Fair Elections/Campaign Finance
Before our briefing on Tuesday, we interviewed Rep. Walter Jones (D-N.C.) on why he supports the Fair Elections Now Act: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtazGPneSWA
 
11 Reasons We Need the Shareholder Protection Act
Ciara Torres-Spellicsy gives a variety of reason of why we need the recently introduced Shareholder Protection Act.
 
Edwards Criminal Trial Set for October
Former Presidential candidate John Edwards’ campaign finance trial now has a date.
 
Rules Be Damned
The National Journal interviews Trevor Potter, former FEC Chairman and Stephen Colbert’s “personal lawyer.”
On 2012: “Well, it would be overstating it, but it would still be in the right ballpark to say it’s going to look a lot like the 1904 campaign, which was the last one before there were federal laws regulating money in politics. You’re going to find a lot of money being spent. I think you’re going to find people who don’t want to disclose donors being able to hide the money. So you’ll find secret money. What I don’t know is what the popular reaction to all that is going to be.”
 
Congress/2012
Eric Cantor and His Tax Dodging Donors
Public Campaign Action Fund’s David Donnelly: “It shouldn’t be any surprise that members of Congress are wary of closing tax loopholes because many of these benefit some of their top campaign donors. Rep. Cantor (R-Va.) is no exception. The question is whether Cantor will risk default, sending our economy into a tailspin, to protect these donors.”
 
Obama Team Moves Fundraiser After Globe Query
“President Obama’s campaign committee is moving a fund-raiser featuring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from the Pfizer world headquarters to another location in New York City after The Boston Globe inquired about the propriety of a major pharmaceutical company hosting an event that could benefit the administration regulating it.”
 
Wall Street Aims to ‘Reform the Reform’ Known as Dodd-Frank
“Though little known outside Washington and Wall Street, Mr. Bartlett has played a pivotal role with other lobbyists in their fierce and frenetic behind-the-scenes effort that has successfully delayed or watered down many of the major regulatory changes passed by Congress in the aftermath of the financial meltdown.”
 
Democrats Attack Romney PACs
“Democrats went on the attack Thursday against Mitt Romney’s elaborate system of state political-action committees, arguing in a complaint that the Republican candidate has exploited weak campaign-finance laws to improperly fund his presidential aspirations.”
 
Why Doesn’t Washington Hear the Unemployed
“I’m sure all of these theories are at least partially right. But they’re missing the big one that has the best evidence behind it: The unemployed don’t have very much money. And it’s money that gets the political system interested in your agenda <http://www.democracyjournal.org/20/the-hood-robin-economy.php?page=2> .”
 
Hirono Steps Down From Ethics Panel
In preparation for her Senate run, Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) has stepped down from the ethics panel.
 
Pawlenty Raises $4.5 Million for Race
TPaw’s numbers aren’t blowing anyone away.
 
Palin’s Political Committee Spent Tens of Thousands on Bus Trip
Yes, PACs always fund my “family vacations” too.
 
Other
DSCC Joins Murdoch Fray
The DSCC has followed CREW’s lead and launched a petition to "Stand With Democrats & Demand that Murdoch Come Clean on Spying."
 
FBI Opens Inquiry Into Hacking of 9/11 Victims
News Corp. is going to be investigated by the FBI.
- More here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/phone-hacking-scandal-casts-light-on-murdochs-political-role-around-the-globe/2011/07/15/gIQAyxAfFI_story.html
- And Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) is the first to call on Congress to investigate News Corp.: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/171539-dem-calls-on-issa-to-investigate-news-corp