Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Campaign Legal Center defends Texas' ban on corporate campaign giving
"Since the Texas Democratic Party sued the Houston tea party group King Street Patriots last fall, accusing the group of engaging in partisan politics without disclosing its donors, the case has ballooned into an all-out challenge of the constitutionality of Texas’ corporate campaign donation ban. Wednesday, the nonpartisan, Washington-based Campaign Legal Center weighed in on KSP’s counter-claim in court, saying, more or less, they’re not buying it."

Pay-to-play will thrive with budget debate
Public Citizen's Craig Holman highlights the supercommittee to show the need for contractor disclosure. "The debt ceiling compromise, in which a super committee of 12 Members of Congress will determine the fate of the federal budget, has elevated pay-to-play politics in government contracting to new heights."

Congress/2012
Member of supercommittee continue personal fundraising
Sen. Toomey's (R-Ohio) office pushes back against efforts to get him to give up fundraising while on the supercommittee. Public Campaign's Adam Smith: "This is a lobbying bonanza."
- And they met yesterday to talk tax code: http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/183295-supercommitte-members-eager-to-pursue-tax-reform.

Baucus has a new K Street tack
Interesting: "Sen. Max Baucus has a new K Street tack. The Montana Democrat told PI’s colleague Manu Raju this morning that it’s important to keep “everything in moderation." “I think it’s important to reduce meetings — there are frankly a lot of people in Montana that I meet with and I will still meet with them. They are my people. That’s essentially what I’m limiting my time to: Montanans,” Baucus said.

Lobbyists lurk, use jobs maps to woo supercommittee members
On lobbyists and the supercommittee--they're planning bus tours, ads fly-ins, and whatever else. Sunlight's Bill Allison: “They’re going to be trying to protect their bottom lines. I can’t think of an industry that won’t be affected.”

TransCanada pipeline lobbyist works all the angles with former colleagues
"In lobbying for a presidential permit to construct a massive oil pipeline stretching from Canada to the Gulf Coast, TransCanada’s Paul Elliott has tried nearly every angle."

Nevada lawmakers drop contributions from poker site
"Charities stand to benefit from thousands of dollars in donations from Nevada members of Congress as they shed campaign contributions from an online poker outfit that has been accused of bilking customers."

Sen. Shelby's Financial Industry Money Keeps Pouring In
Sen. Richard Shelby introduced legislation to weaken Dodd-Frank yesterday. Guess how much money his PAC got in August from financial industry donors?

In reversal, Bachmann's struggles now include fund-raising
Interesting story on Bachmann and fundraising--her small donor base is massive, but that's not enough to win a national race and wealthy donors just aren't buying in. "But like every candidate who hopes to remain in the race long-term, she needs to tap wealthy individuals able to donate the legal maximum of $2,500 per person in the nominating contest and to 'bundle' donations from their social and business networks."

Perry has close ties to conservative foundation
An Austin-based policy foundation controlled by conservative Texas businessmen and political supporters of Gov. Rick Perry has helped shape Perry's policies in office and provided much of the intellectual foundation during his rise to the top of Republican politics."

Senators support cancer and asthma attacks while raking in big campaign cash from polluters
ThinkProgress looks at the energy money 20 Senators have received from the energy sector after pushing legislation to delay the implementation of energy rules.

Other
LePage "surprised" at campaign donor's arrest
A donor to Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), and owner of the restaurant where LePage held his primary night party, was arrested "on charges of harboring and hiring" undocumented workers.

Overheated or reheated? Fraud claims leave us cold
Bill Nemitz does a great job breaking down voter ID efforts in Maine.