Are you in Connecticut? Then join Public Campaign's Nick Nyhart, Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), and Common Cause's Karen Hobert Flynn on Tuesday in Farmington for a community forum on money in politics and policies to raise the voices of everyday people in our political process. Details.

A must-read new report from the Center for Responsive politics on shadow lobbyists: "In this report, we will show that much of the decline in lobbying activity is not a decline at all, but rather the side effect of lobbyists and lobbying firms taking advantage of a feature of the law which allows them to continue influencing policy from 'behind the scenes.'" Roll Call.

And in case you need a laugh, we're a big fan of Buzzfeed's "23 Kitties of Congress." Purrrr Ryan is one of my faves.

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Journal-News: Campaign finance reform would restore public trust
White Plains League of Women Voters Madeline Zevon writes in support of Fair Elections in NY: "Encouraging small grassroots donors to participate in their government will make a significant difference. Candidates would not be beholden to 'big money' donors. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Since publicly financed campaigns work in New York City, there is no reason why they can’t work in the rest of the state."

NYT: Companies: Show us the money
Tom DiNapoli and Bill de Blasio want Mary Jo White, Obama's choice to lead the SEC, to take up disclosure of corporate political spending: "But if she really wants to make a difference, Ms. White, a former federal prosecutor, should tap into some of that good will in her first days in office and push forward a vital proposed rule on corporate disclosure that the S.E.C. has been considering for over a year and a half."

Portland Press Herald: Clean Elections advocates to LePage: Don't defund program
Paul LePage continues his attack on Maine Clean Elections, a popular program that has helped elect hundreds of candidates over the years: "Gov. Paul LePage's proposal to zero-fund public financing of state candidates in 2014 drew broad opposition from supporters of Maine's Clean Election law on Wednesday. " MPBN.

Chicago Tribune: Starbucks shareholders reject political contribution ban
:( "Starbucks Corp. investors on Wednesday rejected a shareholder proposal to prohibit the world's biggest coffee chain from making political contributions or forming a political action committee. "

FEC: District Court issues order in Free Speech v. FEC
Hey, the FEC won something! "The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming issued its Order in Free Speech v. FEC (Case 2:12-cv-00127-SWS) yesterday, granting the Commission’s motion to dismiss."

Congress/2012
CPI: Tea party-aligned S. Carolina candidate bankrolled by Kentucky natural gas exec
Michael Beckel on a Kentucky natural gas exec and his family banking Mark Sanford's primary opponent in the South Carolina special election.

Sunlight: House panel tries to open the (financial) books of presidential libraries
"As President Obama faces choosing between Hawaii and Chicago as the site of his presidential library, a House committee today greenlighted a bill that would make donors to the institution public."

The Hill: Pelosi backing Democratic leader embroiled in ethics scandal
Following Ethics Committee announcement that its investigating Rob Andrews: "House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is standing behind Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) despite calls for the veteran lawmaker to relinquish his leadership post while he is investigated on ethics charges."

Politico: NRA fundraising best in decades
"The National Rifle Association’s fundraising pace continues to quicken amid fears of new restrictions on firearms, with the gun lobby’s political action committee posting its best single month of fundraising in over a decade."

Politico: Michael Bloomberg gave $2 million to his anti-gun group
"Mayor Michael Bloomberg remains the sole donor to his super PAC, Independence USA, pitching in $2 million more to the group in February, new reports show."

Plain Dealer: Murray Energy's donations to Mitt Romney are probed by the Federal Election Commission
Looks like pretty minor issues: "The Federal Election Commission is examining whether the political action committee of Pepper Pike's Murray Energy Corp. exceeded allowable donation limits to the 2012 campaigns of presidential candidate Mitt Romney and several other GOP candidates."

MassLive: Ed Markey has long history with campaign finance reform -- and special interest money
"But while Markey has a history of involvement in campaign finance issues, he has also drawn scrutiny for the way he funds his own campaigns." Can't play by two sets of rules. The test is whether people like Markey actively work to change the system.

The Hill: Massachusetts Senate race flooded with outside cash despite 'Peoples' Pledge'
"Outside groups are spending heavily in the Massachusetts special Senate election campaign despite efforts by both Democratic primary candidates to keep the money out."

Politico Influence: Capitol Counsel nabs Nevins
Eric Cantor's Deputy Chief of Staff is heading to lobbying firm Capitol Counsel. Lots of other good stuff in yesterday's edition too.

The Hill: K Street firms working US-EU trade talks from both sides of the Atlantic
"As negotiations gear up for what could be a massive trade deal between the United States and the European Union (EU), firms are making their offices in what’s considered the EU capital a major selling point to clients."

Politico: Marco Rubio spends big on consultants
"Sen. Marco Rubio spent almost $100,000 on campaign consultants last month, nearly three years before Iowa and New Hampshire voters cast a single ballot."

CREW: CREW releases new report detailing mining industry's influence in Washington
New CREW report: "CREW found the NMA spent $4.8 million lobbying in 2012, more than four times what it spent in 2000. Campaign contributions through the NMA’s two political action committees (PACs), COALPAC and MINEPAC, have more than doubled over the past 10 years."

The Hill: Rep. Israel wants Hillary's help for 2014
"In the meantime, however, Israel is hoping he can enlist Hillary Clinton to join her husband in campaigning for House Democratic candidates ahead of the 2014 election. The DCCC chief has already touted a commitment he’s received from President Obama to help the party with fund-raising and campaign events."

The Hill: DSCC raises nearly twice as much as NRSC in February
"The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) raised $4.3 million in February, bringing in nearly twice as much as the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during the same month."

Politico: Pols catch "march madness fundraising"
Politico picks up Sunlight's analysis of March Madness fundraising.

Other/States
Texas Tribune: On railroad commission campaign finance, a battle looms
"The three Railroad Commissioners, who are elected, regularly get their campaign coffers replenished by oil and gas industry, which they regulate. The lawmakers who are carrying the Sunset bills seem eager for reforms, though the three commissioners are not."

AP: Ark. lawmakers back expanded lobbying moratorium
"Arkansas lawmakers have given final approval to a bill to ban the state's constitutional officers and judges from becoming a lobbyist for a year after they leave office." Is the legislature already banned from doing this too?

AP: Georgia Senate to unveil proposed lobbying limits
"Lawmakers in the Georgia Senate are expected to publicly release their version of proposed limits on lobbyist expenditures."

KBZK: $2.3M spent by lobbyists during 2013 Montana legislative session
Montana: "According to recently filed reports, more than $2 million dollars have been dumped into lobbying efforts during this legislative session."