DEFENSE FUND LAUNCH.   WP.  “A new legal defense fund designed to help defray the costs faced by aides to President Trump drawn into the various Russia investigations has yet to answer key questions regarding how it will vet donors and provide transparency about the contributors who finance the effort.”

CA:  REFORM SET FOR VOTE.   SFE.  “Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced a motion Tuesday for the Board of Supervisors and the Ethics Commission to hold a joint meeting to vote in April on adopting sweeping campaign finance reforms.”

IL:  REQUEST TO VOID LAW.   CT.  “On Wednesday, Berrios’ lawyers asked Circuit Court Judge Sanjay Tailor to void county ethics rules that place limits on campaign contributions to elected officials and candidates from those who seek ‘official action’ from the county. Berrios’ team argued the county rules violate the state constitution because only the Illinois legislature has authority to set campaign contribution limits.”

MT:  CASE CONTINUES.   KTVH.  “Forcing certain groups to reveal their donors and spending harms their members’ rights of association, because it could unduly subject them to political pressure and retaliation, Bopp said.”

SD:  BILL REJECTED.   KSFY.  “A House panel has voted down a bill aimed at requiring ballot measure campaigns to disclose their donors while supporters gather signatures to qualify for the ballot.”

UT:  ROLE OF CONTRIBUTIONS EXAMINED.   SLT.  “EnergySolutions is one of the Legislature’s biggest campaign contributors, so The Salt Lake Tribune decided to crunch the numbers. It found a huge disparity in donations to those who voted yes and the relatively few who voted no.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.