Public Campaign board member Ilyse Hogue has a great piece on CNN.com about last week's victories in getting Pepsi and Coke to pull out of ALEC: "These campaigns have become the embodiment of democratic principles in a country where consumer choices matter and the government is seen as too close to corporate interests."

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
NYT: That campaign promise about campaigning
A New York Times editorial calling on President Obama to follow through on his campaign promise to create a functioning FEC. "To stop the tradition of rubber-stamping nominees whose main interest is maintaining a partisan advantage, Mr. Obama should nominate respected nonpartisan individuals dedicated to fair campaigning, and do it soon."

Fair Elections NY: Money in politics this week
Nice round-up of all the New York news from last week.

This American Life: McCain-Feingold uncut
This American Life has posted the full transcript of its interview with Sen. McCain and Feingold.

The Hill: White House abandons push for federal contractors to disclose political giving
"The Obama administration has all but abandoned its push to require federal contractors to disclose their political donations." Public Citizen's Craig Holman: "The executive order can potentially come back after the 2012 elections. But I don't consider it still being contemplated [now]."

Roll Call: FEC ruling leaves ad uncertainty
"A court ruling rejecting Federal Election Commission disclosure requirements as too lax has left political players unsure how much they need to report about the financing of issue ads, making the agency a battleground in the dispute over secret money in 2012."

Newsday: FEC to deny California senior senator's proposal
More fallout from the Durkee embezzlement scandal: "A draft opinion that the Federal Election Commission issued Friday indicates that it probably will reject a request from Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's re-election campaign to allow her to replace millions of dollars in contributions embezzled by her treasurer with new donations from the original donors."

Congress/2012
NYT: Major Republican super PAC prepares to take on Obama
Must-read: "American Crossroads, the biggest of the Republican “super PACs,” is planning to begin its first major anti-Obama advertising blitz of the year, a moment the Obama re-election campaign has been girding for and another sign that the general election is starting in earnest."

Boston Globe: Fundraising game upended in 2012 race
Another important read from the weekend: "As the general election for president unofficially begins, its funding will be marked by two firsts: For the first time in the post-Watergate era, neither candidate will use public funds, and the super PACs created as a result of a 2010 Supreme Court ruling will have their first chance to wield their unlimited contributions from wealthy individuals, corporations, and labor unions as the nation selects a president."

Roll Call: Eric Cantor gave $25k to anti-incumbent PAC to aid Adam Kinzinger
Eric Cantor upset some people over the weekend, with news breaking that he dropped $25k into the Campaign for Primary Accountability: "In the waning days of a bruising primary between Illinois GOP Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Don Manzullo, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor donated $25,000 to an anti-incumbent super PAC for use against Manzullo — a move that may have helped swing the contest in favor of Kinzinger." Politico.

The Hill: President Obama raises nearly $1.5 million in 3 hours
"President Obama attended a whirlwind pair of exclusive fundraisers with top Democratic donors Thursday night, further padding his reelection campaign coffers as his defense of the White House pivots into general-election mode."

CBS News: Billionaire super PAC donor Julian Robertson speaks out
Julian Robertson doesn't want anything for the $1.25M he dropped into Romney's super PAC, he says. But I love this quote: "In my opinion, this is one of the most important investments I've ever made."

CBS News: Jeffrey Katzenberg explains super PAC donation
Jeffrey Katzenberg says his donation is to counteract those from the right: "I was concerned about the attempted hijacking of the elections by Karl Rove, the Koch brothers, and other extreme right wing special interest money and felt strongly that a defense had to be mounted."

Salt Lake Tribune: Mitt Romney raising less Utah money this election cycle
On Romney's Utah donations: "In short, his donations from Utahns have gone down — at least so far — even as his prospects for winning the White House have shot up."

NPR: Betting big on Santorum, donor's motives a mystery
NPR looks at the OTHER rich guy funding Santorum's super PAC--oil and gas tycoon Bill Dore.

Fiscal Times: Key Democratic donors turned off by PAC tactics
"Two months after President Barack Obama reluctantly embraced fundraising for big-money 'Super PACS,' many Democratic donors still have not given to such political groups because they are dismayed by how PACs are being used in the presidential campaign."

WaPo: Jack Gerard, the force majeure behind Big Oil
The Post profiles Jack Gerard, the head of the American Petroleum Institute. And interesting take-away from The Hill: "So far this year, the API has bought at least $4.3 million in broadcast ads, largely in a handful of swing states, outspending all but a few super PACs and almost every trade group."

NYT: Lobbyists object to proposed limits on courting officials
"Tough new limits proposed on the way special interests could court executive branch officials have prompted a fierce counterattack from lobbyists who fear they will end a cherished Washington ritual: hosting federal workers at events like conferences, cocktail parties, galas and movie screenings. "

CNN: Pro-Gingrich super PAC vows to stay in race
"The chair of the primary super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich’s presidential candidacy pledged Friday to continue their efforts as long as Gingrich remains in the race."

HuffPost: Al Franken has "people in stock photos" fundraising for him
A funny Franken money ask: "But on Friday, Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) campaign tried someone new: Woman Picking Out Fruit In Supermarket, who is co-chair of People in Stock Photos for Franken (PSPF)."

WaPo: David Vitter hosts Derby fundraiser
"Get your fancy hats and mint-julep glasses ready — the Kentucy Derby is approaching faster than a galloping thoroughbred, and you might miss the chance to witness the horseflesh parade in the presence of Sen. David Vitter."

CBS: Scott Brown raises $3.4 million in 1st quarter
"Sen. Scott Brown's Massachusetts re-election campaign raked in $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2012, it announced Friday, in yet another sign that the Massachusetts Senate race is sure to be one of the most costly and closely-watched of the 2012 election cycle."

Forbes: How the wage gap thwarts women's political agenda
Looking at why women do--and don't--spend money on politics.

HuffPost: Delta embarrassed by export-import bank loan guarantee while lobbying against agency
"A bizarre lobbying battle that pits Delta Air Lines and the Tea Party against the Export-Import Bank became even more interesting on Thursday when the government bank struck back at the airline in a classically Washington way -- by handing an $84.8 million loan guarantee to a Delta customer."

Politico: Netflix forms PAC
"In yet another move to boost its Washington profile, Netflix has formed a political action committee, new federal records indicate."

Coloradoan: Big money is running democracy
Op-ed in Colorado: "Unfortunately, today we do not have a representative democracy - we have an oligarchy."

Jamestown Sun: New "super PAC" to help Berg campaign
Super PACs are becoming the must-have accessory for Congressional campaigns: "A new group says it will be spending money to help Republican Rick Berg’s U.S. Senate campaign."

PDA: 10 ways our democracy is crumbling around us
From PDA - voter suppression, money and politics, revolving door - and other ways our democracy is "crumbling around us."

Other/States
Plain Dealer: Ohio's oil and gas industry emerging as a big player in the political process
"The frenzy of activity surrounding the energy-rich shale deposits changing the face of Eastern Ohio has also begun pumping up Ohio's oil and gas industry into a lobbying heavyweight."