Campaign Finance/Ethics

Durbin, Alec Baldwin: Pushing Plan to Cute Big Money Out of Campaigns
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/04/durbin_alec_baldwin_pushing_pl.html
The Chicago Sun Times covers Sen. Dick Durbin’s press release on the introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act.
 
Ben & Jerry on the “Personhood” of Citizens United
http://underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/ben-jerry-on-the-personhood-of-citizens-united/
Ben and Jerry of ice cream notoriety speak out against the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision.
 
D.C. Audit Slams Kwame Brown for Campaign Finance Irregularities
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/opinion/04Callahan.html?_r=1
In local news – Washington, D.C. mayoral candidate Kwame Brown has failed to recount for more than $250,000 in expenses.
 
Wisconsin Judicial Race Too Close To Call
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52633.html
The inaugural run of Wisconsin’s judicial public financing program has the two candidates in a deadlock and a recount may be looming.
More from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/us/politics/07wisconsin.html?ref=politics

Justice for Sale in Wisconsin
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-04-05-editorial05_ST2_N.htm
Despite the judicial public financing law at work in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, many outside groups have poured money into the race.
 
2012

President Obama Bundlers Could Pony Up $300M
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52620.html
“The campaign’s ask for bundlers: $700,000 total. Each bundler is being asked to generate a combined $350,000 in contributions to the Democratic National Committee and the re-election campaign in 2011 and 2012, a two-year plan that could provide a steady flow of cash.”
 
Congress

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Picked as Democratic National Committee Chair
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52605.html
Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl.) has been chosen to head the DNC
 
Other

Out of the Shadows
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/opinion/04Callahan.html?_r=1
David Callahan writes that non-profit donors should be identified.
 
SEC Gives Shareholders a Voice on Corporate Foreign Spending
http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/sec_gives_shareholders_a_voice_on_corporate_campaign_spending/
From Ciara Torres-Spelliscy of the Brennan Center:
"The SEC has just issued an important post-Citizens United no-action letter that will enhance the ability of shareholders to have more of a voice when publicly-traded corporations spend money on politics.”

Decision Shields Some Lobbyist Expenses From the Public
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/decision-shields-some-lobbyist-898366.html
“The state ethics commission reluctantly approved a measure Tuesday advising lobbyists they no longer need to report money spent influencing state bureaucrats, but urged lawmakers to pass legislation making such reporting required.”
 
Victory Lapse – Obama Transparency Award
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-4-2011/victory-lapse---obama-transparency-award
The Daily Show pokes fun at Obama administration for their lack of transparency.