Connecticut Send in the tycoons The New York Times editorial expresses its disdain for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decision striking down the "trigger provision" in Connecticut's fair elections law.

• “Campaign finance systems may soon be left with only one tool to keep non-wealthy candidates competitive: matching small donations at high rates. That, of course, will keep such candidates desperately busy raising money, while their rich opponents saturate the airwaves with commercials explaining how passionately they understand the needs of the ordinary American.”

  Public Campaign funding safe for now, but future still unclear, by Mark Pazniodas

• "Today's decision is just one step in a long process, a process that I am confident will result in Connecticut's public financing law remaining in place. In the short-term, the decision has no impact on the primary election I'm engaged in - I'm as confident as ever that we're going win on August 10th because this campaign represents values and experience that money can't buy," Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Malloy said Tuesday.

  What happened to clean elections today?, by Colin McEnroe This blog post from Colin McEnroe of the Hartfort Courant explains some details about Tuesday's U.S. Court of Appeals decision on the Connecticut Fair Elections Program.    Court tosses part of Conn. campaign finance funding law, by Susan Haugh  Another story detailing the Court's decision to eliminate the "matching funds" provision in the Connecticut law.    Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Voters need to push back against corporate cash, by Daniel Smith 

• "Wall Street lobbyists and big corporations are spending millions of dollars to influence members of Congress, while the voices of everyday Americans are being drowned out. It's a vicious cycle: as long as special interests control elections, they will continue to exert undue influence over public policy, drowning out the voice of the average citizen," said University of Florida political science professor Daniel Smith in Tuesday's edition of the St. Petersburg Times. 

  Support bill to make fair elections now, by Erin Neff  This letter from ProgressNow Nevada executive director, Erin Neff, in the Reno Gazette -Journal pushes for Fair Elections and calls on Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) to cosponsor and vote for the legislation.   Brown details his stance against campaign finance bill, by John Stanton  Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) took issue with the DISCLOSE Act's special exemptions for labor unions, the National Rifle Association and others from the bill’s spending limits noting that labor unions in particular have vowed to spend as much as $100 million in this election cycle, “yet they would be carved out of this legislation and not face the same regulations that would apply to everyone else.”   My offer to drop out, by Andrew Gall

• U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) "is perhaps the greatest symbol of status quo politics -- a status quo politics where politicians such as Hoyer get money from corporations like Goldman Sachs in order to push legislative agendas that are in line with said corporation's interests. This play-to-pay politics works great for wealthy, entrenched companies such as AIG, but does little to cure the ills of the common man or move our country forward in a coherent fashion, said Hoyer's primary challenger Democrat Andrew Gall.

  Congress At long last, Senate getting to “yes”, by Chris Frates  There could be a U.S. Senate vote on Wall Street Reform as early as tomorrow morning and this article features the work of Americans for Financial Reform and their efforts to make this a reality.   Manchin to name new senator Friday, by Shira Toeplitz  Democratic West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will announce his pick Friday and has proposed legislation that would schedule a special election in the early fall for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV).   Energy industry’s lobbying outlay: $2.9 billion since 2000, by David Session 

• "Large energy industries, led by oil and gas, have spent a combined $2.9 billion over the past decade on electing candidates, lobbying for industry-friendly policy, and swaying regulators in their favor, according to a report released Tuesday by Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization that monitors money in politics, writes Session."

  Sen. Vitter criticizes Rep. Charlie Melancon for fundraiser in Canada, by Bruce Alpert Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and 8 others attended a fundraiser in Vancouver last weekend with the trial lawyer association and was sharply criticized by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).    Reid: Energy bill on Senate floor in 2 weeks, by Laura Meckler U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says he’ll bring energy legislation to the floor in two weeks, with a “modified” cap and trade program.   Obama to meet with House Democrats about plans before august break, by Jordan Fabian U.S. House Democratic leadership will meet with President Barack Obama to lay out plans before they break for August recess.   Spill puts K St. to work, by Kevin Bogardus Offshore drilling and oil services companies are coming together to push back against President Obama’s moratorium on offshore drilling and will be represented by Bracewell & Giuliani, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's lobbying firm.