Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Occupy Wall Street planning a national convention, releases potential demands
An Occupy Wall Street working group put out its demands--the first four all have to do with money and politics and influence peddling. You can see them here: https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/.
- Or, as this letter writer in Florida says, she's protesting because, "Citizens across the political spectrum are fed-up with big money interests ruling our political processes instead of We the People." http://www.bradenton.com/2011/10/19/3576876/protesters-decry-control-of-big.html#ixzz1bEKagO00

Off the air
There is a battle brewing in Kentucky. A political committee registered in the state wants to attack Gov. Beshear but won't release its donors, other than to say the money comes from a national group of the same name. "That seems a clear violation of the letter and spirit of Kentucky campaign finance law, and it hinders efforts to determine that there is no illegal coordination between a candidate and an unauthorized committee."

Tara Malloy on the PBS News Hour takes on the myth of "independent" super PACs
"Last night, Legal Center Associate Counsel Tara Malloy appeared on a panel on the PBS News Hour to discuss the impact of Super PACs and 501(c)(4)s on the 2012 election."

Congress/2012
Cain's book purchases spur questions
GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain is facing more criticism for paying his own company for books with his campaign money. Craig Holman: “any presidential candidate that pays his or her own company for goods and services is going to be viewed by the public as using the campaign for personal profit.”
- Also, a first for us here, David Donnelly's tweet on the subject gets quoted by HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/18/herman-cain-mitt-romney-campaign-funds_n_1017568.html

John McCain: Elizabeth Warren relies on "special interest allies"
We politely pointed out that on the same day that Scott Brown's campaign tries to raise money by attacking Elizabeth Warren's "special interest" cash, Brown himself will be having a special interest fundraiser with Washington lobbyists.

Wall Street to Dems: You can't have it both ways
Wall Street is really angry that Democrats are siding with OWS--especially after all that campaign cash they handed over!
- More from Greg Sargent: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/wall-street-lobbyists-rage-at-dems-for-supporting-occupy-wall-street/2011/10/18/gIQAtYRouL_blog.html

Obama campaign ties Mitt Romney to Wall Street and corporate greed
"Obama senior political strategist David Axelrod tied Mitt Romney to corporate greed on Tuesday as the president’s reelection campaign sought to play to the surging Occupy Wall Street protests."

GOP looks at international tax revamp
Lobbyists have told The Hill that House Ways and means Republicans are working on a plan "that would end taxation of most foreign profits earned by U.S. Corporations" 1) Of course lobbyists know and 2) a lot of those people give big money.

In defense of the back-room deal
American University Professor Jordan Tama writes in support of supercommittee secrecy: "But greater openness by the panel, officially known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, would actually be harmful to the public interest."

Africa trip blurs lines on travel propriety
Four House members took a trip to South Africa and Botswana with their wives "paid for by a nonprofit group called the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, which is closely linked to four lobbying organizations and a roster of corporate interests."

Herman Cain backers launch super PAC
And Herman Cain gets a super PAC.

Maffei donates Koch Industries contributions to charity, wants Buerkle to do the same
"Dan Maffei, a Democrat running for Congress in the 25th Congressional District, is calling on Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle to follow him in giving campaign contributions received from Koch Industries to charity."

Feds investigate Fla rep's campaign contributions
Vern Buchanan is still facing plenty of questions about whether he directed a former business partner to give employees cash to make political donations.
- More from Roll Call: http://www.rollcall.com/news/justice_department_again_probing_vern_buchanan-209596-1.html

Ethics to look into Jesse Jackson Jr allegation on Obama Senate seat
"The House Ethics Committee has voted to look into allegations against Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., although the secretive panel has not decided to move ahead with a full-blown probe into whether the Illinois Democrat improperly tried to get appointed to the Senate seat vacated by now President Barack Obama."

Romney, Perry campaigns attract big-name donors
A look at some of the big names giving to the Mitt Romney and Rick Perry campaigns.

Cantor PAC raises $280k
"House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s political action committee pulled in more than $280,000 last month, drawing from the D.C. area, California, Kentucky and Connecticut."

FBI was investigating Murtha for corruption, new records show
"Several months before Rep. John Murtha died, the FBI was moving to expand its ongoing investigation of the powerful lawmaker into a full public corruption probe, newly released records show."

Other
Study: South Carolina voter ID law hit black precincts hardest
"A new South Carolina voter identification law is impacting majority-black precincts more than others in the state, according to a study by the Associated Press." Mission accomplished!