NEWT NEWS. New developments here. “[Rick] Tyler wouldn’t say much, but Gingrich is scheduled to speak to Georgia Republicans at their state meeting on Friday, May 13. ‘By the time Newt speaks to the Georgia convention, he’ll be a candidate,’ Tyler said.”
DANIELS MULLS. The Times. “He exhibits many qualities of a candidate: deep experience in government, a passionate concern about the nation’s fiscal burdens and policy proposals that could keep Congress busy for a long while. A campaign structure is almost fully locked into place. Yet his public appearances have been missing one ingredient: enthusiasm.”
CHANGES TO ETHICS DISCLOSURES. Roll Call reports. “The House Ethics Committee has overhauled its instruction manual for completing annual Congressional financial disclosure forms, sidestepping a proposed provision that would have for the first time requested the spousal information of same-sex couples.”
DRAFT EO IN THE NEWS. The Hill. “Ethics watchdogs are pressuring President Obama to sign off on a draft executive order that would force government contractors to disclose their political contributions.”
DRAFT EO COMMENTARY. OMB Watch. “It is reasonable for the government to ensure that the contracting process is free from corruption and undue influence by requiring at least a degree of disclosure by those who are showering political dollars upon it.”
POKER LOBBY PLAYS ITS HAND. Washington Post. “The effort has growing support from major Nevada casinos that see an opportunity for a lucrative new market. Advocates are also dangling the prospect of billions of dollars in potential federal tax revenues at a time of fiscal distress in Washington.”
MASS. LOBBYING ON TRIAL? Story here. “At its most basic and personal level, DiMasi’s trial is about one man’s choices. The ex-speaker is accused of pushing $17.5 million in state contracts for a computer software company named Cognos, and in exchange, getting $65,000 in secret payments; some lobbyist friends allegedly got hundreds of thousands of dollars more.”
MD FUNDRAISING. A report here.
PITTSBURGH’S TOOTHLESS LAWS. Story here. “The city of Pittsburgh’s new campaign finance law — which was supposed to have its first impact this year — is so far turning out to be unenforceable and toothless.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.