Ethics and Rep. Weiner, member travel, $1 million fine in Detroit, and more political law links

PRELIMINARY WEINER INQUIRY. Roll Call. “A preliminary inquiry is the first step in any formal Ethics Committee investigation. Inquiries are undertaken to determine whether the matter is serious enough to warrant the formation of an investigative subcommittee, which would then have the ability to formally discipline Weiner.”

CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL UP. Story here.  “Lawmakers’ trips are up sharply during the first five months of 2011, erasing any memory of Hill leaders pledging just last summer to rein in travel costs, a Daily Beast review of congressional trip reports shows.”

TOMORROW AT THE FEC. The agenda for tomorrow meeting of the Federal Election Commission is online here.

OVERSIGHT AND CUMMINGS. Roll Call. “Nearly six months into his role as Democrats’ lead defender, the Maryland lawmaker brings a quiet strength to his effort to blunt House Republicans’ attacks against President Barack Obama.”

NY’S NEW ETHICS RULES. The Times. “That legislation, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo brokered and has championed, will for the first time require elected officials with law practices to disclose the names of clients they represent in matters before the state. With limited exceptions, the bill will not require lawyer-lawmakers to disclose clients represented by others at their firms.”

NEVADA LAW UPHELD. The Times. “The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected a First Amendment challenge to a Nevada law that barred officials there from voting on matters in which they had a conflict of interest.”

TRANSPARENCY IN MICHIGAN. Story here.  “Donors of nearly $23 million for TV advertising to promote candidates for governor and other statewide offices in 2010 were kept hidden because of Michigan’s weak disclosure laws, a leading campaign watchdog reported today.”

$1 MILLION FINE FOR FORMER MAYOR KILPATRICK. Story here.  “In an eight-page complaint Friday, the Michigan Secretary of State’s office requested the fine, arguing candidate committee funds cannot be used for personal expenses.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

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