Clips Round-up for 1/26/11

Submitted by Monica Rober on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 16:25

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections Which side are they on? Public Campaign Action Fund’s David Donnelly wrote this piece yesterday about effort to repeal the presidential financing system. “The House Republicans pursuing it want elections and public policy to be bought and sold like stocks on Wall Street. They don’t seem to care about jobs and the economy as long as corporations continue to call the shots in Washington and as long as special interests continue to pour money into their campaign accounts.”

White House opposes GOP attack on public financing, but Obama makes flawed advocate The White House, unsurprisingly, opposes House Republicans plan to repeal presidential financing. Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart: "The current system is very clearly broken - reformers and President Obama agree on this. It's just as clear that the White House and Congress should now work together to fix the outdated system, not repeal it, by giving more clout to small contributors."

The FEC is as good as dead Rick Hasen writes this piece for Slate about the deadlock at the FEC, its inability to do, really, anything. He closes: “ I cannot help wondering if we'd have been better off if the Senate had approved von Spakovsky's nomination. At least then, more people might be paying attention to the demise of the FEC. And even doing something about it.” Congress Rep. Mary Bono Mack backs TV deal that favors big donor “Rep. Mary Bono Mack signed a letter this month urging the Federal Communications Commission to approve the merger of NBC Universal with Comcast Corp., the cable and Internet giant that gave her $26,750 in  contributions during the 2010 election cycle.” CREW posts the letters Issa won’t CREW has gotten its hands on some of the letters that Darrell Issa sent to industries asking for what they’d change about regulations, and some of the responses. So far, Issa has refused to publicly post them online. Sanchez, once ethics subject, now panel member Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), once a subject of investigation by the committee, will sit as the ranking member of the House Ethics Committee. State of the Union address One point on lobbying: “For example, over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change.” Republican aides hired to fight cuts “A stable of former GOP aides has been hired by public television stations, children’s hospitals and other interest groups that fear they’ll be targeted for spending cuts by the Republican House.” Other Increased disclosure sought on ad donors A New Mexico state rep. is introducing legislation that would ad some disclosure requirements to outside spending on state elections. Pa. Gov. Corbett puts his reform plan in writing Pennsylvania’s new governor has put his plan in place for reforming state government—but Democrats are saying it doesn’t go far enough and contributions limits and campaign finance reporting should be included. Alito, Thomas headlined political fundraisers chaired by leading right-wing donor Paul Singer And even more events, held by major conservative donors, that were headlined by SCOTUS justices.