Good morning, here are today’s political law links (Fri. June 8, 2012)

DEMANDS ON WATERS REPORT. Roll Call.  “A group of House Democrats today sent a letter to the Ethics Committee asking it to release the findings of the special counsel who concluded the committee had not violated the rights of Rep. Maxine Waters as it prepared its case against the California Democrat.”

ETHICS GUIDANCE ON DISCLOSURE.  Roll Call.  The guidance is here.

PERSONAL FINANCE ATTACK.  The Hill.  “The Obama campaign went hard after Mitt Romney’s personal finances in a conference call on Thursday, ripping the presumptive Republican nominee for saying he would only move his holdings into a federal blind trust if he’s elected president.”

FUNDRAI$ING RACE.  Story here.  “Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee raised a combined $76.8 million in May, outdistancing President Obama and the Democratic National Committee by a wide margin.”

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FEC?  The press release for yesterday’s meeting is online here.

REPORT ON EX-ENSIGN AIDE.  The Times.  “On Thursday, a somber Mr. Hampton returned to Washington and pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal lobbying in a scandal that left him in bankruptcy, ended his marriage and forced Mr. Ensign to resign his Senate seat last year under threat of expulsion by fellow senators.”

ABRAMOFF ON FL GIFT RULES.  Here.  “Politically popular rules against business interests entertaining public officials, such as Florida’s total ban on lobbyist gifts, do nothing to curb corruption, the nation’s self-proclaimed ‘most notorious lobbyist’ told a Tallahassee political group Thursday.”

LEFTOVERS IN TX.  Story here.  “A former state representative from Williamson County has been spending leftover campaign cash on high-priced airline tickets, boutique hotel rooms, high-dollar restaurant tabs and Apple Computer products — possibly in violation of state ethics laws.”

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Here are the political law links for Thurs., June 7, 2012

IE STRATEGY.  Roll Call.  “From designating funds for specific races to sharing opposition research, Republicans and Democrats are perfecting the art of communicating without coordinating.”

ETHICS AND REP. WATERS.  The Hill.  “The House Ethics Committee announced on Wednesday that Rep. Maxine Waters’s (D-Calif.) rights were not violated in its investigation of her and its case will proceed.”

ADELSON IN THE NEWS.  Politico.  “Sheldon Adelson is back on the market with talk of giving at least $1 million — and possibly much more — to the Mitt Romney-affiliated super PAC Restore Our Future, POLITICO has learned.”

LOBBYIST INDICTED.  Politico. “F. Harvey Whittemore of Reno faces four felony counts in connection with the alleged scheme to funnel funds to Reid.”  More here.

FORMER ENSIGN AIDE UPDATE.  Story here.  “An aide to former Republican Sen. John Ensign is expected to plead guilty Thursday in U.S. district court to a misdemeanor violation of a federal lobbying law, according to a person close to the case.”

TEXTING DONATIONS.  Story here.  “The Romney and Obama campaigns want supporters to be able to send contributions instantly using their smartphones, a step that would let telecommunications companies join in collecting fees that now flow to bank-card networks.”

BROWN RESIGNS.  The Post.  “D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown resigned from his seat Wednesday night, hours after he was charged with bank fraud, plunging the city government into a leadership crisis.”

MN MAJOR PURPOSE RULING.  Story here.  “The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has dismissed a complaint against the Minnesota Family Council, saying that the council is not a political committee and therefore doesn’t have to disclose its donors.”

RI CFR BILL.  Story here.  “Independent special interest groups seeking to influence elections in Rhode Island would have to report their political donors under legislation pending in the state Senate.”

THE RECALL AND UNIONS.  The Post.  “Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in a recall election Tuesday amounted to a significant defeat for the nation’s labor unions, which had mounted one of their most aggressive grass-roots campaigns ever to defeat the Republican.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Good morning, here are today’s political law links (Wed., 6/6/12)

FEC AGENDA.  The agenda for tomorrow’s Federal Election Commission meeting is online here.

SUPPORT FOR TEXTING $.  The FPPC’s Ann Ravel and others write here in support of donations by text.  “In an era of increasing influence by large political donors, regulators and wireless carriers should do more to facilitate participation by the little guy. End the blackout on small text donations. Do you agree? Text (1) for support and (2) for no.”

NC AND CU.  The Times.  “Now, because the state is prohibited from reducing the spending gap with public funds, Judge Ervin’s supporters may have to form a super PAC of their own to keep up with the unlimited spending of the conservative super PAC. This is yet another example of the devastating harm caused by Citizens United.”

TARGET NM.  Politico.

HACK ATTACK?  Story here.  “Mitt Romney’s campaign is confirming the candidate’s personal email might have been hacked.”

THE MAGICAL $3 DONATION.  Here.  “The cost of entering the sweepstakes: A $3 donation to Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. Three bucks is also how much it cost to vie for a seat at George Clooney’s recent Obama fundraiser, and Donald Trump’s recent bash for Mitt Romney.”

GOV. TIED TO GROUP.  The Times.  “Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Tuesday defended Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s support from a private lobbying group that promoted his agenda, even as some government watchdog groups questioned the relationship.”  The Times editorial page hits here:   “Under the Internal Revenue Code, all 501(c)(4)s are required to have a social welfare purpose that is not primarily political. We are eager to know what that purpose is for the committee, beyond supporting Mr. Cuomo and promoting the interests of its contributors.”

NC LOBBYIST INVESTIGATION.  Story here.  “The North Carolina State Ethics Commission is examining whether two lobbyists who had relationships with aides of House Speaker Thom Tillis — or the lobbyists’ clients — broke state laws.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE AND CU.  Story here.  “Charlottesville’s City Council is calling for a constitutional amendment to restrict corporate influence in the political process.”

“SETH IN THE CITY” SOLICITATION IN THE NEWS.  Story here.  “The executive director of the campaign committee for Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams sent an email to the majority of his deputies and chiefs last week asking them to attend a fundraiser and contribute to his campaign.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.