Though not invited to the debate in South Carolina last week, GOP presidential candidate Gov. Buddy Roemer provided some of his own responses. Here's his closing remarks on "what wasn't discussed: money in politics." http://youtu.be/mFHPIKZsvvE

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Clean Elections supporters sue to block ballot measure 
Arizona Advocacy Network, on behalf of several Arizona voters and elected officials, has sued to block the Clean Elections repeal measure recently passed by the legislature.
- More from the AZ Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/05/07/20110507arizona-campaign-finance-ballot-measure.html

Obama could force disclosure of corporate political spending
Update from the LA Times on the proposed executive order. Public Citizen’s Craig Holman: "Many of the government contractors that would be captured under the executive order probably are the big contributors to the Chamber of Commerce, so as a result, the chamber is pursuing their battle against this with extreme vigilance."
- And more from The Hill on a letter from GOP House members opposing it: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/159709-gop-leaders-blast-disclosure-order-as-assault-on-free-speech.

Disclose, disclose, disclose
The Baltimore Sun editorializes in support of Obama's disclosure executive order. "In the end, revealing the political activities of companies that do business with the government can only lead to one thing: better government. That's why President Obama needs to safeguard the 2012 election and sign the executive order."
- This newspaper, the Press Democrat, in California agrees: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110509/OPINION/110509626/1042?Title=PD-Editorial-The-hidden-sources-of-campaign-cash.

Congress/2012
After Citizens United, conservative undisclosed donors spent 8 times as much as liberal ones in 2010 election
"The group found that spending by Super PACs and all outside spending strongly tilted towards conservatives, and that spending by undisclosed donors actually was eight times higher for conservatives than liberals, with conservatives spending $119.6 million to liberals’ $15.7 million."

Families of dead miners feel let down by government
The La Times and the Center for Responsive Politics worked on this story about a year after the Upper Big Branch disaster, still no mining safety laws have been passed. "Campaign contributions from the industry spiked shortly after the explosion and rose steadily through the rest of the year."

Democrats see strategy to end big oil tax breaks
Looks like Senate Democrats are going to push legislation to end oil subsidies and put those savings toward the deficit.

Pot lobby grows in Washington
Marijuana groups are upping their presence in Washington.

Gay donors fuel Obama's 2012 campaign
While some of the 2008 wealthy donor base are disillusioned with Obama, gay donors don't seem to be feel the same.

Hitting the bottle
A good piece on how our regulatory system allows for dangerous chemicals "that have not been adequately tested for safety," harming our health.

Democrats, seduced by secret dollars
According to this NYT editorial: "A political system built on secret, laundered money will inevitably lead toward an increased culture of influence and corruption. Democrats would attract more support as a principled party that refused to follow the Republicans down that dark alley."

Republican fund-raising network off to slow 2012 start
"The vaunted Republican network of high-dollar donors and fund-raisers, for so long a fear factor for Democrats, has been slow to commit itself to the 2012 presidential candidates, contributing to the faltering start of the party’s drive to unseat President Obama."

Other
Koch brothers may fight California oil tax
A campaign to pass a ballot measure to tax oil companies to pay for education in California may face opposition from our friends the Koch brothers.