Independent groups
Politico: Top Dems dismayed by liberal donors’ strategy
By DONOVAN SLACKTop Democrats are not happy with a plan by liberal donors to invest in outside groups that focus on voter-turnout rather than advertising.
International Business Times: Republican Super PACs Far Outpacing Democrats In Fundraising
By JEREMY B. WHITEIn a political battlefield newly dominated by the Super PAC, Republicans are winning.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Romney-backing PAC cautions donors with contracts
By Jeremy RoebuckReacting to scrutiny of the more than $1 million it has accepted from federal contractors, a super PAC supporting Mitt Romney is now advising donors who do government work to seek legal advice before giving.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Politico: Jennifer Palmieri emotional at John Edwards trial
By JOSH GERSTEINGREENSBORO, N.C. — A top White House aide broke down in tears on the witness stand Wednesday at the trial of former Sen. John Edwards as she described how his wife, Elizabeth, succumbed to a long, public battle with cancer in 2010.
Corporate Governance
Wall Street Journal: Intimidation by Proxy
EditorialIn the favored new tactic of the left, unions and activists are using politicized shareholder resolutions to send a message to corporations: Drop support for free-market and conservative causes, or you’ll take a political beating. Last month saw the smear campaign labelling the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as racist because of its support for Voter ID laws. The real target was the free-market group’s corporate donors, like Coca-Cola, which activists urged to stop supporting ALEC.
Candidates and parties
US News: Democrats Soft Pedaling Super PAC, Citizens United Opposition
By ROBERT SCHLESINGERDemocrats may not like Citizens United or “super PACs,” but they’re not nearly as vocal about it as they used to be. One little noticed piece of evidence that they’re soft pedaling the issue can be found (or not) on the Democratic National Committee’s website, which has quietly dropped the topics from its list of “Issues” it touts.
Politico: NRCC looks to put Dems on defense
By ALEX ISENSTADTThe National Republican Congressional Committee has tapped its first group of blue chip recruits to take part in Young Guns, a program to provide support for the party’s top House candidates and put Democrats on the defensive, POLITICO has learned.
Lobbying and ethics
Ethics panel: No full probe of Vern Buchanan
By Josh BreshnahanThe House Ethics Committee will not launch a full-scale probe into Rep. Vern Buchanan, but the secretive panel will continue to review allegations that the Florida Republican improperly reimbursed donors to his congressional campaigns and asked a former business partner to lie about Buchanan’s role in those payments.
FEC
Associated Press: Independent ethics panel says Rep. Buchanan of Florida may have violated law, House rules
WASHINGTON — A congressional ethics panel has concluded there is substantial reason to believe Rep. Vern Buchanan tried to get a former business partner to lie to the Federal Election Commission in violation of federal law and a House rule.
