Campaign Finance/Ethics
Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to party spending 
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a Republican lawsuit, brought on by former Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.), that challenged limits on party spending for candidates. Rick Hasen: “Does this mean that Justice Alito and the Chief Justice are a bit gun-shy about wading back into the McCain-Feingold waters, or is something else at work?” With McComish on Monday, let’s hope gun shy.

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-says-no-to-campaign-finance-review-yes-to-death-row-inmate-appeal/2011/03/21/ABQ3YE9_story.html

The Hill: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/fundraising/151043-high-court-rejects-gop-challenge-to-campaign-finance-restrictions

NJ: http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/supreme-court-declines-to-consider-challenge-to-campaign-finance-restrictions-20110321

Who writes the check? Group wants voters to know
Peter Overby has a story today on a petition filed with the FCC by the Media Access Project to impose new disclosure rules on election spending.

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/consumer-advocates-fcc-should-require-more-disclosure-on-political-ads/2011/03/21/ABNg4HAB_story.html

Congress/2012
Poll: Public already losing patience with new Congress
Nobody comes out looking good in this new Pew poll.

Obama challengers would need $590,000 a day to match his 2008 fundraising
“Barack Obama raised $59 million for his presidential campaign during the first half of 2007. To match that, prospective Republican challengers to his re- election would need to take in roughly $590,000 a day until June 30 if they entered the race today.” Wow.

The consumer safety info conspiracy
For some reason, Republicans are trying to gut funding for a consumer product safety database and it’s sort of unclear why.

John Boehner’s PAC raises $365k
“The Ohio Republican’s Freedom Project PAC pulled in $364,500 from lobbyists, corporate executives, a Native American tribe and a number of political action committees, according to a Federal Election Commission filing made public Sunday.”

Ind. State senator returns financier’s donations
A State Senator in Indiana has returned the donations of a financier charged with running a Ponzi scheme. Both potential 2012 Presidential candidates Gov. Mitch Daniels and Sen. Dick Lugar also received donations from the guy.

Finance sector loves Tim Pawlenty
And Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) is in for 2012. In 2010, his PAC got big bucks from Wall Street.

Haley Barbour, in Iowa, weighs candidacy
A rough lead for Barbour: “He became wealthy as a lobbyist, representing tobacco companies and foreign governments. A former Republican Party chairman, he would seem the ultimate Washington insider. A white Southerner, he has faced questions about his remarks on race.”

Other
Gov. Walker’s favor for real estate donors
My report on Gov. Walker’s latest handout for donors—elimination of farm preservation programs opposed by the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

SC Gov Haley has appointed 26 campaign donors to posts
Looks like being a campaign donor helps you get a position on state boards or commissions in South Carolina. So far, 26 of her 59 appointments have gone to donors.

TN gov locates money for CCA-run prison amid cuts
Tennessee may be facing health care and education cuts, but Gov. Haslam has found the money to keep a private prison open. It’ll be no surprise the prison company’s CEO and the company made donations to Haslam’s campaign and inauguration festivities.

Wisconsin’s radical break
A Wisconsin historian breaks it down – Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts on unions in Wisconsin are radical compared to the state’s history.