Have you seen the documentary, Priceless, yet? It's good. You should. And you should snag a copy from Habitat Media here: http://www.habitatmedia.org/store.html. It's been racking up wins on the festival circuit.

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Business executives call for end to anonymous cash
"The nonpartisan Committee on Economic Development wants companies to be upfront about their political activity, even though new laws have made it easier for them to do it under the radar. The group, made of about 200 executives, has also called on Congress to pass new disclosure laws."
- More from Bloomberg: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/26/bloomberg_articlesLS51ND0UQVI9.DTL
- Roll Call: http://www.rollcall.com/news/business_think_tank_warns_against_political_contributions-209015-1.html?pos=htmbtxt
- CED's release: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/26/3939631/business-leaders-caution-against.html

Super PACs and secret money: the unregulated shadow campaign
A must read from Paul Blumenthal, quoting several friends of this list. "The federal system of campaign finance is in the midst of a sea change following the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC), which undid a host of regulations covering the use of corporate and union money by independent groups in elections. Those independent groups are forming a shadow campaign apparatus fueled by unlimited and often undisclosed contributions, without the same accountability required of political parties or candidates' own political action committees."

Bipartisan agreement; Political spending, political favoritism
Elizabeth Kennedy at the Brennan Center writes on Darrell Issa's sudden interest in political favoritism. "In a rare moment of agreement, it seems members of both parties want to take action to prevent political spending from leading to political favoritism."

Lobbyists object to Obama proposal that would tigthen rules for federal workers
The American League of Lobbyists has announced its opposition to an administration proposal that would tighten rules around executive branch employees and lobbying.

Congress/2012
Supercommittee members raked in $41 million from Wall Street
Public Campaign and National People's Action released a report yesterday on the supercommittee and its ties to Wall Street. Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart: "The super committee should not give Wall Street and big banks another free ride because of their campaign cash."
- Full report: http://publicampaign.org/reports/41million
- USA Today: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/09/super-committee-wall-street-donations/1
- Firedoglake: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/09/26/report-super-committee-members-pocketed-41-million-from-finance-lobby-during-congressional-careers/
- Truth Out: http://www.truth-out.org/wall-street-donated-41-million-supercommittee-members/1317066056
- Washington Monthly: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_09/mondays_minireport_18032449.php
- Showdown in America: http://showdowninamerica.org/node/1043

Facebook to form its own PAC to back political candidates
"Congress, you have a friend request."

Schools, or tax breaks for oil companies?
Gov. Rick Perry's (R-Texas) environmental commission appointees may just give big oil companies in Texas a massive tax break--which would rip a lot of money out of schools. One of the companies asking for it, Valero, is a big Rick Perry donor.

Fundraiser Obama works in a tough money environment
Fundraising won't be as easy this time around for the President, says the AP.
- Boston Globe on third quarter ending: http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/09/president-obama-and-gop-candidates-make-quarter-closing-fund-raising-dash/SkEP7Fh9xPydNvwUO8KH9O/index.html.

Team Obama: we're just fine with small donors
The Obama campaign responded to the weekend's story on Obama and small donors: "Unlike the Republican field, we don't accept a dime from special interests or Washington lobbyists and therefore we rely on contributions from individuals across the country."

Romney lures Obama Wall Street donors in race for campaign cash
"Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has raised more than twice as much money from Wall Street as Barack Obama -- an edge gained in part by luring away at least 100 donors, mostly investors, who backed the president in 2008, according to a Bloomberg News analysis."

Some of the men pushing a Chris Christie run for president
Some wealthy men aren't thrilled with the GOP field and are pushing Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) to run. "They are rich. They are unattached. They are looking for a little excitement." It's like Millionaire Matchmaker for the 2012 race.

LightSquared doubles size of its lobbying team in 2011
"LightSquared, the wireless telecom firm facing Republican complaints that it has benefited from political ties to the White House, has significantly boosted its lobbying this year."

No rush to offer tea party solutions
Interesting look at the Tea Party and it's decision not to engage in the supercommittee. "We are an organization that's designed to push the debate toward fiscal responsibility. Our job is not to come up with policies."

Obama's campaign spending placed third behind $72 billion candidate
LOL. Presidential candidate Lee Mercer has reported spending $72 billion on his campaign. "It is the costs associated with some non-traditional research techniques and electioneering activities," he says.

Other
Campaign spending tracker talked to FBI about railroad executive
Our friend at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Mike McCabe, on being interviewed by the FBI in the ongoing investigation in Wisconsin surrounding Gov. Scott Walker's staff: "I didn’t really think anything of it when we were approached earlier this year. Then when a house gets raided and immunity gets granted it did make me think of it.”

Perdue returns donation
NC. Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) returned a $500 donation over concerns it was a strawman donation.