Campaign Finance/Ethics/Fair Elections
You get the judges you pay for, by James Sample and Erwin Chemerisky
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/opinion/18sample.html
An interesting op-ed in the Times on judicial elections--they're here to stay, so people should push spending limits and robust recusal standards.

From pay-to-play to jail for Mr. Hevesi
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/16/opinion/16sat3.html
Hey, another political scandal in New York! "Pay-to-play isn’t just a problem in the comptroller’s office, it is a problem throughout the entire political system. The state needs ethics reform, campaign finance reform and redistricting reform."

So much for the referees
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/opinion/18mon4.html?ref=opinion
Wow, NYT is on a tear this weekend! This time on the FEC's dysfunction: "Talk about an invitation to corruption, if not chaos, unless the commission suddenly gets its act together."

Support Fair Elections Now
http://www.lenconnect.com/newsnow/x782064560/Letter-to-the-Editor-Wednesday-April-13-2011
A few days old, but here's a letter on the Fair Elections Now Act in The Daily Telegram in Adrian, Mich.

Did Marge have a bake sale or did Monty burns write a check?, by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/04/did_marge_have_a_bake_sale_or.html
Ciara at the Brennan Center has this op-ed in Oregon about disclosure, with a nod to the Simpsons.

Congress
Financial industry showers house financial services chairman with contributions
http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2011/04/15/financial-industry-showers-house-financial-services-chairman-with-contributions/
Rep. Spencer "We're here to serve the banks" Bachus (R-Ala.) raised over 70% of his 1st quarter funds from the finance, insurance, and real estate sector.

House first-quarter fundraising winners and losers
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53315.html
Here's your "winners and losers" for the 1st quarter based on fundraising numbers.
- More from the Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fundraising-by-gop-house-freshmen-off-to-slow-start/2011/04/16/AFLYJuqD_story.html. 
- And The Hill: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/fundraising/156489-2012-reelection-campaign-fundraising-totals-first-quarter.

Public Campaign on your TV
http://publicampaign.org/blog/2011/04/16/public-campaign-your-tv
I went on the Thom Hartmann show on Thursday to talk about our tax dodgers report.

America's elites have a duty to the rest of us, by EJ Dionne
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/americas-elites-have-a-duty-to-the-rest-of-us/2011/04/16/AF5KN8vD_story.html
Dionne writes that the richest people in our society have become more concerned about their own money than helping foster a healthy society. "The influence of the ruling class comes from its position in the economy and its ability to pay for the politicians’ campaigns."

Medical devise industry lobbies IRS and Congress to dodge health law tax
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/April/18/medical-device-industry-lobbies-irs.aspx
The medical device industry got an excise tax in the health care reform bill--but it's doing all it can to get around it through the influence industry with lobbying, campaign cash, and the revolving door.

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle takes break from local fundraising
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/rep_ann_marie_buerkle_takes_br.html
Freshmen NY Rep. Marie Buerkle (R) raised just $65,150 in her first quarter--with $54k of that coming from Washington, D.C. PACs.

Rahall defends campaign contributions
http://www.register-herald.com/local/x1540198779/Rahall-defends-campaign-contributions
This article in WV talks about Nick Rahall's big money from the transportation sector (he's on the transportation committee), leaving Rahall to defend the system.

FEC launches audit of Obama's 2008 campaign
http://www.rollcall.com/news/FEC-Launches-Obama-Campaign-Audie-205014-1.html
The FEC is rumored to be checking things out in Obama's 2008 campaign.

Lavish Republican fundraiser with Leann Rimes nets $650
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/15/2351887/lavish-republican-fundraiser-with.html
The fancy freshman Republican fundraiser that caused leadership lots of headaches in January really wasn't worth it--after expenses, it only made about $650.

Justices face conflict of interest questions
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-04-17-justices-conflict-of-interest.htm
A short story on last week's hearing about Supreme Court justices and when they should recuse themselves. 

Other
Corporate millions have paid off in "pro-business" legislative agenda
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/os-florida-chamber-pressing-broad-age20110417,0,6775499.story
The headline sort of says it all in this report from Florida.

Jindal heads to Washington, California fundraisers
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/119947124.html
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) went to the West Coast this week to raise money.