Yesterday, the New York Times reported on a new TV ad campaign launching in New York. Here's the ad.

David Donnelly in HuffPost: "The drumbeat to pass comprehensive campaign reform in New York this year is getting louder and louder."

Citizen Action of New York's Karen Scharff in the Times Union: "Our broken campaign finance system has allowed wealthy donors to drown out the voices of everyday people for far too long." And here's more coverage of it in Capital Tonight, AP, and Albany CBS affliate.

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Press Herald: Bill to restore Maine Clean Election funding backed
On efforts to update Maine's Clean Elections system: "A bipartisan group of lawmakers is backing a proposal to restore Maine's public-financing elections law to its original strength. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Youngblood, R-Brewer, follows Clean Election funding cuts by the Legislature and a court ruling that led to repeal of a key provision of the Maine Clean Election Act."

Mother Jones: The taxman turns the screws on dark money nonprofits
"The Internal Revenue Service is taking a closer look at the finances of some 1,300 nonprofit organizations, including unions, trade associations, and the type of dark-money groups that controversially spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2012 elections."

Congress/Admin
NYT: One industry's hold on the Senate
New York Times editorial on the medical device tax, which is part of the ACA, and got a nonbinding vote in vote-a-rama recently. The industry has been spending big on lobbying and campaign cash: "But as long as the industry is willing to open its checkbook, it will always find lawmakers willing to do its bidding."

Bloomberg: Donor says he sought Menendez on Medicare without breaking law
"Salomon Melgen, the Florida political donor at the center of a criminal probe, said he and Senator Robert Menendez are “like brothers” who spoke weekly, yet his companies never benefited and he broke no laws." Sunlight on Melgen's lobbyists' late filings.

CPI: No joke: clowns have lobbyists, too
"Feld Entertainment, the parent company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, last year spent a record $335,000 on federal lobbying, according to federal records. That's up from $280,000 in 2011 — and up from just $120,000 in 2007, according to the Center for Responsive Politics."

Politico: Stephen Colbert to host fundraisers for his sister
Stephen Colbert is holding two more fundraisers for his sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, who is running in the South Carolina special election to replace Tim Scott. "An event in Washington featuring the Comedy Central host is scheduled for April 15, while Colbert and former investment banker Sallie Krawcheck will host a New York City event April 23; that event will be at Krawcheck’s home."

Roll Call: The curious case of the vanishing lobbyists
More on "vanishing" lobbyists, those who have deregistered but are still working at the same firm and doing similar work. New GAO report on LDA compliance.

Politico: Citizens United victory fund donates to 18 candidates
A busy first quarter for the Citizens United PAC: "Citizens United Political Victory Fund donated over $100,000 to 18 candidates and committees in the first quarter of 2013, the group’s first set of contributions of the 2014 cycle."

WaPo: Firearms advocates target gun-control measures
"Gun-control measures that seemed destined to become law after the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., are in jeopardy amid a fierce lobbying campaign by firearms advocates. Despite months of negotiations, key senators have been unable to find a workable plan for near-universal background checks on gun purchases — an idea that polls show nine in 10 Americans support."

Roll Call: CEOs lobby for tax reform
The RATE Coalition, another biz coalition looking for lower corporate taxes, sent a letter to Congress uring tax reform.

McClatchy: Democrats fear Obama group will siphon money from them
Will OFA siphon money from Democratic groups? "And it has no plans to coordinate efforts, leading some Democrats to worry that it will take money and manpower away from the party as it heads into the 2014 elections for control of Congress."

Politico: Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign starts with Terry McAuliffe’s Virginia governor race
Another Hillary 2016 story: "In fact, McAuliffe and some of his top allies have suggested to big donors and consultants that supporting his campaign is a way to get in on the ground floor of Hillary 2016, several donors and operatives told POLITICO."

Politico: Kate Mara, Cory Booker team up
"Actress Kate Mara appeared at a fundraiser for New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker on Monday in Washington. Booker, the mayor of Newark, was at the Jack Rose saloon in northwest D.C. for a reception supporting his expected 2014 Senate run.

National Journal: Bill Cassidy to report $500K haul ahead of possible Landrieu challenge
The end of quarter was Sunday so expect lots of fundraising announcements. "Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., will report raising more than $500,000 in the first quarter of 2013, as he continues to mull a bid against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu next year, according to a release from his campaign."

WaPo: Mark Udall, Bruce Braley raised seven figures in first quarter
"Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) both turned in strong fundraising performances in the first quarter, pulling in at least seven figures as the 2014 Senate races got started."

Other/States
HuffPost: Arkansas voter ID bill veto overridden by state house
As expected, the Arkansas State House overrode Gov. Beebe's veto of a voter ID bill.

LA Times: Our porous campaign finance laws
Editorial on the money being spent in the LA mayoral race: "Advocates of campaign finance limits are a resilient bunch, and often have to change laws to catch up with those who evade the rules. It seems clear already that those advocates will have work to do in the aftermath of this race."

LA Times: Special interests spent $277 million lobbying in 2012 at state Capitol
California: "Most days, businesses large and small dispatch squads of hired-gun lobbyists to vie for lawmakers’ attention and votes. And that lobbying doesn't come cheaply. Last year special interests reported spending $277.5 million on such advocacy, according to the Secretary of State's office."