Great protest in DC yesterday—here are a few hits to start:

Monica took a lot of pictures of the event yesterday, you can check them out on our blog: http://campaignmoney.org/blog/2011/03/16/what-democracy-looks.

Madison on the Potomac: labor protesters storm lobbyists’ lobby in DC 
TPM picks up the story. A Wisconsinite at the rally: “He's trying to break the poor people from political power”

Protesters stream through Washington to protest Wisconsin GOP fundraiser 
“Nearly 300 protesters, including Wisconsinites and union members from elsewhere, took to the streets in opposition to a fundraiser hosted by BGR Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm founded by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.”

Large, dynamic solidarity protest in DC outside Wisconsin GOP fundraiser
Chris Bowers from Dailykos was there too and provides his report.

Wisconsin Republicans get special welcome in Washington
“Fresh from stealing workers’ rights to bargain for good, middle-class jobs, Wisconsin’s Republican state legislators were met by hundreds of  protesters tonight in Washington, D.C.”

Next stop for Wisconsin protestors: Washington, D.C.
The protest is a chance for GOP lawmakers, as Public Campaign Action Fund’s David Donnelly says: “to pick up checks from the corporations and wealthy insiders who benefit from efforts to silence the voice of middle-class families.”

Wisconsin GOP legislators head to DC for payoffs, er, campaign contributions
PCAF’s David Donnelly: “There won’t be any teachers or nurses forking over checks tonight at their lobbyist fundraiser -- and that’s exactly why (we’re) outside tonight letting Wisconsin and the country know what they’re up to.”

Congress
GOP begins rollback of Wall St. reform
“House Republicans quietly took their first legislative step Wednesday at repealing Wall Street reform.”

Wall Street donors probably aren’t having “buyers’ remorse” anymore: http://www.campaignmoney.org/pressroom/2010/02/04/what-are-they-buying-rep-cantor

A second stimulus for K Street?
Lobbyists will continue to make lots of money!

GOP has new 2012 target: Obama’s $1 billion campaign
Ha! Republicans are going to try to make an issue out of how much money Obama will probably be able to raise in 2012.

Lawmakers find a path around an earmarks ban
Another chapter in the “the earmarks ban was basically symbolic” story line

Members take cash, check or fine wine
Wait, lobbyists can donate wine instead of cash to campaigns?

Campaign Finance
License to spend
Public Citizen’s Lisa Gilbert has this op-ed in The Hill about the importance of disclosure of political spending.

Campaign donors called upon for expert testimony
The Washington Post covers the habit of having campaign donors testify at hearings. “The contributors’ presence at the hearing...does not violate congressional rules, but watchdogs say it raises the question of whether expert panels are assembled based on their donations.”

Other
WI Dems: Walker’s Frank Luntz visit broke the law
Did a visit by GOP messaging guru to Scott Walker break state ethics law?

Ethics panel charges Ard with 92 counts
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Ken Ard was charged with 92 counts of ethics violations, including using campaign cash for personal use and failure to disclose expenditures.

Corporate profits hit 18-year high
As people debate whether corporations should get more tax breaks to boost the economy, note that corporate profits are expected to climb to an 18-year high this year.