"Stephen Colbert launches ColbertPAC"

"Stephen Colbert, host of the eponymous Colbert Report has announced his own PAC, complete with over-the-top announcement video. Is he serious? Probably not. Is he funny? Absolutely."

WaPo has more.

"Video: Colbert Launches His Own PAC; Palin Creates Another New Word"

The National Journal has more.

Breaking News: "Ohio Union Bill Signed Into Law By John Kasich"

HuffPo has more.

"Fiesta Fiasco Opens Texas-Sized BCS Door for Cotton Bowl"

"With NCAA scandals rocking big-time college athletics programs such as USC and Ohio State in the last year, perhaps there is twisted symmetry and irony that corruption also be found among administrators of a major BCS Bowl Game."

Forbes has more.

"DOJ Investigation Finds DOJ Behaved Normally in Black Panther Investigation"

"For what it's worth, the DOJ's Office of Professional Conduct's report on the unending New Black Panther Party affair -- the charge that the Civil Rights Division failed to pursue more charges against two members of the hate group who held nightsticks outside a mostly-black polling place on Election Day 2008 -- clears the DOJ of any wrongdoing, and clears the Obama administration of any wrongdoing. A day after this came out, I can't detect any mellowing-out from the people who pushed for the investigation."

Slate has more.

"California Budget Setback Imperils Brown Agenda After Landslide"

"Jerry Brown, who reinvented himself from California’s 'Governor Moonbeam' of the 1970s into an elder pragmatist as the U.S.’s senior state leader, faces one of the toughest tests of his career after Republican lawmakers blocked his deficit-cutting budget plan.
Bloomberg has more.

What will Jerry Brown do next to try and solve California's budget crisis?

Jessica Levinson will be on www.kpcc.org, "AirTalk," at 11:06 PDT talking about California's budget.

News from Arkansas: "AG rejects ballot title of proposed medical marijuana amendment"

"State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for medical use."

The Arkansas News has more. 

"In Ohio, instead of protests, a ballot-initiative push"

"If Ohio's bill is the most ambitious attempt to limit public workers' collective bargaining rights -- and it is, much more far-reaching than Wisconsin's -- where are the throngs of protestors?"

MSNBC has more.

"LA Tries an Anti-Wisconsin Approach to Unions"

Jessica Levinson was interviewed for a radio program, "Which Way, LA?," on this topic.

What do this week's oral arguments in the Supreme Court mean for the future of public campaign financing?

There is a debate raging in the comment section of Jessica Levinson's latest Huffington Post piece.

News from Florida: "Critics say lawmakers want to continue gerrymandered districts"

"Florida legislative leaders Mike Haridopolos and Dean Cannon have resubmitted the state's new anti-gerrymandering amendments for federal approval, but in a way that critics say seeks to allow the Legislature to continue drawing districts to benefit Republicans."

The Tampa Bay Online has more. 

Colorado "State House approves bill to ensure voting rights of deployed military"

"The Colorado House gave unanimous approval today to a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Pete Lee of Colorado Springs that aims to ensure a uniform system of voting laws for overseas military personnel and civilians."
More here. 

"New Black Panther Party Case Not Going Away Though Many Wish It Would"

"The New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case dating back to 2008 was back in the news this week with the finding by federal government lawyers that politics played no role in the Justice Department's earlier decision to dismiss most of the charges in the case."

NPR has more.

What will the Supreme Court say re public campaign financing?

Check on the great comment debate on Jessica Levinson's latest Huffington Post blog.

"Will the Supreme Court Vote for speech?"

Jessica Levinson's Huffington Post on the Supreme Court's latest campaign finance case is here.

"Brown Faces Few Options After Breakdown of Budget Negotiations"

Jessica Levinson has this piece on the recent breakdown of budget talks in California.

Corporate interests support a local school bond measure

"Nearly 60% of the money raised to support passage of the $270-million school bond in the April 5 election has come from companies that have a financial stake in the measure’s passage, records show."

Jessica Levinson quoted in the article:

Jessica Levinson said the key is making sure the public is aware of where the money is coming from. “I think in this case, it’s just a smart business decision to try to help fund the passage of a measure that will financially benefit those businesses,” she said. “I don’t think there is something inherently evil about it. I just think it’s important for the people to know.”

