Join us in DC next Tuesday for an event at GWU Law School featuring Larry Lessig. He'll talk about his new book, "Republic Lost." http://publicampaign.org/blog/2011/10/12/join-us-how-money-corrupts-congress-lawrence-lessig

Also, Several members and friends of this list made the "Top Grassroots Lobbyists" list at The Hill: Bob Edgar, Craig Holman, Meredith McGehee, Ed Mierzwinski, Melanie Sloan, and Fred Wertheimer: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/187225-top-lobbyists-grassroots

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
'Super PAC' American Crossroads seeks permission to feature candidates in ads
"American Crossroads, the largest of a new generation of political interest groups, is seeking to use a loophole in campaign laws to do something that has occupied a gray area of election law: produce advertisements featuring federal candidates and officeholders." So, then, candidates can not only now raise money for super PACs, then can also appear in their ads.
- How they say Ben Nelson is the one that started this fight! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/politics/ben-nelsons-campaign-ads-may-break-new-ground.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Dylan Ratigan occupies Wall Street to get money out of Washington
The NY Observer looks at Ratigan's new effort to "get money out."

Congress/2012
Tea Party PAC looks to increase role this cycle
And the Tea Party is getting into the secret money game. "As tea party activists rail against the special interests and backroom deals that shape Washington, the movement's leaders are embracing classic old-money politics in preparation for 2012."

Obama campaign raises almost $43 million
Obama had a big haul in the third quarter. $43 million, 766,000 donations, 98% were $250 or less. Add in the money he raised for the DNC, and the total jumps to $70M.

"Scarlet L" for K Street returns as Obama sharpens 2012 rhetoric on lobbyists
"Lobbyists are bracing for a new round of rhetorical attacks from President Obama as he runs for reelection."

Morning money
Look at the piece about the continuing battle between the banks and retailers over the swipe fee. Looks like Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is pushing a repeal measure in the House.

Friendly fire hits Boehner on Dodd-Frank reform law
"Republican presidential candidates are ramping up pressure on House GOP leaders to repeal the 2010 Wall Street reform law."

Deficit panel pressure increases as time fades
"With a Friday cutoff for formal recommendations to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction and with time ticking away at the panel’s November final product deadline, outside groups are submitting letters and outlines by the dozen to try to affect what could be a $1.2 trillion deficit deal."

Jeffrey Katzenberg, JJ Abrams leading the charge of Hollywood's Super PAC spenders
"In a town that loves its blockbusters, Hollywood's political fund-raising scene is turning into a big-budget drama, thanks to the super PAC."

Romney raising with Seattle's best
Mitt Romney is holding a fundraiser in Seattle today.

Langone doesn't hesitate in aiding Romney
That didn't take long! Ken Langone will host a fundraiser for Romney at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC at the beginning of November. "He was followed into Mr. Romney's camp by a number of other well-known Republican donors, many of them from Wall Street..."

Other
Voting, not money, determines the results
Art Pope responds to the New Yorker article. He didn't buy the elections because, "the conservative organizations my company helped fund limited themselves to issue advocacy, informing the public on how politicians had voted on legislation. This was perfectly legal under North Carolina law and the First Amendment even before the Supreme Court decided Citizens United." Ha.

Florida AG Pam Bondi pressured by targets of investigations to soften approach, critics say
Is the Florida Attorney General caving to pressure from mortgage lenders that also gave to her campaign?

Despite law, cash flows during season
The governor of New Mexico is prohibited from soliciting campaign cash during legislative sessions. That doesn't mean people can't GIVE money without being asked, according to the governor's office (and donors gave plenty.)