Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Election Reform
A letter in Kansas talks about the influence of Wall Street on our political process. "Getting rid of the influence of large contributions, big money bundlers and contributions by lobbyists is possible. However, true campaign finance reform will require a broad-based mass movement demanding a law similar to the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750, H.R. 1404)."

Fighting for corporate disclosure
Eliza Newlin Carney looks at the fight for corporate disclosure of political spending. Public Citizen's Lisa Gilbert: "We all think that shareholders have a right to know what’s going on."

Congress
Scott Brown holding fundraiser with Wall St. lobbyists
Oh look. Just a week after Politico reported that the "Washington cocktail circuit" was abuzz with how to take out Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) is having cocktails with Wall Street lobbyists.

Super committee is no secret to the well-heeled
An editorial on the need for supercommittee transparency. "But just to be clear,  the super committee's deliberations are not secret from K Street, Washington shorthand for high-powered, deep-pocketed lobbyists with connections. That's definitely not us and very likely not you, either."
- Another from Iowa: http://www.thonline.com/news/opinion/article_b43b0d1c-42c0-595e-8fa6-5398e764563a.html

How politicians can kick the Wall Street habit
Harold Meyerson writes about the Wall Street protests--Republicans won't pass populist Wall Street reforms and Democrats didn't do certain tax reforms that they could have. "Here’s a modest proposal: Refuse all campaign contributions from banks, hedge funds, private equity funds and their partners and employees. From the whole financial sector. Sign a pledge to go off the sauce." Read the whole thing.

Financial sector girds for battle on "Volcker Rule" for banks' investments
Oh good, another Wall Street battle in Congress! "Regulators ushered in one of the fiercest lobbying fights over the Wall Street reform law Tuesday with a proposal to implement the controversial 'Volcker Rule' to limit risky investments by banks."

The awakening: it's the greed, stupid
An op-ed in Philly on why people are protesting: "Confident of their ownership of the government, that no excess would be too much, no gamble too great (with other people’s homes and savings), no reward too big, they crashed the American economy."

Dylan Ratigan: good intentions and bad consequences
"Dylan Ratigan, like all of us, has made mistakes.  He has driven away potential allies on his television show and probably now through his leadership of “Occupy Wall Street," an event that is highlighting our differences rather than our common concerns.  But like the vast majority in the Tea Party movement, and the many progressives who have long called for clean election laws, Ratigan is a patriot.  He understands the problem. As Larry Lessig so eloquently suggests, we ordinary citizens are all in this together.  Please, no more occupations.  How about some thoughtful bridge building instead?"

Solyndra collapse sparks K Street rush
"The renewable energy industry is facing a watershed moment, and many firms are taking the traditional route to safety — by calling on K Street for help."

Poll: Congress hits rock bottom
I know, I feel like we see this story once a week these days. "Congressional job approval has fallen to 13 percent, matching an all-time low, a new poll shows."

Groups sue after EPA fails to shift ozone rules
"Five health and environmental groups sued the Obama administration on Tuesday over its rejection of a proposed stricter new standard for ozone pollution, saying the decision was driven by politics and ignored public health concerns."
 
Charges dropped against clergy who prayed in Capitol
Charges were dropped against a handful of religious leaders that held a prayer vigil in the Capital at the height of the debt ceiling debate, including against Common Cause's Bob Edgar.

Other
Irregularities found in John Liu's campaign finance report
The Times found a whole lot of problems in the campaign finance reports for NYC comptroller John Liu.

NC should fight to keep publicly funding judicial campaigns
Brennan Center's David Earley writes: In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that triggered matching funds are unconstitutional in legislative races. But judicial elections are different. Unlike legislators who respond to their constituents' concerns, judges are meant to uphold the law impartially. Ensuring the integrity of the judiciary is a constitutional interest of the highest order."