California's Redistricting commission sets schedule to get public input

"The Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is charged with drawing new congressional and legislative districts, will hold dozens of public input meetings in communities across California, the body announced Tuesday."

The LAT has more.

"Virginia’s redistricting process gets underway"

" Northern Virginia’s rapidly growing outer suburbs would gain one new seat in the state Senate and three in the House of Delegates under proposed maps for the once-a-decade redistricting released by legislative leaders Tuesday night."

WaPo has more.

California's Redistricting Commission delays signing contract with newly-hired lawyers

"The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is withholding final signature on a contract with its newly hired federal voting rights lawyers after staff members discovered undisclosed political activities.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher failed to inform the commission during mid-March interviews that the firm is a registered federal lobbyist with a federal political action committee, or that several of the attorneys assigned to the redistricting project team have contributed individually to presidential candidates."

The Contra Costa Times has more. 

News from Florida: "Civil Rights Group Says Rick Scott Violated The Voting Rights Act With New Restrictions On Felons"

The Broward New Times this blog.

"Proponents of DC voting rights to meet with Senate staffers"

"Advocates for D.C. voting rights will press the Senate Tuesday to oppose the House spending bill.

The DC Voting Rights Coalition opposes language in the House GOP bill that would prohibit the District of Columbia from using local tax dollars on public programs for AIDS prevention and access to reproductive healthcare. The language is included in legislation that would cut spending this year by $61 billion."

The Hill has more.

"Legislative committee approves major changes to new Alabama ethics law"

"The Senate Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections Committee voted unanimously Tuesday for the two bills. One would require lobbyists and the people who hire them to report to the State Ethics Commission how much they spend on lodging, travel and meals for public officials who attend approved events.

The other bill would add the word 'corruptly' to portions of the law that prohibit public officials and employees from soliciting anything to influence an official action. That change was recommended by the Ethics Commission and attorney general. Commission Executive Director Jim Sumner says it would cure problems with vagueness in the new law. The bills go to the Senate."

The AP (via the Republic) has more.

"Following Citizens United, corporation makes run for congress"

"Following a 2010 United States Supreme Court decision to consider corporations to be citizens with free speech rights in campaign financing, a corporation plans to run for Congress to test the decision."

The Badger Herald has more.

"Corporate Titans Fund Emanuel’s Political Group"

"In its first three weeks, Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's newly formed political fund has raised more than $330,000 and spent more than $200,000 to aid allies in the April 5 runoff election for City Council seats, according to a Chicago News Cooperative analysis of state campaign-finance disclosure records.
Emanuel’s New Chicago Committee has accepted large donations from many of the same titans of corporate Chicago who had helped him easily outspend rivals in last month’s race to succeed retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley."

The Chicago News Cooperative has more.

News from Nevada: "Assembly Panel Hears Simplified Campaign Finance Reform Bill"

"A simplified campaign finance reform bill that would require most candidates to file their contribution and expense reports electronically was given a generally favorable reception today during an Assembly Committee hearing."

The Nevada News Bureau has more. 

"Fiesta Bowl Spending and Donations Questioned"

"Top executives at the Fiesta Bowl, the host of one of the nation’s pre-eminent college football games, funneled campaign contributions to local politicians, flew other Arizona elected officials around the country at the bowl’s expense, racked up a $1,200 bill at a strip club, and even spent $30,000 on a birthday party for the chief executive, according to an investigative report commissioned by the bowl’s board of directors."

Katie Thomas of the NYT has more. 

"Clean Elections Law in Maine Under Fire"

"The overwhelming majority of Maine lawmakers rely on the state's 10-year-old Clean Elections system to fund their campaigns, as are an increasing number of candidates for governor. But some legislators say Maine can no longer afford the public funding option, and say its time to redirect that money, as much as five million dollars a year, into more important state services."
The Main Public Broadcasting Network has more.

"Arizona election finance law reveals high court rift"

"The Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared to hold the cards Monday in a key campaign finance reform case involving an Arizona election law that would provide matching funds to underfunded candidates. The justices could continue a recent legal trend and strike down another effort at government restrictions on election spending."

CNN has more. 

"Supreme Court skeptical about Arizona’s campaign finance law"

WaPo has more.

"When it Comes to California's Budget, Who Will Take The Initiative?"

