CCP
Watch Cato Event “Campaign Finance after Citizens United: What Happened? What Now” Live
By Joe TrotterIn honor of the third anniversary of the Citizens United decision, the Cato Institute is holding an event this morning titled “Campaign Finance after Citizens United: What Happened? What Now?.” If you would like to view the panels but are unable to attend in person, you can watch the event live at this link.
Independent Groups
Roll Call: Obama Volunteers Chart Future of Grass-Roots Group
By Janie LorberOrganizing for Action, the nonprofit that officially launches Tuesday, will immediately begin pressing lawmakers to support the Obama administration’s proposals on gun control and a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws, the group’s leaders said Sunday.But the grass-roots organization that helped propel President Barack Obama to a second term with 2.2 million volunteers and more than 1 million donors also seems likely to play a key role in the 2014 midterm elections.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
Washington Post: For top donors, inauguration means access, influence and angling for next big job
By Marc Fisher and Tom HamburgerThe voters have spoken, but even after a $2 billion presidential campaign, the quest for dollars in Washington continues. This weekend, the high rollers are paying for inauguration parties that are almost always busts, a ceremony that’s better seen on TV and access that’s not exactly priceless but pretty darn expensive.
Roll Call: Rules of the Game: Obama’s Ethics Agenda Backfires
By Eliza Newlin CarneyEven before the president solicited unlimited corporate donations for his inauguration and announced he will reinvent his campaign operation as an unrestricted lobbying group, government watchdog groups were already fed up with Obama’s many reversals.
The Hill: Reid to lay out plans for filibuster reform
By Alexander BoltonSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will present colleagues with options for reforming the Senate’s filibuster rules in a Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday.
Lobbying and Ethics
Politico: Ben Nelson among ex-lawmakers to K Street
By Tarini PartiEthics rules prevent former senators from lobbying until two years after they leave Congress, but since the firm does advocacy work that doesn’t fall under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Nelson can go through the revolving door immediately after retiring from the Senate.
Roll Call: Obama Expected to Ease Lobby Posture
By Kate AckleyFew people, from lobbyists to those who keep tabs on them, expect radical changes in Obama’s relationship with K Street during his second term. But many predict that his administration will quietly open its doors to more lobbyists through the waivers.
The Hill: Chamber of Commerce racks up $135 million lobbying tab for 2012
By Kevin BogarduThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent more than $135 million on lobbying in 2012, more than doubling its influence spending from the prior year.
State and Local
Florida –– Ocala: CCEs: Slush funds
EditorialThrough set-ups called Committees of Continuous Existence, top Florida lawmakers and their deep-pocketed benefactors enjoy great leeway to receive as well as spend certain donations. No such access is granted to individual voters — the little guys.
New York –– NY Times: The Governor’s Megabucks
EditorialIf New Yorkers need another good reason to support a major cleanup of their state’s scandalously lax campaign finance laws, they need only look at the latest filing from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
