Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
American corporate political transparency is 44 years behind the UK
"As I told my law students in a recent class, when I was in law school, no one cared a fig about corporate political spending.  I did not hear about it in Constitutional Law, Corporate Law or Fed. Tax.  It was a non-issue because for the most part, it was banned.  It made sense that back then, the SEC would not have a corporate political spending reporting requirement.  That would have been tantamount to the agency’s asking, 'have you committed any federal election crimes?'  Now that such political spending is legal, the SEC should respond to the growing calls for a new disclosure rule."

More money can beat big money
Lawrence Lessig in the Times, on a constitutional amendment and other reforms. "But at some point, Congress has got to muster the courage to say what every sane reformer recognizes: that we won’t solve the problem of “big money donors” until Congress begins to say yes. Not just finance limits, but also finance support. Not just ways to restrict, but also ways to enable."

Congress/2012
Groups ask Congress to disclose airline perks
Roll Call on Public Campaign Action Fund's request to members to disclose the perks they are getting from Delta as they battle over the long-term FAA reauthorization.

Influence industry: New ad shows cozy ties between super PACs and candidates
More on the myth of contribution limits in the super PAC era. "A new advertisement by a super PAC backing GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. provides another example of the close ties between candidates and the outside groups formed to help them."

If corporations are people, maybe they should start acting a little more patriotic
Robert Reich: "But if the Supreme Court and most Republicans nonetheless insist big American corporations are people that deserve to be treated as American citizens, and be given tax breaks and special advantages to create jobs here, maybe we should expect those corporations to show some loyalty to this country."

Wealthy Democrats to brainstorm on GOP's deeper pockets
It's Democracy Alliance time! "The Democratic Party's wealthiest donors, mindful of the overwhelming cash advantage conservative groups have in next year's elections, gather behind closed doors in Washington this week to make plans for dealing with the coming 'tsunami' of right-leaning money and electoral enthusiasm."

Judge's ruling in FEC case could be problem for Buchanan
"A federal judge in Florida has rejected a motion by the Federal Election Commission to fine the former business partner of Rep. Vern Buchanan, potentially opening up the Florida Republican to questions over improper campaign donations."

Defense industry prepares to defend itself
The defense industry, with lots of lobbyists and campaign cash, is ready to fight back.

Rick Perry's fundraising hit after debate gaffes
"Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign fundraising has gone into a tailspin as a result of poor debate performances and plunging poll numbers, jeopardizing his position as the best-funded Republican presidential candidate of 2012."

Abramoff accuses Newt Gingrich of "corruption." Really.
"Jack Abramoff, the fedora-sporting former lobbyist whose name tends to be synonymous with a certain type of corruption scandal, accused Newt Gingrich of just that in an interview with David Gregory for the 'Meet The Press' webshow PRESS Pass."

Jack Abramoff as reformer raises caution in former foes
Read what Public Citizen's Craig Holman and Sunlight's Ellen Miller are saying about Jack Abramoff's new image.
- And CREW's Melanie Sloan got to meet him: http://www.citizensforethics.org/blog/entry/jack-abramoffs-book-party

Wasserman Schultz accuses GOP of rigging elections with "suppression laws"
Good: "Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) on Wednesday night said Republican governors and legislatures are purposefully pressing for the enactment of voter identification laws in order to suppress Democratic voter turnout in the 2012 election."

Spencer Bachus letter to "insider trading" publisher
Unsurprisingly, Spencer Bachus says the 60 Minutes story accusing him of insider trading is not true. Bachus: "“I am writing to inform you there are several major and serious untruths and outright factual errors about me in this book."

Protestors march through downtown Oneida in support of Occupy Wall Street demonstrations
Protestors marched through Oneida, NY. "Eaton Town Board member Bill Donnelly carried a sign that read, 'Corporate money in our elections kills democracy.'"

House vote on concealed weapons a victory for gun lobby
"The House gave gun rights advocates their first legislative win of the year in a move that some saw as a Republican reversal on protecting states' rights: approval of a federal regulation that would require states that issue concealed-weapons permits to honor such permits from other states."

Feeling "shut out," Roemer weighing a third-party run
"Former Louisiana governor and Republican presidential candidate Charles "Buddy" Roemer has not been invited to participate in any major debate, and said he may just have to consider becoming a third-party candidate to get noticed."

What censure? Charles Rangel's back
"Nearly a year after Rep. Charles Rangel was censured on the House floor, his political rehabilitation is almost complete."

Karl Rove gets "mic checked"
If you haven't seen it, do watch Karl Rove getting "mic checked" by some occupy protesters. Best part is when Rove says "who gave you the right to occupy America?" Ha.

Other
Ex Fiesta Bowl COO indicted by Federal Grand Jury
Oh yeah, Russell Pearce, we were totes making things up about the Fiesta Bowl and corruption. Aside from an indictment on filing a false tax return, "Natalie Wisneski, 47, also faces federal campaign finance and conspiracy charges over allegations she solicited campaign contributions from bowl employees for federal, state and local political candidates and arranged for the bowl to repay them."

Fund-raiser for John C. Liu is arrested
" A fund-raiser for the New York City comptroller, John C. Liu, whose campaign finances are under federal investigation, was arrested on Wednesday morning on charges that he helped illegally funnel thousands of dollars into Mr. Liu’s campaign account, according to court papers and people briefed on the case."