"Obama administration's revolving door"

Don't miss this piece from Politico: "The pledge [that former Obama Administration employees will not lobby the Administration] doesn't bar outgoing Obama aides from lobbying Congress or from helping employers or clients influence the administration by charting strategy or even supervising lobbyists."

"Joint Project Tracks Who's Employing Former Congressmen"

See this press release.

"Republican Redistricting Efforts Bankrupt for 2011?"

This item appears at the Rothenberg Political Report.

Newsweek on "Politicized" Secretaries of State

Here.

"Sixth Circuit Issues Stay in Ohio Provisional Ballot Case"

Moritz offers the following update (reprinted in full with permission):

The Sixth Circuit today (1/18) issued an order granting a stay in the Hamilton County Juvenile Court provisional ballots case. This follows a flurry of motions over the last few days, including an amicus brief from the Ohio Secretary of State. Oral arguments are set for Thursday, January 20. For a complete listing of the documents filed in this case, see our Major Pending Cases page for the case.

The Sixth Circuit's stay essentially freezes the status quo until the appeals court has a chance to review the merits. Characterizing the case as "difficult," with "complex" and "contested" facts, and presenting "serious questions on their merits," the stay order was careful not to tip its hand which way it might ultimately rule. The 3-judge panel (Moore, Cole, Rogers) essentially explained the need for the stay as to avoid the "difficult position in which the [Hamilty County] Board [of Elections] finds itself": subject to two "conflicting orders" from the federal district court and the Ohio Supreme Court while the potential of "its members fac[ing] contempt proceedings if they do not carry out the district court's order." Merits briefs from all parties are due 3 p.m. Wednesday, in advance of Thursday oral argument at 5 p.m.

UOCAVA Summit 2011

The following announcement arrived via email:

Overseas Vote Foundation will hold its Fifth Annual UOCAVA Summit 2011, the most significant event of the year dedicated to overseas and military voting on Thursday, February 10th at The Pew Charitable Trusts location in Washington DC. A full-day conference, Summit 2011 will feature the release of OVF's 2010 Post Election Research results and panel discussions on technology, legislative policy and state experiences with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. For complete agenda details, go to https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/initiatives-UOCAVAsummit-summit2011 Event registration (space is limited): http://www.etouches.com/summit2011.