Have a great 4th

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Have a great Independence Day!

VRA CHALLENGE.  Roll Call.  “House Republicans face a political dilemma as they consider how — and whether — to rewrite the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court neutered some of its most powerful provisions last week.”

SECOND AIDE QUITS.  Story here.  “A second aide to Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., resigned last week as part of an ongoing election fraud investigation that continues to fester in the freshman’s office.”

MCCONNELL CHALLENGER.  The Hill.  “Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced Monday she will challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), giving Democrats their favored candidate and turning the race into one of the 2014 cycle’s marquee contests.”

FORMER MEMBERS TARGETED.  BLT.  “Representative Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) has renewed his effort to keep federal retirement benefits from former members of Congress who receive lucrative lobbying jobs.”

CAMPAIGN TRAIL ETHICS.  C&E.  “Maybe someday the political world will find a way to adopt universal ethical standards and codes of conduct for political campaigns. But until that happens, you are on your own.”

DOMA AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE.  Story here.  “The Federal Election Commission may be asked to reconsider an advisory opinion it issued in February in light of last week’s Supreme Court’s invalidation of the Defense of Marriage Act.”

CA:  SPENDING SCRUTINY.  LA Times.  “Expense reports filed over a decade of the Calderon family’s engagement in the California Legislature sheds light on the variety of ways political funds can be spent.”

IL:  SESSION BAN PROPOSED.  Story here.  “Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley, who is considering running for Illinois governor, called Monday for a ban on campaign contributions while the Legislature is in session, saying the current rules are too lax and are one reason lawmakers can’t agree how to fix Illinois’ pension system.”

VA:  CHEF TESTIMONY.  Story here.  “Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell repeatedly used state assets for personal and political purposes, including directing state employees to work at private and political events, according to new allegations from McDonnell’s former chef.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY. I hope you have a great Independence Day! I’ll send around the next set of links early next week.

 

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