Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Watchdogs call for greater transparency in corporate political spending
"In a web seminar sponsored by the Business Ethics Network last week, groups concerned about the role of money in politics gathered to review strategies for increased disclosure."

A blockbuster case yields an unexpected result
Adam Liptak writes, "People who hate Citizens United last year’s blockbuster campaign finance decision by the Supreme Court, tend to blame it for allowing secret money from corporations and unions to flood the political landscape. But the critique is wrong on at least one point — the bit about secrecy." I mean, I guess, if you give Congress a pass on not doing its job to pass disclosure legislation.       

Congress/2012
SC couple accused of illegally giving to Graham
"A Mount Pleasant man and his estranged wife are accused of illegally contributing to Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham 2008 re-election campaign and to his political action committee, according to federal indictments unsealed Monday."

Bill Koch, coal, and political cash
Looking at Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) coal money. "And that's my concern, that projects such as Oxbow's new coal mine will be considered by politicians thinking about their campaign coffers, not the merits for or against the project itself."

Toomey PAC to host fundraiser Thursday
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will hold a fundraiser Thursday just hours before a supercommittee meeting.

Keep the super committee accountable to the people
The Pocono Record says we need the supercommittee must be transparent: "Our system of government is supposed to be of, by and for the people. In reality the committee members will face tremendous pressure from special interests with much to gain or lose by the committee's recommendations."

Tech sector fights for repatriation
"The technology industry has lined up a political dream team in its fight for a tax break on more than $1 trillion in profits earned overseas."
- Interestingly, there's a lot of tech money on the supercommittee: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63192.html

Michigan ties may play role on super committee
"Super committee members Dave Camp and Fred Upton hold two of the most influential gavels in the House — but it’s their history of voting with the president on issues important for their home state of Michigan that may make them the lawmakers to watch as the budget debate engulfs Washington yet again."

A "transparency" and "accountable" White House?
Americans United to Rebuild Democracy writes about the White House and Solyndra.
- Lamar Smith wants Justice to look at it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-judiciary-chairman-justice-should-probe-solyndra-bankruptcy/2011/09/19/gIQAfD9NgK_story.html.

Republicans sought clean-energy money for home states
But Republicans aren't angels, either. "Federal lobbying disclosure records show that Mr. McConnell’s support for the project came after Zap Motor hired a Kentucky-based lobbyist, Robert Babbage, who has been a frequent contributor to Mr. McConnell’s campaigns and boasts on his own Internet site about his close ties to Mr. McConnell."

How Big Sugar gets what it wants from Congress
A look at the influence of the sugar industry on elected officials.

Obama raises money in New York
"Hours after delivering a White House speech that called on wealthy Americans to pay higher taxes, President Barack Obama dined with some of these very Americans in New York. He was expected to raise more than $2 million for his reelection campaign."

Ron Paul raises more than $1 million over weekend
Money bomb! "Over the weekend, 2012 Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul netted more than $1 million in a one-day fundraising event."

White House threatens veto over House attack on EPA pollution rules
The White House has threatened veto over a House bill to further weaken the EPA.

Campaign face costs of scandal
Not only did a handful of lawmakers lose campaign money from that embezzler, now they'll have to pay for the legal cost of figuring everything out.

House Dems outraise Republicans for Aug.
The DCCC outraised the NRCC in August.

Other
Russell Pearce/Olivia Cortes probe requested by Ex-LD 18 candidate
Is Olivia Cortes a "sham" candidate in the recall race of Clean Elections foe Russell Pearce just to help him stay in office?