A democracy of voters, not dollars
Adam Skaggs at the Brennan Center writes on the outcome of McComish, "Congress, the states, and municipalities around the country should adopt small donor matching programs without delay. They are the surest way to guarantee that voters, not dollars, are the heart of our democracy."

The FEC awakens
"It is heartening that the usually dysfunctional Federal Election Commission has now ruled that candidates cannot solicit large-scale donations for the new 'Super PACs' intent on raising hundreds of millions for the 2012 election"

Dems: If corporate donations are free speech, let shareholders speak too
Senators and House Members introduced the Shareholder Protection Act yesterday that would empower shareholders to weigh in on contributions from corporate treasuries.
- More from HuffPost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/congressional-democrats-corporate-disclosure_n_897404.html

Congress/2012
Demands mount in US Congress for News Corp. hacking probes
Even Republican Peter King (R-N.Y.) is calling for an investigation: "Outrage over alleged bribery and phone hacking at a News Corp. tabloid in London mounted in Washington as lawmakers demanded probes of whether the company violated anti-corruption laws and Sept. 11 victims’ privacy."
- More in the Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/rupert-murdoch-criticism-reaches-the-us-but-will-it-affect-news-corp/2011/07/13/gIQADIrCDI_story.html

News Corp-funded US Chamber leading campaign to weaken key anti-bribery law
ThinkProgress writes on the Chamber of Commerce, which receives News Corp funding, and its efforts to weaken the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Subcommittee members receive $85k in Exxon money
Following an oil spill in Montana, the Exxon President Gary Pruessing is set to testify at a House subcommittee hearing today. 12 Committee members have received $85k from Exxon--with 98% going to 10 Republicans--in the past 10 years.

Background Memo: Oversight Committee's Wall Street cash
Oversight Committee members will grill Elizabeth Warren today. Committee members received $6 million from Wall Street interests in the 2010 cycle.

Financial Crisis panel commissioners leaked confidential information to lobbyists, report alleges
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) suddenly canceled a hearing planned for yesterday on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission--might have something to do with this report showing Republican commissioners on the panel leaked confidential information to lobbyists, among other things.

Cole thwarts Obama, bill by bill
Roll Call writes about Rep. Tom Cole's (R-Okla.) efforts to block President Obama's executive order on transparency that doesn't even exist.

Influence Industry: Coming soon to a screen near you
There are dueling documentaries about our legal system,one funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one that's receiving publicity help from the trial lawyers. A new front in the lobbying wars?

Issa seeks DNC records of White House meetings
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is still trying to figure out whether the Obama campaign held illegal fundraising meetings at the White House.

A new front in the cash war
"There is no question that President Obama will have more money to spend on his reelection bid than the Republican presidential nominee. But his opponent’s bank account won’t be his biggest concern. Instead, it will be spending by outside organizations intent on turning the campaign into a negative referendum on the incumbent’s first term."

Obama raises a whopping $86M, but not as grassroots as they want you to think
Micah Sifry writes on President Obama's fundraising haul that big donors still play a huge role, no matter what the campaign says.

Christie to raise money for Iowa Rep. Steve King
New Jersey Govenor Chris Christie will headline a fundraiser for Iowa Rep. Steve King (R-IA) in a few weeks. King, you'll remember, once said that if President Obama was elected "radical Islamists and their supporters will be dancing in the streets."

Brian Ballard jumps on the Mitt Romney team
Mitt Romney has hired a Tallahassee lobbyist to lead his Florida fundraising.

Other
ALEC exposed
The Nation and Center for Media and Democracy have put together a blockbuster investigation.