Homestate newspapers of both Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) covered their introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act yesterday.

Ari Berman at The Nation writes on the introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act today by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA). Berman notes the prominence of the two sponsoring Senators and expresses hope that "the conversation is shifting, from how corrupt Washington is to how to clean it up."

The story of the eight US Attorneys who were involved in public corruption investigations centered on elected officials and subsequently fired has ensnared Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and New Mexico Reps. Pete Domenici and Heather Wilson -- now, as details resurface about the 2002 firing of a US Attorney investigating lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the trail leads to the office of Karl Rove.

Well, well. Ari Berman at The Nation issues a challenge to Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), whose relationship with corporate donors Berman has been tracking: sign on in support when Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduces his Clean Elections bill.

The commercial banking and credit card industry has no better friend in Congress than Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). They've given him $535,000 in campaign contributions, and he's given them legislation that boosts their profit margins and makes life harder for Americans struggling to get out of debt. So, we're rolling out a campaign to put McConnell on notice, and hope you'll join us: he needs to put the interests of voters ahead of his biggest campaign contributors.

USA Today has been hammering Congress for talking tough on ethics and lobbying reform while poking loopholes in legislation. They're at it again today, pointing out the numerous exemptions to the ban on lobbyist-funded travel and whether the way around the loopholes is to publicly fund congressional travel.

According to The Hill Democratic leaders are beginning to look at ways to limit the influence of independent "527" groups whose relatively unregulated activities are growing more influential each election cycle. This interest in imposing limits on 527s comes as a number of other measures are being considered to reduce the influence of money on congressional elections, including Senator Richard Durbin's (D-IL) anticipated congressional public financing bill.

For a few congressmen booted out in 2006 amid charges of corruption, nothing says "turning over a new leaf" like taking high-powered lobbying jobs with people you used to help steer money too. Former Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) and former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) who found themselves embroiled in corruption scandals last year have both landed jobs as lobbying advisors with groups they had a history of helping financially.

NPR's Marketplace did a story last night on the loophole that allows lobbyists to fund lawmaker getaways to exotic locales by calling the trip a fundraiser and funneling the lobbyist money through the lawmaker's political action committee (PAC). Of particularl interest to Marketplace are the travel plans of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who campaigned last year on cleaning up corruption.

Think the latest series of lobbying reforms is going to cut the cord between lawmakers and lobbyists? Says the Wall Street Journal: think again. The story highlights activities of top lobbyist Heather Podesta to illustrate, among other things, the prevailing power of campaign cash and challenge in overcoming an atmosphere of exclusivity around our lawmakers and their lobbyist friends.