Citizens United/Fair Elections Money, money, money  It looks like Center for Competetive Politics vice-president Steve Hoersting and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) went head to head over Van Hollen's bill and Citizens United on California public radio. Asking companies to reflect shareholders’ politics Discussion about shareholder rights in the wake of Citizens United. Someone from the Center for Corporate policy brings up the Fair Elections Now Act. Campaign spending: why companies are holding fire The article asserts that companies, for the most part, will be wary of throwing themselves in the middle of elections. Though, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce can be more aggressive and companies can send their money there. Earth day memo: “Clean Coal” starts with cleaner elections  Dan Weeks, president of Americans for Campaign Reform, has an op-ed in California today on coal money and Fair Elections. A cleaner earth starts with cleaner elections  Guy Speth, noted environmentalist and Americans for Campaign Reform board member, discusses the importance of passing the Fair Elections Now Act in the context of the environment.House GOP push ban on all earmarks this year  House Republicans will introduce a resolution to pressure Democrats to join their one-year ban on earmarks. Congress Lobbying expenditures drop for many firms in first quarter  Today’s report is that lobbying numbers dropped in the first quarter (compared to yesterday that showed some records for a few firms). “Even so, the top 25 firms and groups in the financial, insurance and real estate sector posted an overall drop of 8 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2009, to $41.3 million.” Congress’ bipartisan regard for Wall Street money  “It's bad enough that our campaign finance system makes the rich more important constituents than, well, everyone else. But that's actually the least of its problems. More infuriating is that the system is used qualitatively differently by the rich than by the poor. It would be one thing if the situation was simply that the rich had more money to donate to the candidates that ignited their passion. But in reality, the motivations of a child-care worker who sends $100 to Barack Obama or Ron Paul and a hedge fund manager who holds fundraisers for both the RNC and Chuck Schumer could not be more different. One is supporting a candidate. The other is investing in access to candidates.” Poll: USA fed up with political incivility  “More than three in four agreed with the statement: ‘Right now, Washington is broken.’” Other Money and politics  The LA Times offers a moderate endorsement of Proposition 15 in California. Proposition 15, California elections A second piece in favor of Proposition 15.