Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Clean Elections take a hit, by Renee Loth
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/07/09/clean_elections_take_a_hit/
A good, though somewhat pessimistic, piece in the Globe by Renee on the McComish decision. "The story of unchecked corporate power is everywhere. Somebody needs to write a new ending."

Members of Congress need to spend less time raising funds, by Aaron Scherb
http://thehill.com/opinion/letters/170295-member-of-congress-need-to-spend-less-time-raising-funds
Our own Aaron Scherb had this letter published in the Hill last week on 2nd quarter fundraising and the need for Fair Elections

Congress/2012
Romney gets a boost from new funding environment
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/07/09/romney_gets_a_boost_from_new_funding_environment/
More on the Romney-related Super PAC. CRP's Michael Beckel: "“The new legal landscape is taking us closer to the wild, wild west in terms of how much money is going to be in the process." Also, an important nugget: "A Romney spokeswoman would not say whether he or his campaign will help independent super PACs supporting him raise money."

Wall Street strikes at regulations
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58644.html
Politico has a special section today on the implementation of Dodd-Frank and Wall Street's efforts to fight it. Nick Nyhart: "If you want to go after Godzilla, you need to have King Kong."
- Spencer "Serve the Banks" Bachus on the problems of Dodd-Frank.

GOP gets one last shot at Consumer Protection bureau before it opens
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/170559-gop-gets-one-last-shot-at-consumer-protection-bureau-before-it-opens
House Oversight Committee will get the chance to yell at Elizabeth Warren again this week. Will Patrick McHenry call her a liar again?

The billion-dollar bank heist, by Gary Rivlin
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/10/the-billion-dollar-bank-heist.html
On efforts to hinder implementation of Dodd-Frank: "The story of this evisceration is largely one of money—the tens of billions of dollars in profits that banks and other financial institutions stand to lose if Dodd-Frank is implemented, and the astonishing sums they’re spending to squash it."

Outside groups deflate Obama's bully pulpit
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/outside-groups-deflate-obamas-bully-pulpit/241569/
How outside spending this year helps to deflate Obama's bully pulpit as the incumbent president. 

Groups want House to restart Waters ethics probe
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/10/groups-want-house-to-re-start-waters-ethics-probe/
"A coalition of reform groups wants the  House Ethics Committee to resume its work on the long-pending investigation of Rep. Maxine Waters and provide a public accounting of the status of the case against the California Democrat."

It's good to be speaker; Boehner raies $29M
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/170311-its-good-to-be-speaker-boehner-raises-29m-
Speaker Boehner has raised more than $29 million this year--on track to beat the $50 million he raised last year. How much is from Ohio?

GOP hopes financial reform law hill haunt democrats
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58659.html
It's amazing that only a few years after the financial collapse, Republicans are going to try to use legislation to rein in the banks as a bludgeon.

Super PACs target Colorado
http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_18444165
On American Crossroads putting up ads in Colorado.

GOP presidential candidates lag in fundraising compared with 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-candidates-lagging-far-behind-2007-fundraising-numbers/2011/07/07/gIQA5J0Y3H_story.html
2012 GOP candidates are way behind what 2008 GOP candidates raised by this time. 

Call oil companies greedy
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/43685/group/Opinion/
A letter to the editor in Wisconsin: "Too many anti-environmental politicians are willing to accept money from big oil and other dirty polluters who spoil our beautiful landscape, pollute our waterways, streams and fresh drinking water and ignore the warnings of scientists who say that time is running out to solve global warming before its effects become irreversible."

Judge a campaign by its lawyer
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58604.html
When running for president, and figuring out how to raise all that money, having a good lawyer is important. 

Other
Common Cause keeps the heat on Clarence Thomas, by John Ennis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-wellington-ennis/clarence-thomas-ethics-_b_893755.html
Ennis writes about Common Cause's efforts to highlight the ethics issues of Clarence Thomas

Russell Pearce recall: Enough signatures to force election
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/07/08/20110708russell-pearce-recall-signatures-certified.html
Looks like Clean Elections foe Russell Pearce is going to face a recall election.
- And he's not going to be able to accept corporate or union contributions to do it.

Selling the anti-Bachmann phone
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_4/Credo-Mobile-Sells-Anti-Michele-Bachmann-Phone-207138-1.html
Nice piece about our friends at Credo Mobile on their efforts to bring left-leaning AT&T customers over to their site through advertising the phone giant's ties to Michele Bachmann.