Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Obama administration drafts executive order on contractor donation transparency
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/19/obama-administration-drafts-order_n_851228.html
Now this is interesting--looks like the Obama Administration is drafting an executive order that would "require government contractors to disclose campaign contributions made by directors, officers, affiliates or subsidiaries to federal candidates, political party committees and 'third party entities' involved in electioneering." More from Politico.

Arizona to vote on public funding for elections
http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/04/arizona-to-vote.php
National Journal picks up the Arizona repeal vote.

And it was on the ballot before too
http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net/2011/04/19/and-it-was-on-the-ballot-before-too/
A great post from an Arizona blogger on the legislature's decision to send Clean Elections repeal to the ballot.

Speaker criticizes corporate influence on US fast-food system
http://www.dailyorange.com/news/speaker-criticizes-corporate-influence-on-us-fast-food-system-1.2184668
A story on a Democracy Matters event at Syracuse University, featuring DM staffer Megan Luce talking about the need for Fair Elections

Congress/2012
BP donates big to GOP leadership
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53428.html
Hey, look - House GOP leadership got BP money in the 1st quarter

Swipe-fee opponents shower Sen. Tester with campaign contributions
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/156911-swipe-fee-opponents-direct-campaign-money-to-tester
"Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has reaped a windfall in contributions from banks and lobbyists since introducing legislation to delay new regulations on debit-card swipe fees."

Obama fundraising faces key test in California
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-fundraising-faces-test-in-california/2011/04/19/AFJhEw7D_story.html
Can Obama "rekindle the embrace" of Hollywood and high-tech donors this week? LOL.

Republicans sharpening online tools for 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/us/politics/20social.html
Republicans won't fall behind Dems this cycle when it comes to the internetz, according to Republicans.Similar story from NPR.

Coalition against attempts to put dollar bill out of business
http://www.rollcall.com/news/Dollar-Bill-Coin-Coalition-Lobbying-205041-1.html
Well this is not your usual lobby battle. A coalition of jukebox operators, independent car wash operators, and copper miners is coming together for a renewed push to end the paper dollar bill.

Nil, baby, nil: Congress fails to pass a single oil spill law
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/19/nil-baby-nil-congress-fai_n_851274.html
On the year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf, Congress has still failed to pass any legislation to address what happen and make sure it doesn't happen again. "In 2010, the oil and gas industry spent more than $146 million to lobby the federal government and donated $28 million to federal campaigns, according to the Center for Responsive Politics."

Can't have it both ways on Medicare
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110420/OPINION03/104200332/1001/BUSINESS01/?odyssey=nav|head
This editorial in Des Moines states, "Truly getting spending under control in Medicare can't be done by elected officials seeking support from seniors and campaign contributions from special interests."

U.S. Rep Tim Walberg raises $2,791 a day since taking office
http://blog.mlive.com/jackson-politics/2011/04/us_rep_tim_walberg_raises_2791_a_day_since_taking_office.html
That's a lot of dialing for dollars and lobbyist fundraisers!

Newt Gingrich struggles to raise hard money
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53448.html
Gingrich is having trouble raising hard money for his campaign, something he'll need to run for president.

Other
Gov. Rick Scott's office bills taxpayers $25,000 for consultant's work
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/gov-rick-scotts-office-bills-taxpayers-25000-for-consultants-work/1164798
A consulting firm Gov. Scott used for his gubernatorial race got a state contract--but they won't disclose what it's for. 

Mixed feelings for Blagojevich retrial, none of them happy
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/us/20blago.html
Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's retrial starts today and people are pretty much over it, but as our friend Cindy Canary says, "What concerns me is that there’s a sense on the part of some that this incredible outrage has died down, so let’s just edge back a bit on reforms.”