The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to hear a challenge to aggregate contribution limits. Analysis and stories from NYT, The Hill, Politico, Roll Call, Mother Jones, National Journal, NPR, Sunlight, USA Today, LA Times, Washington Post, USA Today.

Hasen at Election Law Blog on its significance: "It is possible in this case, for example, that the conservative five Justices in CU set out a general standard for reviewing contribution limits which makes them harder to sustain against constitutional challenge."

Public Campaign's Nick Nyhart to HuffPost: "In agreeing to hear the McCutcheon case, the Supreme Court has an opportunity to defend common sense limits on how much influence wealthy special interests can buy in Washington. In recent decisions, the Court has too often sided with big donors and against our democracy. It's time for the Court to stand up for the voices of everyday people and uphold the limits."

Common Cause's Bob Edgar: "Should the plaintiffs prevail, this case could give a relative handful of wealthy Americans an even greater opportunity than they already have to buy access and influence. The answer to the flood of money in our politics is not 'more money.'"

NYT editorial: "If the justices were to overturn that decision, it would be the first time that the court has struck down a contribution limit as unconstitutional. That would eliminate an essential tool in combating the corrupting effects of money in politics."

Cmapaign Finance/Fair Elections
Roll Call: Watchdog group sues IRS over policing nonprofits
"The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on Tuesday sued the IRS on the grounds that its regulations governing politically active nonprofit groups flout tax laws, as written." TPM, Politico, The Hill, complete filing on the CREW website.

Associations Now: ABA calls for more transparency in political spending
A story on the ABA's recent call for transparency in political spending, mentions House efforts on Fair Elections, etc.

State Journal: WV Capitol rally calls for limit to corporate elction spending
"Elected officials joined members of West Virginians for Democracy Feb. 19 at the Capitol to rally for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission."

Congress/Administration
WaPo: A Mitch that needs scratching
Katrina vanden Heuvel's latest column is on Mitch McConnell and his re-election, citing a few reports by Public Campaign Action Fund. "Time and again, McConnell has ignored the needs of the people while staunchly defending the pay-to-play electoral system that shields him from legitimate challengers. And Kentuckians just might be fed up."

Moyers: Bill Moyers essay: Democracy for dollars
"Bill spotlights Congressional leaders from both parties whose connections and possible allegiances to deep-pocketed backers makes one wonder who’s really running our government, and buying our democracy."

Politico: Koch world reboots
"The Koch brothers’ political network spent hundreds of millions to win the White House and the Senate — and came up empty. So they did what any smart business executives would do: ordered up an audit. But they’re not waiting for the final report for heads to roll." A good read, lots of interesting details.

Human Events: Why Karl Rove and Stuart Stevens are plain wrong
It's Newt! "I am unalterably opposed to a bunch of billionaires financing a boss to pick candidates in 50 states. This is the opposite of the Republican tradition of freedom and grassroots small town conservatism."

Washington Times: AWOL on Hill: Fundraising trumps voting
"The Washington Times found nearly 800 cases in which members of Congress missed votes on days they were scheduled to attend political fundraisers, including 75 cases in which the lawmaker was far from Washington."

CPI: Bloomberg's super PAC targets Jackson's seat
"The bulk of the funding — more than $2.5 million — was spent by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun super PAC Independence USA PAC, according to Federal Election Commission records." Bloomberg defends himself to AP.

HuffPost: As Obama confronts corporate tax reform, past lessons suggest lobbyists will fight for loopholes
On tax reform: "Any change involves taking on deep-pocketed corporate interests and the legislation they have pursued to extend benefits to their enterprises."

Roll Call: NRA targets Democratic Senators up in 2014 with local newspaper ads
"The National Rifle Association will launch a print advertising campaign targeting mostly Democratic senators up for re-election in 2014, according to sources close to the group."

Boston Globe; Markey criticized over fund-raiser with Spitzer
"The state Republican Party called on US Representative Edward J. Markey Tuesday to cancel a fund-raiser next month for his Senate campaign cohosted by former New York governor Eliot Spitzer."

UT San Diego: Lobbyist sets up super PAC aimed at science funding
"A veteran La Jolla lobbyist has created a super PAC in hopes of raising up to $100 million to support candidates in the 2014 Congressional elections who will push for increases in federal funding for basic scientific research, especially in the life sciences."

WSJ: Armstrong lobbying targeted investigator
"During his long campaign to clear his name from allegations of doping, Lance Armstrong hired a Washington lobbying firm in 2010 to raise concerns about the agent leading a federal criminal investigation into his former cycling team, according to an official at the firm."

Other/States
CT Post: Accountability trumps efficiency
The Connecticut Post is not having Gov. Malloy's proposed changes to watchdog agencies. "The current model invites power struggles within the OGA. The new model would invite corruption in the executive branch of state government. It is an invitation this state does not need."

Salt Lake Tribune: Panel votes to close disclosure loophole
Utah: "The House Government Operations Committee voted 6-1 to endorse HB43 to require corporations to list people who donate to them for political purposes, much like candidates, political action committees and parties must list their donors."

Rock River Times: Feb. 27 forum to address role of money in politics
Anyone in Loves Park, Ill? " A community forum titled “Democracy is Not For Sale” will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, at North Suburban Library District, 6340 N. Second St., Loves Park, Ill."

Miami Herald: Senate readies ethics bill for floor vote
"A Senate committee unanimously approved an ambitious ethics bill Tuesday and set it up to be the first bill voted out of the Florida Senate but only after it exempted current lawmakers from the "revolving door" limits on lobbying the governor and his agencies. The Senate Rules Committee unanimously approved SB 2, the top priority of Senate President Don Gaetz, which imposes tougher ethics rules on legislators and local officials."

Capitol Journal: Lobbyists efforts too much
Editorial in Kansas: "Some lobbyists who regularly court legislators and other state officials think the current spending limits and reporting requirements on their activities are too restricting. They are not."