Jessica Levinson's post on KCET.org is here.

Jessica Levinson on the radio today talking about LA's budget crisis

Jessica Levinson will be on "Which Way, L.A.?" today talking about LA city's budget crisis, and recent concessions by labor unions.

Is California's redistricting commission really independent?

"Victory no longer is sweet for California Republican Party interests that helped strip the Democratic-controlled Legislature of the right to draw political districts."
The SacBee has more.

"Gov. Bobby Jindal weighs in on congressional redistricting"

NOLA has more.

Is a PAC-to-PAC transfer ban needed in Alabama?

"Before Friday, campaign finance reports showed that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne received money from four political action committees on the same day that those PACs received money from gambling interests."

The Montgomery Advertiser has more.

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in McComish v. Bennett

Click on the following news outlets for more: LAT, NPR, The Hill, and USA Today.

Jessica Levinson wrote about the McComish case in the Huffington Post here.

"Gov. Jerry Brown hints at initiative for California budget resolution"

"California governor Jerry Brown hinted that he may take his budget resolution to voters in the form of a statewide ballot initiative."

The State Column has more. 

 

"Rhode Island voter-ID bill has support on both sides of the aisle"

"The unlikely tandem of state lawmakers is sponsoring House bill H-5680 at the request of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, who argues that the 'belief that voter fraud exists undermines the public’s faith in the fairness of our elections.'"


The Providence Journal has more.

News from Florida: "Developer's appointment to Planning Commission sparks outrage"

"A decision last month by the Washington County Commissioners to appoint developer Sassan Shaool to the Washington County Planning Commission has sparked outrage among members of a local citizens group."

The Miami Herald has more. 

"New Jersey legislative elections could be a proxy fight attracting out-of-state money"

"New Jersey politics, known for its partisan knife fights and big spenders, could become the playing field for even bigger, badder combatants from out of state."

The Philadelphia Inquirer has more. 

"Haley Barbour known for fundraising talent and tactics"

"As he ponders a run for president, Haley Barbour would not seem a natural fit for the anti-establishment political mood now brewing: the governor of Mississippi is a longtime inside-the-Beltway operator who lobbied for the tobacco industry and other powerful interests."

The Kansas City Star has more. 

 

"Supreme Court to decide Arizona’s unique campaign financing law"

The Christian Science Monitor has more.

Do Canadian voters care about political ethics and accountability?

Not surprisingly..."Canadian voters rank the economy as the top issue in this election campaign, far outpacing the question of ethics and accountability which helped bring down the Harper government..."

The Star has more.

News from New Jersey: "Tea Party group crafts proposed redistricting map"

"The Bayshore Tea Party Group map proposal (follow link for PDF version, or see JPG to the right here) endeavors to stick to basics as spelled out by the New Jersey Constitution, such as not splitting a county into more districts than absolutely necessary. The county-split rule basically isn’t followed any more, as districts are now municipal-based. It’s also difficult to do — believe me, I was trying before I ditched my map-making experiment in favor of my paying job. Even the Tea Party’s group’s map wasn’t able to maintain the minimum-split goal for three counties (which is far fewer than the 15 counties that could be considered overly split in the current, about-to-expire map)."

The Asbury Park Press has more.

News from Louisiana: "House redistricting plan gains panel approval"

"The state House and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday passed a redistricting bill that increases the number of minority districts statewide and reshapes many of the existing election districts."

The Shreveport Times has more.

News from Oakland, CA: "a good old-fashion political scandal involving campaign contributions, committee votes and a city contract"

"City Auditor Courtney Ruby blasted a recent City Council committee vote on a $2 million security contract for having serious ethical challenges. Ruby's office believes that ABC Security made illegal contributions while bidding for the contract. Oh ... and by the way, city staff recommended another firm, Cypress Security, as a better choice"

The SF Chronicle has more.

"Mass redistricting panel to hear from public"

"The legislative committee assigned to redraw the state's political map is set to hear from the public for the first time."

The Boston Globe has more.

"Geraldine Ferraro, first female veep nominee, dies"

USA Today has more.

Is redistricting to blame for California's battle over the budget?

"It might sound crazy, but some political insiders think the budget impasse has less to do with anti-tax conservatives than redistricting."

The SF Chronicle has more.