TIMES ON MCCAIN. Here. “[McCain] castigated the Supreme Court for arrogance and naïveté in throwing open the corporate money gates in its Citizens United decision, predicting ‘huge scandals because there’s too much money washing around.’ Now he needs to put his reputation and his vote behind that warning.”
MCCAIN AND WHITEHOUSE. Senators McCain and Whitehouse joined to file a brief in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock.
SUPER PAC STRATEGY. The Times. “The intensifying flood of uncapped donations to outside political groups is transforming not just campaigns but the entire business of politics.”
EDWARDS TRIAL VERDICT? When? “Jurors began talking about case Friday. It came after they heard 17 days of testimony about money from wealthy donors that was used to hide Edwards’ pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House bid.” The N&O’s Twitter account would probably be a good bet to get the latest if a verdict is announced.
EDWARDS AND “WILLFULLY.” Story here. “‘Willfully’ may be the word that saves him.'”
HOUSE ETHICS MET. A press release is here and an article is here. “The House Ethics Committee tweaked its rules related to filing financial disclosure statements and those that outline when it can take testimony during a rare public meeting today.”
NEW AD RULES? Roll Call. “The ruling by a three-judge appeals court panel last week has the odd effect of imposing stricter disclosure rules on ads that simply picture or name a candidate at election time than on messages explicitly urging people to vote for or against a candidate.”
CFR AND FIXING DC. Mann and Ornstein follow up their controversial commentary on the Republican Party with a call for campaign finance reform here. “Without a different Supreme Court, serious problems with money in politics will endure.”
EARMARK BAN AND CAMPAIGNS. Roll Call. “Politicians who pushed this Congress to ban earmarks are the same people who campaigned on those funds in previous elections.”
INDEPENDENT GROUP FEARS. Politico. “A super PAC’s abortive plan to launch incendiary, personally charged attack ads against President Barack Obama sent a sharp warning message to candidates up and down the federal ballot: This year more than ever, they are not in control of their own destinies.”
FUNDRAISING AND LOBBYING HIRING. Story here. “The hiring equation for lobby firms is simple: Campaign fundraisers spend time with lawmakers — often more than policy staffers. They also have the kinds of connections with the CEOs and in-house government relations heads that could mean more business for the lobby shop.”
WHITE HOUSE ACCESS. The Post. “The White House visitor records make it clear that Obama’s senior officials are granting that access to some of K Street’s most influential representatives.”
CU IN STATE CAPITALS. Story here. “Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia are backing Montana in its fight to prevent the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision from being used to strike down state laws restricting corporate campaign spending.”
HAVE A GREAT DAY!