DONORS TESTIFY. Roll Call reports.  “There are no rules prohibiting campaign donors from appearing before Congressional committees, and several government reform advocates acknowledged that it is not uncommon for a witness to have given funds to a Member.”

TRUMP TTW. The Atlantic covers Trump’s moves here.  “Donald Trump’s plane showed up in Iowa this morning, creating a stir among political reporters there to cover a multi-candidate forum in Waukee tonight. Trump wasn’t on it, but the trip by two aides could have more 2012 fallout than anticipated.”  More here.

SOUTH KOREAN MONEY IN JAPAN. The Post reports on an interesting story from Japan about a $2,400 donation that apparently caused a Japanese government official to resign.  The WSJ discusses the case in this editorial.  The paper takes a deregulatory stand on Japanese campaign finance law.  “Campaign finance laws were supposed to be about making sure the system is not rigged in favor of the corrupt. But that is precisely what they have accomplished in Japan.”    (Foreign money in U.S. politics is the topic of this lawsuit.)

GEORGIA’S DEFINITION OF LOBBYIST. There’s news.  “A new opinion by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission found that people who meet with state legislators, even once, to discuss pending legislation must register as lobbyists if they are acting as advocates for their employers. They also would be required to pay a $300 registration fee.”  But does the new rule go too far?  That’s one opinion.  The state ethics commission also took action on a rule related to public utilities’ political contributions.  Story here.

MINNESOTA GETS BOARD MEMBERS. Story here.  “Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed a former federal prosecutor and a former state senator to the state’s Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.”

FEC EDITORIAL. From St. Louis.

WHY CONSERVATIVES DON’T SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM? Ezra Klein discusses.  “It’s curious that the alarm conservatives feel when they look at the nexus of moneyed interests and government power doesn’t translate into support for the sort of laws that might weaken that link.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.