Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has set Friday as a deadline to determine whether a special session of the Legislature will be called to close a $1 billion fiscal cliff in the state’s budget expiring in July of this year.

The session would begin February 19 and adjourn before the regularly scheduled legislative session set to convene March 12. Legislators from both parties have been working to get close enough to a resolution for Gov. Edwards to call the special session.

A special session to remedy the budget shortfall could also be called in June if it does not happen by March.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: On a Mission, Lobbying Power to the People” by Janie Lorber and Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Lobbying is stepped up on ‘fiscal cliff’ talks” by Maria Recio and David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee.

“Influence game: Election over, campaign continues” by Stephen Ohlemacher (Associated Press) in the Abilene Reporter News.

“With second term assured, Obama aides eye jobs as lobbyists on K Street” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Florida:  “House Speaker Dean Cannon jumps from legislating to lobbying” by Jason Garcia in the Orlando Sentinel.

Missouri: “Freebies from lobbyists becoming harder to track in Missouri” by Virginia Young in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Campaign Finance

“Bevy of Fixes Might Complicate Efforts To Reshape Campaign Finance System” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“States crack down on campaigning nonprofits” by Matea Gold and Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times.

“Democratic super PACs get jump on 2014, 2016” by Kenneth P. Vogel in Politico.

California:  “2 lawmakers accused of money laundering” by Lance Williams in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ethics

“Ex-state official loses job in ethics flap” by Laura A. Bischoff and Meagan Pant in the Dayton Daily News.

Wisconsin:  “Campaign, county work intertwined under Walker, prosecutor says” by Steve Schultze and Daniel Bice in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.