Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Transparency v. free speech  
Great column from Eliza Newlin Carney this week on disclosure. Anonymity as First Amendment is "an argument that flies in the face of common sense, public opinion and legal precedent."

Citizens United decision reverberates in courts across the country
The Citizens United decision is still reverberating across the country.

Potholes in Pennsylvania Project
The founder of the "First Amendment group," the Center for Competitive Politics, compares Obama's draft executive order on transparency to disgraced and convicted Tom Delay's K Street Project. Seriously.

Congress/2012
Boehner's Boeing ties
There is lots of hand wringing over the National Labor Relations Board's action against Boeing. As Republicans continue to attack the independent agency, it's good to note that Boeing's lobbyist is a former policy advisor to Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) --and a week after the NLRB decision he received $5k from her.

Not a good week for big oil
Carl Pope writes about oil's bad week and includes our data on the subsidies vote last week: "The usual oil industry hole card -- campaign finance bribery -- has already been played. Those who voted to continue the subsidies received on average more than $370,000 in campaign gifts from oil, while those who voted against received only a fifth as much."

Bachmann rivals Obama in success among small donors
"Rep. Michele Bachmann could give President Barack Obama a run for his money among small donors if she becomes the Republican presidential nominee in 2012."

Political groups, now free of limits, spending heavily ahead of 2012
The outside spending frenzy in the NY-26 special election "underscores the increasingly prominent role of Crossroads and other independent groups, which have been freed by recent court rulings to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money."

Frustrated with Democrats, some large unions cut back on donations
"Some of the nation’s largest labor unions are cutting back dramatically on their financial support to the Democratic Party, saying they are highly frustrated with the failure of Democrats to put up stronger resistance to Republican proposals opposed by labor."

Morning money
Politico's Morning Money writes: "Wall Street Primary: Wide Open."

Obama and Romney lead the pack in fundraising
"When it comes to money, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney occupy a plateau far above everyone else."

Jones: A GOP soloist who isn't dreaming big
A profile in Roll Call on our Republican Fair Elections sponsor, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.)

Cain: My campaign coffers are not empty
Ok, "The Hermanator PAC" may be my favorite new name for a PAC.

Secret donors multiply with finances dwarfing Watergate
Another piece on secret money flowing into elections

Other
Legislature OKs corporate campaign donation bill
The Tennessee legislature has sent legislation to the governor's desk that will allow direct corporate contributions to candidates. An amendment barring money from outside the state failed.

Stephen Colbert Super PAC hits a snag
An update on Colbert's Super PAC.