Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Rejection in Renzi case might kick it  
"A federal appeals court on Monday denied the request of former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) to rehear arguments as to whether the corruption case against him can proceed, potentially setting up a Supreme Court showdown over the application of a constitutional clause that has become a legal shield favored by wayward lawmakers."

Congress
Debt ceiling deal paves way for potentially historic lobbying campaign 
On yesterday's deal: "That could mean the main forces affected by the potential trigger -- the defense lobby and health care industry -- will have extra time to engage in a lobbying campaign to ensure that their priorities aren't threatened."

Panel may trigger lobbying bonanza
More from Roll Call on the lobbying that'll be triggered now. "Two of the biggest spenders on lobbying, the health care and defense industries, might end up working against each other in a furious four-month campaign focused on the deficit reduction committee-to-be."
- And Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60413.html

SuperPACs raise $26 million in 2011
Super PACs have started the year off strong, raising $26 million in the first half of the year. 83% of that came from just give groups.
- More from who's giving this money from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-superpacs-millions-20110801,0,7714983.story

Same Ol' Song and Dance
We look at the number of fundraisers taking place at the Taylor Swift concert in DC this week. Her song "You Belong With Me" seems apt here.

Energy programs prepare for debt deal plan
Energy groups are not looking forward to the cuts likely included in the debt plan for energy programs.

Senators to Obama: Leave oil subsidies alone!
A handful of Senators sent a letter to President Obama last week urging them to leave oil subsidies out of the debt deal. These Senators have received $7.1 million from oil and gas interests.

Protesters of debt deal detained at Capitol
Good on National People's Action! About 20 people were arrested yesterday protesting the debt deal. NPA's Amanda Devecka-Rinear: "What they were protesting is this, what we’re calling a ‘raw deal’ here, the debt-ceiling deal that does absolutely nothing to raise revenue and really asks elderly people, working families, people who have health care needs to make all these sacrifices, whereas letting Wall Street and the super rich off the hook."

Giffords returns to Congress to vote on debt deal
Really moving scene on the House floor last night as Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) returned to vote on the debt deal

Unions hire Dem lobbyists to look into smear-campaign allegations
SEIU and Change to Win have hired the Raben Group to look into allegations from earlier in the year that the Chamber of Commerce's law firm was looking at a dirty tricks plan to discredit its critics

Bingaman chief of staff goes to K Street
Sen. Bingaman's chief of staff will now head over to K Street.

Other
Phone-hacking scandal: Key figure at News International arrested
Another arrest in the UK in the Murdoch phone-hacking scandal.

Is it time to take away my right to vote...for judicial candidates?
Jess Levinson writes about how crazy it is to elect judges. One reason? "Judicial elections may be increasingly problematic as the U.S. Supreme Court continues to dismantle campaign finance reforms. Judicial elections are therefore ever more susceptible to the influence of large inflows of money. Will it be any surprise when special interests pour large sums of money into judicial races?"