Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Lawmaker requests end to ethics panel investigation 
Citing misconduct, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is calling for a termination of the ethic committee investigation of her.
- And CREW has called for an investigation of the ethics committee after yesterday's news: http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0711/CREW_calls_for_investigation_into_House_Ethics_Committee.html

John Ensign shells out for legal fees
John Ensign may be gone from the Senate, but his legal fees continue on.

Congress/2012
U.S. Senator Bob Corker adds $2.5 million to war chest
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) raised big bucks in the second quarter.

Health group to White House: ignore industry smog appeal
The American Lung Association is urging the White House to ignore business group efforts to scuttle EPA's upcoming smog rules.

Lawmakers, industry target EPA air rules on two fronts
And Congressional fights with the EPA continue, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) really working hard to prove she's conservative enough to primary voters.

Dodd-Frank under fire a year later
The fight over Dodd-Frank has not eased up since its passage a year ago. "But there remain signs that the tightened regulatory measures could still be undone, creating uncertainty about whether the actions that have helped to stabilize Wall Street will be in place when the next crisis hits."

How foreign money can find its way into political campaigns
Dan Froomkin on foreign lobbying, etc: "And some of that money may well be wending its way into politicians' election coffers through the generous campaign contributions those lobbyists routinely make to buy access and reward friends."

Congressman who harassed Elizabeth Warren showered with donations from banks and predatory lenders
ThinkProgress looks at the donations Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) got from Wall Street and other interests in the second quarter.

Paltry fundraising sparks 2012 questions
"The figures, filed late last week, offer glimpses into the political prowess of Members and their challengers. The reports distinguish the strong from the weak and allow political observers to peek inside campaigns of freshmen and veterans."

SC donors cool thus far to GOP candidates
South Carolina Republicans are holding back on donations to GOP 2012 candidates.

Business groups challenge rules on unions
The attack on the National Labor Relations Board, and its efforts to make it easier for unions to hold elections, continues.

Reince Priebus accuses Obama of "an apparent crime"
RNC Chair Priebus is continuing the overblown fight over a video Obama filmed for a small donor raffle.

PR firm took $1.2M from Gadhafi's Libya
The Hill looks at recent FARA filings.

Other
Shale Commission...or shill commission?
The Philly Daily News takes on the shale commission in the state and the role campaign cash had in it. "Those contributions are perfectly legal - because we live in a state with a Wild West approach to campaign finance. But those contributions muddy the job that these officials should be doing: Are they representing the people's interest or the governor's?"