Fair Elections/Other Campaign FinanceFor Fairer ElectionsA letter from David Donnelly, Campaign for Fair Elections campaign Manager, in response to an article from last week on financial lobbyistsCampaign finance bill in final negotiationsThe latest on DISCLOSE – including some negotiating being done with NRA and labor unions.Has lobbying derailed the DISCLOSE Act?An analysis from the Washington Independent.  

• “Upon hearing of the  Rules Committee cancellation, [Public Citizen’s Craig] Holman said, “I thought, ‘Oh, no. The NRA  [National Rifle Association] succeeded.”

CongressBP’s lobbying clout: 27 former hill, white house staffersAn article highlighting how the revolving door has almost broken off with DC staffers working on BP’s lobbying effortOil companies weigh strategies to fend off tougher restrictionsOil companies—other than BP—are doing their best to fend off regulations and had a small victory with shallow-water drillers exempted from the Administration’s new moratorium on drillingHalliburton campaign donations spike Halliburton PAC gave more money in May than they have in a long timeDrilling support, donations big for Texas congressional delegationA few in Texas have lots of oil moneyInterest groups prepared to spend record amounts in 2010 elections, by 2010

• “More than 20 major political advocacy groups plan to spend well over $400 million on campaign contributions, issue-based advertising and other election-related efforts this year”