Lots of interesting stuff in this New York Times story on the secret groups funding the anti-Chuck Hagel attacks, including this detail: "For instance, the biggest individual financier of the so-called super PACs that sought to defeat Mr. Obama, Sheldon Adelson, is so invested in the fight over Mr. Hagel that he has reached out directly to Republican Senators to urge them to hold the line against his confirmation..."

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Times-Union: Seize the moment for reform
Sean Eldridge: "After Gov. Andrew Cuomo's impassioned call for campaign finance reform in his State of the State address, it's time for lawmakers to show that they are serious about fighting corruption by taking action on his proposed reforms."

Mercury News: California can shine a light on national 'dark money' in campaigns
MapLight's Dan Newman: "In California, we can ourselves take major steps that will unmask some of this secret money nationally, leveraging our position as the nation's most populous and most influential state. These three California proposals, if implemented at the state level, would reveal dark money across the nation."

Brennan Center: Creating a modern voting system for all Americans
If you missed last week's Brennan Center event, watch it here.

Election Law Blog: FEC Deadlock on 501(c)(4) Fund Raising Will Not Be Reconsidered, Agency Says
"The Federal Election Commission will leave intact a deadlocked legal ruling about whether a nonprofit corporation can engage in joint fund-raising activity with an FEC-regulated political action committee, according to a Jan. 22 letter from the FEC."

Congress/Administration
Courier-Journal: New York billionaire to host fundraiser for Mitch McConnell
"A New York Republican billionaire and mayoral hopeful is scheduled to host a campaign fundraiser this weekend for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., The New York Post reports." McConnnell's many out-of-state fundraisers were also mentioned in this C-J column. His campaign also fundraised off the filibuster deal.

WaPo: Obama's cashier window?
The Washington Post editorial board isn't crazy about the new Organizing for Action and its decision to take corporate money. "What’s most troubling is that President Obama seems to have developed a tin ear about shadow money in politics."

Financial Express Govt to field lobbyists in US for duty, quota-free access
It's fun to read foreign newspapers on American political system and lobbyists, especially after a visit by a Congressional delegation. In Bangladesh: "Quoting the US Congressmen, the foreign minister said the countries having lobbyists get better results in the US."

Times-Picayune: Biden praises Sen. Landrieu's work for Louisiana at New Orleans fundraiser
At a New Orleans fundraisero n Saturday: "Praising U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu as a tireless, frequently pugnacious advocate for Louisiana and its people, Vice President Joe Biden told a cheering crowd Saturday night that she has been one of the most effective senators he has known during his 40 years in Washington." The Hill.

CPI: Nonprofit spends big on politics despite IRS limitation
Michael Beckel looks at political spending by American Future Fund (also one of the groups going after Hagel): "The American Future Fund’s investment in California was part of a nationwide, political advertising spree in 2012 that exceeded $29 million, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of state and federal records."

NYT: Eric Cantor, GOP Majority Leader, looks beyond debt
In this Times profile of Cantor, his fundraising prowess makes an appearance. His work on the Sandy aid bill: "pleased rich New York donors...Those donors, in turn, help keep Mr. Cantor’s two political action committees, the YG Action Fund and the Every Republican Is Crucial PAC, flush so he can spread largess to the young House Republicans who make up the core of his support. Goldman Sachs was the second-largest donor to ERIC PAC in the 2012 political cycle."

Sunlight: Shadow lobbyists, ex-lobbyists give to Obama inaugural committee
"Case in point: Although the president barred lobbyists from donating to his inaugural, the event was still funded by many people like Ibarra who direct lobbyists, as well as by people who stopped lobbying as late as last year."

The New Republic: Barack Obama is not pleased
Short mention of lobbyists/money, etc in this TNR interview with the President: "And I want to be very clear here that Democrats, we've got a lot of warts, and some of the bad habits here in Washington when it comes to lobbyists and money and access really goes to the political system generally. It's not unique to one party."

HuffPo: Foster Friess, Republican mega-donor, pledges to give in 2014
"Republican mega-donor Foster Friess declared Friday that he was going to contribute money to outside groups to help elect Republican candidates in both the 2014 midterm elections and the 2016 presidential campaign." He also said he would support Santorum in 2016. ABC News.

Houston Chronicle: On anniversary of Citizens United decision, a look at how the new campaign landscape helped one Texas Democrat
The Chronicle looks at the impact of Citizens United and outside spending on 2012 elections in Texas--with Democrats benefiting.

Politico: Samsung lobbying grows with its market share
"The roughly $800,000 Samsung spent in 2012 is the most the company has ever spent on lobbying in Washington, with $480,000 in the fourth quarter alone going to the lobbying firm Akin Gump, listing 'IP infringement' among its issues."

The Hill: Energy drink makers bolt to Capitol Hill
"Energy-drink makers are bolting to K Street amid scrutiny from federal regulators about possible health risks from their products. The companies Red Bull and Monster Energy have each hired Washington lobby firms to represent them before regulators and lawmakers."

The Hill: Petroleum group quadruples lobbying spending
"The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) spent nearly $2 million lobbying in the final quarter of 2012, compared with just over $500,000 for the same period in 2011, according to lobbying disclosure records released this week."

Other/States
Arizona Republic: Campaign finance violations targeted
Steve Gallardo continues to be a great advocate for reform in Arizona: "Political candidates who knowingly violate certain campaign-finance laws would face tougher penalties under a proposal by a state lawmaker to make such offenses felony crimes instead of civil offenses."

NYT: Quinn, cool to soda ban, gets donations from Coke
"The American soft-drink industry, fighting Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s restrictions on sugary drink sizes, is courting a lawmaker who could eventually have the influence to overturn the rules: Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker and a leading mayoral candidate."

WaPo: For MD state prosecutor, courage with convictions
Good read on fighting corruption in Maryland: "Davitt and his tiny band of investigators roam the state of Maryland with the unusual charge of pursuing election shenanigans and public corruption. The little-known Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation "

AJC: Lobbyist gifts decline amid public outcry
Georgia: "That kind of public pressure, coupled with widespread media scrutiny of lobbying at the Capitol, appears to have chilled some lobbying activity even without a change in the law: In 2012, lobbyists reported spending 24 percent less on meals, sports tickets and other gifts to public officials — the first time in five years that spending has dropped."