Yesterday, we released a memo with talking points and research on what’s happening in Wisconsin: http://www.campaignmoney.org/reports/wisconsin. Worth a read!

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Activist group loses fight on campaign-finance law
SCOTUS has turned back a request by Human Life of Washington to throw out the state’s campaign disclosure laws.

NC Voters: Campaign contributions influence court rulings
A new Justice at Stake Poll shows an overwhelming majority of North Carolina voters believe campaign contributions influence court rulings.

Murphy proposing bill on Supreme Court ethics
Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is proposing a SCOTUS ethics bill in light of the recent Scalia/Thomas controversy. Common Cause Communications Director Mary Boyle: "We want to help him do as much as possible to move this bill forward. It's clear from the work we've done that basically there's very little accountability and transparency at the Supreme Court.”

Congress/2012
Ex-lobbyist Jim Hirni helping Santorum prep for possible presidential bid in S.C.
The lead is better than the headline: “A former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to treating congressional staffers to a World Series jaunt in 2003 is now helping ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum organize events in South Carolina as Santorum tests the water for a possible presidential bid.”

16 nameless corporations are using Chamber to launch an assault against environmental regulation
“Call it money pollution. The torrents of cash now pouring unchecked into our political system cloud judgment and obscure science.”

Prepping for battle, union leaders say GOP “trying to take us down”
“The labor movement is marshaling support for what it expects to be a nationwide fight over the collective bargaining rights of public workers.”

Crossroads GPS launches radio ads in 22 House districts
Karl Rove’s group is up with radio ads in 22 House districts, aiming to influence the debate over the budget.

To left, leaked emails validate aggressive tactics
And Politico finally picks up the story of the Chamber’s plan to monitor and discredit its political opponents (including us!)

Other/States
Did Scott Walker get crank-call pwned?
A “guerilla journalist” has released audio of what he says is a conversation he had with Gov. Walker while pretending to be David Koch. If it’s real—it’s awesome.

Budget bill may give financial favors to campaign contributors
The provision of Gov. Walker’s budget that includes no-bid sales of state energy plants is starting to get some attention.

Cuomo adviser takes pay from health industry
One of Gov. Cuomo’s top health care advisers is working as a paid consultant for some of the Empire State’s biggest health care players.

Ethics bill takes aim at double-dipping
A Texas House Republican leader has introduced ethics legislation that would “require more disclosure of campaign transactions and potential conflicts of interest between lawmakers and lobbyists, taking aim at double-dipping spending practices by lawmakers.” Interesting.