And to start your day check out this story on Bill Burton's new outside money group that plans to spend $100M in 2012:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53905.html#ixzz1KuZRxplg
Bill Burton: "While we agree that fundamental campaign finance reforms are needed, Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers cannot live by one set of rules as our values and our candidates are overrun with their hundreds of millions of dollars."
- Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-gear-up-to-match-gop-fundraising-effort/2011/04/29/AFB5BfCF_story.html
- Times: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/leading-democrats-form-fund-raising-group/?ref=politics

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections/Ethics
Corporate America's war on political transparency  
Public Citizen’s Robert Weissman's piece on President Obama's executive order--and the opposition to it. "Gosh, is it really a stretch to suggest that contractors think political donations help them obtain contracts?"

Reid: Ethics panel should issue report on Ensign
Harry Reid wants the Senate Ethics Committee to issue a report on the John Ensign scandal. I would also like that, Senate Ethics Committee.

Congress
Blumenthal joins the ranks of self-funded candidates
Oops: "Sen. Richard Blumenthal has joined the ranks of self-funded candidates--those who use their own money for all or a substantial  portion of their campaign treasury--albeit unintentionally, according to his latest campaign finance report."

Gusher of oil money
Yesterday's Politico Influence newsletter picked up our background memo on oil company money. David Donnelly: “There’s no real good explanation for why these subsidies are continuing when you look at the size of these profits and the price of gas right now. The only answer is the irrational campaign finance system that leads lawmakers to listen more to donors than to common sense,”

Why we need a ban on menthol cigarettes
An op-ed on the need to ban menthol cigarettes and Congress' inaction. "Here’s what senior members of Congress told us: If the bill bans menthol flavoring, Philip Morris will withdraw its support and the legislation will not pass. After all, Philip Morris and the other tobacco companies have spent about $20 million a year lobbying for the past 12 years. The tobacco companies also sprinkle campaign contributions to legislators across party lines; last year alone, it gave $1.5 million to Republican members and $800,000 to Democratic members."

Sen. DeMint to finance committee?
It appears that Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), the lead sponsor of legislation to repeal Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation, might be named to the Senate Finance Committee.

Boehner rejects oil subsidy vote
I sort of wish the John Boehner of Monday would talk to the John Boehner of Thursday on a vote on ending oil subsidies.

George Soros considers his options
Will George Soros bring back his money like 2004? Nobody knows! Interesting quote from Erica Payne of the Democracy Alliance: "“Most liberal funders see funding as a hobby, not as an investment. As such they fund at the hobby level rather than the investment level.”

New Hampshire Dems file complaint against Romney over campaign contributions
New Hampshire Democrats have filed an FEC complaint saying Romney is circumventing federal campaign limits by using his state PACs to raise money, based on the recent Boston Globe story.  And David Donnelly makes his 2012 NH press premiere, "charging that Romney is, 'clearly violating the intent and the spirit of the law.'’’

How the journalist prom got out of control
Ok, not really Congress, but Milbank includes this line in his hit piece on the correspondent's dinner: "But, as with so much else in this town, the event has spun out of control. Now, awash in lobbyist and corporate money, it is another display of Washington’s excesses."

Other
Supreme Court to major corporations: you write the rules
Public Citizen’s David Arkush take on the Supreme Court's decision in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, "a decision with devastating consequences for consumer protection and civil rights."

Part of Fiesta Bowl investigation turned over to county attorney
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, citing a conflict of interest in the Fiesta Bowl case (probably cause he's sort of involved), has handed part of the investigation over to the Maricopa County Attorney office. "It is the first time the Attorney General's Office has publicly said state politicians and their activities are part of the ongoing probe."