MONEY IN POLITICS PANEL. BET. “Last night’s episode of The Nightly Show was all about dark money, ‘and no, I’m not talking about my ’80s rap group,’ declared host Larry Wilmore. Rather, the episode focused on who controls the message in Washington, and whether money should be able to buy power.”
SUPER PAC NAME GAME. NOLA. “Gov. Bobby Jindal has renamed his PAC to match the name of a pro-Jindal super PAC — according to Politico — though the governor isn’t really supposed to coordinate with the super PAC at all.”
CT: LOBBYIST CONTINGENCY FEES. Courant.com. “In a settlement with a lobbyist, the Citizens Ethics Advisory Board made clear Wednesday that contingency fees for lobbying are illegal in Connecticut, but that having to pay a fine also can be contingent.”
MT: BILLS REJECTED. Missoulian. “Legislative panels have rejected a series of bills to beef up Montana’s campaign finance reporting laws, although a comprehensive disclosure bill by Gov. Steve Bullock is expected to be introduced this week.”
NJ: PAY TO PLAY UPDATE. Northjersey.com. “The new governor of Massachusetts and his former venture capital firm did not violate New Jersey’s pay-to-play law when he made a political contribution to the Republican Party here in 2011, according to a New Jersey Department of Treasury audit released Thursday.”
OR: TAX CREDIT CHANGE. Oregonlive.com. “For years, Oregon taxpayers could claim a credit (up to $100 for married filing jointly; $50 for singles) for donations made to political candidates, parties and political action committees.”
PA: QUIT AND PLEA. WP. “Pennsylvania state Treasurer Rob McCord, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for governor last year, resigned abruptly on Friday and said he would plead guilty to federal campaign finance charges.”
PA: FINE POSSIBLE. Timesonline.com. “Union-backed Pennsylvanians for Accountability, which spent more than $1 million on political advertisements targeting Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and a handful of state lawmakers, failed to file a mandatory tax return, the Center for Public Integrity has learned.”
TX: DAUGHTER TO STEP DOWN. Texas Tribune. “Following attacks from conservative activists over a possible conflict of interest, House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock announced Friday that his daughter would step down from her role as an education lobbyist for the upcoming legislative session.”
VA: UNFAIRNESS ALLEGED. WP. “The Republican challenging Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell has stirred up a tempest over a mailer that she says gives the powerful party leader an unfair advantage in their primary race.”
WA: DISCLOSURE BILL. Olympian. “‘This bill is about bringing dark money into the light,’ Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, told a legislative committee that heard Senate Bill 5153 last week.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.