Campaign Finance/Ethics 
Federal judge upholds campaign finance law
"In his decision on Thursday, District Court Judge William Conley ruled that the law did not infringe on free speech rights, as alleged by the primary plaintiff in the case, Wisconsin Right to Life."

Goodbye to federal funding for 2012 candidates
Nobody's going to use presidential financing in 2012, according to this report.

Congress/2012
Stephen Colbert's new PAC, SEC's New Shareholder Rights and more
Round up of stories from CRP - 1) supporters of transparency won a victory with the SEC as they came down on the side of shareholders right to know about political spending in a case involving Home Depot and 2) Stephen Colbert says he's launching a PAC.

Mr. Obama's energy vision
The Times lays out the trouble facing the energy debate, but doesn't mention all the campaign cash and lobbying that are making a difference in it.

Former Obama aides likely to start independent fundraising group
Looks like Obama's former deputy press secretary may be heading up an independent expenditure effort ahead of 2012. "The organization is still in the planning stages, according to people familiar with the discussions, but is already being viewed by top Democratic fundraisers as the most promising effort..."

Republicans target left's pet causes
With a new focus by the GOP on those dirty evildoers at AARP, Politico reports that "If Republicans break through the spending gridlock that has seized Capitol Hill, the rest of their agenda is starting to come into focus: defunding, investigating and otherwise beating up on liberal causes."

Mitt Romney set to start raising cash in April
Mitt Romney will start raising money for his presidential campaign in mid-April. Of course he's been raising money for his PAC all along.

Citizens United tries to tempt Akin
Citizens United PAC is set to drop $51k in donations to 9 Republican candidates for the 2012 cycle today.

Cops, firefighters turn on GOP in labor fight
As Republicans across the country try to weaken public employee unions, they are having a hard time bringing the country along with them and it seems semi-reliably groups like cops and firefighters are angry too.

Other
Tom Horne hints at more aggressive, broader Fiesta Bowl investigation
AZ Attorney General Tom Horne will not delay the investigation into the Fiesta Bowl scandal roiling the state this week, "and could look into whether politicians who received donations, trips and tickets from the football bowl group violated any rules or laws."
- And the Senate Ethics Committee Chair is launching an inquiry: http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2011/04/01/fiesta-bowl-fallout-continues/
- A column on the scandal from AP's sports columnist: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/31/business-financial-impact-fbc-tim-dahlberg-033011_8384309.html

Koch industries wins labor praise for collective bargaining role
"Koch Industries Inc., which spent $1.2 million in 2010 to help elect governors who oppose collective bargaining for public employees, won praise from a labor union official for backing the rights of factory workers."