Dave Levinthal writes in Politico: "But as the 2012 election is saturated by billions of dollars, campaign-finance reformers have largely lost faith in a president they say is willfully neglecting his reformist agenda while cynically embracing key elements of a new, laissez-faire election system he’s long demonized." Lots of familiar names in this piece.

The NYT's Room for Debate: "Did any good come of Watergate?"

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
Politico: Citizens United, Watergate Redux
Fred Wertheimer: Sunday is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate break ins, "Yet today, massive amounts of secret money, unlimited contributions and corporate funds are again flowing into federal elections. The same elements that corrupted government decisions and officeholders in the early 1970s have returned."

Stanford Law Review: The money crisis
Russ Feingold has a new article in the Stanford Law Review: "Without a significant change in how our campaign finance system regulates the influence of corporations, the American election process, and even the Supreme Court itself, face a more durable, long-term crisis of legitimacy."

HuffPost: Citizens United targeted by local activists in "Resolutions Week" push
"Activists across the country are working this week to mobilize local communities in support of a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and kick money out of politics."

Politico: Critics: Lobbying ethics rules go too far
"If the Senate ethics committee gets its way, when an ex-senator-turned-lobbyist calls an old colleague to talk shop soon after they leave Capitol Hill, it’ll have to be reported. If a staffer-turned-lobbyist calls his former Senate boss or another aide to dish about the latest Hill chatter, it’ll have to be reported. ...some critics think the guidance is so broad that it could unleash a barrage of new ethics cases against innocent staffers and senators who merely chatted with former colleagues."

Politico: Fighting for the First Amendment
Mitch McConnell: Blah blah first amendment blah blah. Mitch McConnell used to love disclosure and remember his deposition with John Bonifaz?

Congress/2012
Atlantic: Obama is spending an unprecendeted amount of time fundraising. Is that a scandal?
"During the latter half of his first term in office, President Reagan did not hold a single fundraiser for his reelection campaign, and just three for the Republican National Committee. President Obama's total over the equivalent period, through Wednesday, was 164." Reagan, of course, had the benefit of public matching funds.

Politico: Koch, Sobel, Perelman to raise for Romney in the Hamptons
"But with the primaries now over, [David] Koch is set to host an event for Romney in his Hamptons home on July 8 when the candidate makes a swing through the tony fundraising haven, according to invitations circulating."

Forbes: Adelson's pro-Romney donations will be "limitless," could top $100M
A source close to Adelson says he coud give $100M or "limitless" sums to groups. As I wrote on Twitter, "Yesterday's fawning hearing with Jamie Dimon provides no clues as to the possible impact of 'limitless' donations."

WaPo: Obama at New York celebrity fundraiser
"With his campaign eager to keep pace with Republican rival Mitt Romney’s fundraising surge, Obama dipped into New York City for a pair of celebrity fundraisers, featuring some of his most ardent supporters from the fashion, film and music industries."

Politico: Spielberg denies report on Obama help
"A spokesman for Steven Spielberg is disputing a report that the famous movie director instructed marketing personnel at his DreamWorks movie studio to meet with and give advice to President Barack Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina."

NYT: Let them give millions
Andy Rosenthal takes Newt to task for saying the wealthy have too much influence in elections and the answer is unlimited contributions to candidates. "What problem would that solve? The really rich could still buy a candidate, just without the super PAC middleman."

Politico: Inside Koch world
An inside-look at the Koch operation.

CRP: Congress' 2011 personal financial records released
Members' personal financial disclosures for 2011 are now available. The Hill has several looks at these, WaPo on how they have to reveal mortgage details for the first time, and Politico on how some saw a drop in wealth.

CREW: Aetna responds to CREW: You're right
Great stuff from CREW yesterday--Aetna accidentally disclosed sending millions to the U.S. Chamber and American Action Network and then tried to hide it. CNN.

Sunlight: Who's the money behind the farm bill?
"As the Senate debates the farm bill this week, a once-every-five-years lobbying extravaganza that sets policy on farm subsidies, food assistance, nutrition, and myriad other agricultural programs, here's a quick look at some of the big money interests that are involved, as well as pressure points for transparency, or the lack of it."

Other/States
Phoenix New Times: Russell Pearce fundraiser scrapped
First, Russell Pearce's constituents didn't want him. Now, small businesses in Phoenix don't want him. Looks like his only friends are campaign donors. Hahahaha.