The New York Times- ‘Super PAC,’ eyeing general election, aims blitz at Obama – 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. With an anticipated bank account of more than $200 million, officials at American Crossroads said they would probably begin their campaign this month. But they said they would focus the bulk of the first phase from May through July, which they believe is a critical period for making an impression on voters, before summer vacations and the party conventions take place. READ MORE
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. A year ago, the White House composed a draft executive order that would have forced potential government contractors to reveal their political spending as a condition of submitting bids. But roughly 12 months later, no final order has been issued, and supporters and critics alike say they've seen no signs such a change is forthcoming. READ MORE
The New York Times – 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. READ MORE
The 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. Billionaire investor George Soros and insurance executive Peter Lewis, who together have donated more than $50 million to Democratic political groups since 2004, are among scores of donors close to the Obama campaign who remain on the sidelines as PACs that can receive unlimited donations seek to load up before the November election. Their reluctance helps explain why Priorities USA Action, the Super PAC that supports Obama, has struggled to keep fundraising pace with rival Republican groups that have already spent tens of millions on the presidential race. READ MORE
UPI – Under the Supreme Court: High court agrees to consider corporate free speech post-Citizens United – The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider taking another bite of the corporate political free speech apple recently, accepting a petition asking justices to summarily overturn a Montana Supreme Court decision petitioners say flies in the face of Citizens United…In upholding a ban on corporate independent expenditures in state elections, the Montana Supreme Court determined that "unlike Citizens United, this case concerns Montana law, Montana elections and it arises from Montana history." READ MORE
Roll Call – Eric Cantor gave $25K to anti-incumbent PAC to aid Adam Kinzinger – 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. The Virginia Republican had previously endorsed Kinzinger and donated directly to his campaign, which was unusual in and of itself and which drew the ire of Manzullo and some older members of the GOP Conference. READ MORE
Boston Globe – Fund-raising game upended in 2012 race – 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. READ MORE
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. The March 30 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson orders the FEC to rewrite disclosure rules drafted after enactment of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that the court deemed inadequate. Few expect the six-member agency to comply promptly with the order. Divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats, the FEC is notorious for partisan deadlocks. READ MORE
This American Life Blog – McCain-Feingold Uncut – Ben Calhoun and Alex Blumberg here, with something we thought you might enjoy: an extended version of the interview that we, along with NPR's Andrea Seabrook, did with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and former Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). We did this as part of our episode on lobbying and campaign finance, Take The Money And Run For Office. READ MORE
CNN Opinion – When consumers push soda companies out of politics – As election 2012 heats up, the question of how corporations will figure into the first presidential election post-Citizens United is a hot topic. This week, both Pepsi and Coca Cola renounced their membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council, giving us a hint of what corporate accountability might look like this election year. The companies quit the trade group, which had been pushing restrictive voter ID laws, after being targeted by prominent African-American progressive group Color of Change. READ MORE