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Legalizing bribery, plea in Carib News case, cooling off periods, and more in political law links of the day

SETH GODIN ON TRANSPARENCY. Here (where he also discusses legalizing bribery).

GUILTY PLEA IN CARIBBEAN TRIP CASE. Roll Call reports. ”The New York newspaper publisher who organized an annual Caribbean conference attended by some members of the Congressional Black Caucus pleaded guilty Thursday to lying to Congress about how the 2007 trip was financed.” The DOJ press release is online here. ”In pleading guilty today, [CEO and publisher Karl] Rodney admitted that he made false statements on the Private Sponsor Travel Certification Form submitted to the Ethics Committee in connection with the 12th Annual Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 8-11, 2007.” WSJ report here.

FORMER MEMBERS AND COOLING OFF. The Hill reports. “Despite the cooling-off periods, former lawmakers who have registered to lobby are well within the law. Kenneth Gross, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom who advises clients on ethics issues, said the former lawmakers are doing nothing wrong as long as their lobbying sticks to the executive branch or to state government.”

EDITORIAL ON 501(C)(4)’S. From The LAT. “Better policing by the IRS might reduce the use of 501(c)(4)s as political fundraising engines. But a more reliable remedy would have to come from Congress, which should require that 501(c)(4)s focus exclusively on nonpolitical activities.”

DEFUND THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION? Melanie Sloan asks here.

FEINGOLD’$ BIG MONEY. From Huffington Post. “Since its launch on Feb. 16, the political action committee that former Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold started to fight corporate influence in politics and support progressive causes has raised more than $1 million from over 20,000 donors.”

LOBBYIST BILL IN GEORGIA. Here’s an update.

MORE ON WISCONSIN RAILROAD EXEC CASE. Here.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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