Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Let's end the secret money arms race  
Great new piece from The Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel on how Democrats need to take leadership on transparency measures and Fair Elections. Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart: "Our country’s biggest problems won’t be solved for the many if the process is fixed by the money."

Panel to review campaign spending legislation
A Maine Senate Committee is scheduled to look at some Clean Elections and other campaign finance fixes today.

Super PAC or pack of trouble
More details on Jim Bopp's PAC: He wants to serve as a clearinghouse - pushing candidates and parties to channel money to his PAC so he can spend unlimited sums on specific races. And what this is really about: "The legal issues could arise if donors coordinate their donations to Mr. Bopp’s group with candidates before hand, Mr. Gross said."

Business groups to Obama: Drop order on contractor disclosure
Business groups are so mad about this draft executive order on disclosure that they are using their political influence to make sure the process isn't politicized.

Congress/2012
FEC clears complaint against Rep. Rivera
And the FEC has cleared its complaint against Rep. David Rivera in Florida on illegal coordination.

Chamber, GOP insist they sing from same hymnal
The fight over the debt ceiling doesn't mean anything - Republicans and the Chamber will still scratch each other's backs.

GOP takes stock of Silicon Valley options
Wall Street isn't the only place Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is going to woo donors--he's now trying to get some big bucks in Silicon Valley.

Ethanol producer wants to make it easier for corn farmers to fund PAC
The world's largest ethanol producer "wants permission from the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to start an initiative called the POET PAC Cultivator Club, which would allow farmers to contribute to POET PAC at a per bushel rate."

Senate to vote on oil tax bill Tuesday
Looks like the Senate will hold a cloture vote on ending oil subsidies today.

Mitt Romney's money machine cranks up
Mitt Romney raised $10 million yesterday.

Bank fight tests Reid's allegiances
Swipe fees are ratcheting up the rivalry between Durbin and Schumer.

Lawmakers rebuff pleas to return funds from alleged Ponzi shemer
The receiver for ponzi schemer Allen Stanford is having a hard time getting back his political contributions. "At least 50 members of the House and Senate have either ignored restitution demands or donated some of Stanford’s campaign contributions to charity instead."

Other
Update on 2012 presidential contenders: state PACs rev up the race
New report: "Potential 2012 presidential contenders have been busy building relationships and supporting politicians and party committees outside their home states, particularly in Iowa and South Carolina. They have also raised significant cash via state-level political action committees (PACs)."

Blagojevich trial hears differing views on alleged favors
An update on the Rod Blagojevich retrial. "Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did not want to mix fundraising and governing, a former aide said on Monday, but other witnesses said political donations and government favors were linked."

Comfy at the top
Great letter from North Carolina State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird: "As long as campaign contributions continue to allow big business to buy Congress - which was helped immeasurably by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision - we won't be able to change anything. It is distressing and discouraging."