Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Rules of the Game: Super PACs multiply, head to Hill
Eliza Newlin Carney asks, are super PACs the new black? Will they be the new leadership PAC?

Cain's 9-9-9 plan, the tax code, and the campaign finance connection
What does 999 have to do with campaign finance? Stephen Erickson at Americans United to Rebuild Democracy lays it out.

Congress/2012
Pat Toomey's 3rd quarter fundraising occupied by Wall Street money
We're still moving through the 3rd quarter filings of supercommittee members. OWS protestors marched to Toomey's office over the weekend. It was also revealed over the weekend that he raised 40k in financial industry PAC money.

John Kerry keeps word on fund-raising while on deficit "supercommittee"
An analysis of FEC filings show that John Kerry kept his word about not fundraising while on the supercommittee. Good for him!
- Here's our press release on it: http://publicampaign.org/pressroom/2011/10/17/watchdog-group-praises-kerry-sticking-pledge

Supercommittee members Camp and Upton took big cash from Wall Street, Big Oil, and insurance interests in the third quarter
We looked at Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Dave Camp's (R-Mich.) fundraising--lots of money from people with a stake in the superommittee.
- USA today looks at overall PAC giving for the 6 House members: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/10/super-committee-fundraising/1
- A story from Camp's district on his special interest fundraising: http://www.mlive.com/midland/index.ssf/2011/10/rep_dave_camp_raises_more_than_707000_in_3q_--_most_by_any_supercommittee_member.html

Supercommittee panelists don't cash in
Supercommitte members didn't raise as much as last time and it's good to see it's partially because of the conflict of interest it would raise. Still, there's plenty of money.

K Street money flowing into deficit panel
"Members of the deficit-reduction supercommittee have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from special-interest groups, including a significant chunk from healthcare interests that want the panel to fail." The story notes that Sen. Kerry did in fact give up fundraising.

Romney is winning bankers' dollars
On presidential fundraising: "The bankers love Mitt Romney, but their affair with President Barack Obama hasn't gone completely cold."
- More on this subject from McClatchy: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/17/2458892/as-rage-at-wall-street-rises-its.html

Elite Rick Perry Florida fundraiser A.K. Desai stands by his man
A Gov. Rick Perry donor says, “There’s no buyer’s remorse." Whatcha buyin?

Herman Cain spends $100k in campaign cash on Herman Cain
Well, I guess that's one way to make your company money--have your campaign pay it.

Questions raised over Perry campaign's reimbursements for use of private plane
Did the Perry campaign get a special deal on a private plane from a guy under investigation by federal securities regulators? Maybe!

Members to join Romney at DC fundraiser
Lots of members will join lots of lobbyists at a Mitt Romney fundraiser at the end of the month.

Being in Congress has perks
"Despite increasingly strict rules governing gifts for Members of Congress and administration officials, some companies still provide special customer service perks to lawmakers, staff and top officials in Washington, D.C." This quote is amazing: "'The last thing you want is the people who could legislate or regulate you out of business to be pissed off at your customer service,' said one longtime Washington advocate familiar with the VIP customer care programs."

Deep Sea Burial forms first corporate "super PAC"
"The first corporate 'super PAC' has arrived, though the company in question is not exactly a household name. Deep Sea Burial Corp., a Florida company that offers 'the world’s greenest burial alternative,' has formed the 'American Phoenix Superpac with plans to spend up to $5 million in federal and state elections, according to the firm."

Colo. Rep. Gardner digs in with Big Oil, known as anti-regulation voter
"Colorado Fourth-District Republican US Rep Cory Gardner is filling his campaign coffers for 2012 as he did in 2010 by leaning heavily on oil-and-gas industry donors."

Senate Dems flex fundraising muscle; House GOP freshmen come up short
"Democratic Senate candidates — including those incumbents most at risk in 2012 — proved themselves fundraising forces to be reckoned with during the third quarter of the year, while many first-term Republicans had a hard time cashing in."

Campaigns make cash off donor contact information
Campaigns have found another way to raise money--selling their email lists.

Other
Clean Elections measure returns to court
A judge in Arizona appeared skeptical about the lawsuit against the recently passed Clean Elections repeal measure in Arizona--partially due to the fact the measure overreached to also include Tucson's city system. Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation's Sam Wercinski: "This is really about big money in Arizona trying to repeal an anti-corruption law because they want to control through campaign contributions who gets to run, who gets elected and how tax cuts are given."