Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Activists protest to demand Congress to stop fundraising from corporate lobbyists, by Carol Leonnig A recap of yesterday's protest led by Public Campaign and Common Cause. Article also discusses Tony Podesta’s role in BP and holding fundraisers with members. Protesters dressed as founding fathers crash D.C. Fundraisers, by David Sessions A report from Politics Daily of the protest--with video. Founders rally for change in election finance, by Gabriel Debenedetti, Aaron Mehta, Josh IsraelFrom the Center for Public Integrity on our event yesterday. Fair Election advocates mark end of campaign finance reporting period with “Dependence Day” Demonstrations, by Andrew Kreighbaum   The Center for Responsive Politics’s coverage of the protest. Founding father crash corporate fundraisers, by Lucia Graves Huffington Post's version of the event with video and pictures. Congress Financial overhaul wins final approval in the House, by David Hersenzhorn After a second conference, the House approved the financial reform bill – with 3 Republicans (Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Joseph Cao (R-LA)) voting with them. This bill received more support (from both sides) than the one passed in December. Midterm races spur feverish drive for donations, by Jeff Zeleny and Robert Pear Members are fundraising all the time – and lobbyists are getting 50 to 60 invitations in just a few days.

• “The burst of fund-raisers takes place as lawmakers are considering the fate of energy legislation and a sweeping financial regulatory bill. The supporters and opponents of both measures, along with a slew of other matters, made contributions and used the fund-raisers for one-on-one time with members of Congress.”

Measure of a candidate? Latest fundraising, by John McArdle The House playing field isn’t set yet – and that’s why 2nd quarter fundraising is so important. Eric Cantor’s ambition raises concerns, debate, by John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman Some GOP leaders are uneasy about Republican Whip Representative Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) hyper-ambition. Key quote: Cantor has given candidates more than $1 million directly from his leadership political action committee and plans to give $1 million more. Some grouse that this gives Cantor control instead of directing his money through the  National Republican Congressional Committee.

• “It makes no sense for him to do it like that,” a Republican serving on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s executive committee said of Cantor’s fundraising efforts. “It’s just a way of putting strings on everything he does."

BP enlists Washington elite to help image, by Mimi Hall From a former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director to Tony Podesta of the Podesta Group and others, BP is spending big to fix its image in Washington, D.C.    U.S. Honey industry asks FDA for national purity standard, by Dan Eggen With an assist from Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the honey industry is lobbying to get a sweet deal from the Food and Drug Association to help them compete with cheaper imports coming from China.