Yesterday, we released this memo in response to Charles Koch’s hilariously hypocritical op-ed in the Wall Street Journal: http://campaignmoney.org/press-room/2011/03/01/watchdog-charles-koch-op-ed

Campaign Finance
The Story of Stuff Creator teams up with Public Citizen to create Citizens United video
“The Story of Citizens United.” Check it out.

Public funds assure marketplace of ideas
The head of the Arizona Clean Elections Commission has this column in Flagstaff on the importance of Clean Elections in the state. “Democracy offers the promise of equal opportunity and ‘Justice for All.’ Clean Elections helps fulfill this promise. We all can make a difference and the First Amendment protects freedom of speech for everyone.”

Trust but verify
A new piece from Ciara at the Brennan Center on campaign finance disclosure. “The voting public cannot tell who is paying for a growing percentage of political ads, leaving them in the dark about who is trying to sway their vote — we’re told to trust, but can’t verify.”

Congress
Boehner to freshmen: post strong fundraising numbers 
In a closed door session at GOP campaign headquarters Tuesday, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told House freshmen: “post strong fundraising numbers!” “Speak with your constituents” and “do your job.”

Hypocrisy Alert: Charles Koch blasts “crony capitalism” 
Mother Jones writes about the Koch op-ed. Public Campaign Action Fund’s David Donnelly: “Koch Industries is the perfect example of absolutely everything Charles claims to hate about our current political system.” 

• CBS picks it up too: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20037742-503544.html 

Chris Dodd is Hollywood’s newest leading man 
Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) will be the new head of the Motion Picture Association of America.
- And it looks like Sen. Larry Craig is back from his bathroom break: http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_89/-203758-1.html.

Conservative groups aim to raise $120m for 2012 campaigns 
Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and American Crossroads announced Tuesday that they hope to raise $120 million for the 2012 election.

Romney gives big to vulnerable freshmen 
Mitt Romney dropped a lot of cash into the coffers of 40 members of Congress in February.

Rep. Chris Murphy introduces Supreme Court ethics bill 
Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) yesterday introduced his legislation to strengthen ethics standards at the Supreme Court.

Privately sponsored congressional travel hits new low
“Lawmakers and their staff took fewer privately-financed trips in 2010 than any other year since LegiStorm started tracking the data, but the average cost of those trips rose to its highest point.”

DeMint: Collective bargaining has no place in government
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says unions have a “insidious relationship” with Democrats and collective bargaining has “no place in representative democracy.” Demint has received $2.7 million from Wall Street, $1 million from lobbyists, and $1.3 million from health interests during his time in Congress. #justsayin

Email flap puts heat on Issa
And it looks like the first victim of Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-Calif.) new Oversight chairmanship is his own spokesperson. Ouch.

Other
Wisconsin Democrats demand probe of Gov. Walker
The Wisconsin Democratic Party is now calling on a probe of whether Gov. Scott Walker broke election law, mentions that PCAF made the call last week.

Lefty groups enter the ad wars in Wisconsin
Really good ad up in Wisconsin using workers voices. “Money is being taken away from workers and then tax breaks given to major corporations.”

Ruling: Corporations lack “personal privacy”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that corporations have no right to “personal privacy” when it comes to government records requested under the Freedom of Information Act – because they aren’t people. Some critics of the court, of course, will note that just about a year ago the same court said corporations could spend like people in elections.

Study: NM campaign laws weak
A new study from the Brennan Center says New Mexico has the weakest campaign finance disclosure laws in the country.

Bill aims to ban leadership PACs in the Senate
Two South Carolina Senators want to ban leadership PACs for members of their chamber. “This bill is one step to make sure elected officials answer to the voters, not wealthy contributors.”