Independent Groups
NY Times: The Art of Getting Bloomberg ‘Super PAC’ Money
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUMIn an interview this week, Mr. Bloomberg disclosed for the first time that he had rejected the entreaties of two candidates seeking his financial support after they asked him directly to spend money on their behalf.“One of them called me and said, ‘Can’t you use some of your PAC money to help me?’” the mayor recalled, sounding amused. “I said, ‘You don’t understand the law, but after this call — no, I cannot!’”
Politico: Stamping out big money in politics
By MATTHEW MACWILLIAMS and EDWARD ERIKSON“It’s a petition on steroids.” That’s the way Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, describes the Stamp Stampede — his guerrilla marketing campaign that uses money to get money out of politics. Literally.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Reuters: Supreme Court won’t hear challenge over PAC disclosures
Terry Baynes and Jonathan StempelThe case is one of several challenging the disclosure and reporting requirements for political groups in the wake of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a 2010 Supreme Court case that removed limits on what companies and unions can spend to support or oppose political candidates.
Disclosure
Bloomberg: Wall Street Outspent Lawyers Funding Romney’s Bid
By Jonathan D. SalantWall Street outdid the legal profession in raising money for Mitt Romney, making him the first major-party presidential nominee in at least two decades who didn’t rely on lawyers as his biggest source of funding.
The Hill: Secret spending in 2012 election reinforces need for DISCLOSE Act
By David EarleyOn the first day of the 113th Congress, Rep. Chris Van Hollen reintroduced the DISCLOSE Act, a bill aimed at shining a bright light on who is spending in our federal elections. This marks the third time the DISCLOSE Act has been introduced in Congress. The legislation would bring much-needed transparency to our federal elections, allowing voters to be better informed, and helping guard against improper relationships between political spenders and elected officials.
Tax Financing
Connecticut Post: Ernest Newton arrested on campaign finance fraud charges
By Tom Cleary and Brian LockhartNewton, 56, of 190 Read St., is accused of falsifying documents to obtain $80,550 from the state’s Citizen Election Program to fund his campaign for the 23rd District State Senate seat last year.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
Bloomberg: AT&T, Microsoft Among Corporate Donors to Obama Inaugural
By Jonathan D. Salant & Todd ShieldsAT&T Inc. (T), whose political action committee backed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, is among the first donors to President Barack Obama’s inaugural committee, according to a contributors list released yesterday.
Roll Call: Reid Has 51 Votes to Change Filibuster, Advocates Say
By Niels Lesniewski
Two leading advocates of overhauling the Senate’s filibuster rules put the decision about the size and scope of the package squarely in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s court Thursday afternoon.
Lobbying and Ethics
Roll Call: Confessions of a Young Lobbyist on Capitol Hill
By Mickey LeibnerThe most useful strategies I develop often comes out of these kinds of off-campus interactions with staffer friends. When we start nerding out over possible bill co-sponsors at our monthly poker game, for instance, we know we don’t have to filter our ideas — which means we can be more open, bold and innovative. These ideas aren’t always perfect, but the number of times a key strategy or piece of intel has come out of casual discussions during poker or Sunday football would probably surprise you.
State and Local
New York –– NY Times: Messages Are in Dispute in Liu Fundraising Case
By BENJAMIN WEISER and DAVID W. CHEN“Just make sure the handwriting looks as close to the donors’ as possible,” Ms. Hou wrote in an electronic message to Jorge Fanjul, who, like Ms. Hou, worked in Mr. Liu’s government office. “If too difficult, don’t take risk.”
