NEWTS DONORS

—Politico: “It’s true that just by looking at the baseline fundraising numbers, the $14.5 million Gingrich’s America Solutions raised in 2010 swamps the competition. But when comparing American Solutions to any of the PACs run by the likes of Mitt Romney or Haley Barbour, it’s clear that Gingrich’s isn’t a hibernating presidential campaign, but is part of a sprawling enterprise that insiders call “Newt, Inc.” .. That organization includes a federal PAC and tax-exempt 527 (both named “American Solutions”) as well as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, “Renewing American Leadership” – whose donors are not disclosed. Gingrich also runs several niche consulting businesses as well as an online conservative magazine for conservative Hispanics. … The former House speaker collected $2.7 million in 2010 from just nine people and six corporations – which are not permitted to make direct political donations to federal candidates. If only those nine donors had contributed to Gingrich’s federal PAC, the most he could have collected is $45,000. Instead, each gave at least $50,000 on their own.”

SCANDAL-PLAGUED FRESHMAN NEWS

—TPM: “David Rivera, who has been dogged by questions on ethics issues in his first month in as a member of Congress, doesn’t think House Republican leaders are distancing themselves from him. In fact, he claims in an interview which aired on “Naples Daily NewsMakers with Jeff Lytle” on Sunday that he’s “probably the most transparent member of Congress as of right now.”

—The Hill: “The second-ranking House Republican said for the first time Monday he is “very concerned” about the criminal investigations into Rep. David Rivera (R) in Florida. … “There are ongoing investigations in Florida involving Congressman Rivera, and we are respectful of those investigations,” Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told reporters at his weekly press briefing. “I’m obviously very concerned about the reports surrounding those investigations, but we’ll wait to see the results of them.”

FUNDRAISING PARTIES TODAY

–All fundraisers held today can be viewed here.

YESTERDAY

—Day in Transparency (2/28/11)

—Day in Sunlight (2/28/11)