critical issue. Even more worrisome, it suggests a reluctance among those who benefit from the slack regulation of political dollars to fix a system that has helped perpetuate the District’s “pay-to-play” culture.”
 
AP: New fees could fall on Minn. lobbyists, candidates
With the watchdog Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board short-funded, it is looking at imposing new fees to keep the lights on during an increased level of investigations.
 
MPR News: Dayton: Campaign finance limit should go up
The Minnesota governor argues that campaign finance limits on fundraising and spending should be raised.
 
WaPo: Senate filibuster faces federal court challenge
‘Four House Democrats and the nonpartisan political reform group Common Cause are suing to end the use of the filibuster, calling it “an accident of history,” and unconstitutional “because they are inconsistent with the principle of majority rule.”’