FCPA ISSUES IN THE NEWS. Story here. “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. hushed up a vast bribery campaign that top executives of its Mexican subsidiary carried out to build stores across that country, according to a published report.”
ABRAMOFF MATTER SENTENCE. Story here. “[Tony] Rudy’s cooperation over the past six years helped win convictions of 18 people, but U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle still gave Rudy a sentence of five months in a halfway house and three years of probation for his role in conspiring with Abramoff and others to accept a stream of gifts when Rudy was a staffer and to offer gifts to public officials when he became a lobbyist—all in exchange for legislative favors.”
PRESIDENTIAL TRIPS AND WHO PAYS. The Times. “The trips yield a payoff not only in donations — collected at small-crowd, big-dollar events in the sumptuous homes of donors and at small-dollar, big-crowd rallies — but also in local headlines trumpeting Mr. Obama’s message of the day. Taken together, they raise the quadrennial question of how much of a president’s travel should be paid for by taxpayers and how much by his party. ”
CASH GAP. Story here. “President Obama countered Romney’s fundraising haul with about $53 million in donations between his campaign and the Democratic Party during the same period. That left his campaign with $104 million cash on hand – about 10 times more than the $10 million Romney had in the bank at the end of March, according to finance reports filed Friday.”
ELECTRONIC FILING FOR SENATE FILERS? The Times. “As many more millions pour into campaigns this election season, it is past time for the Senate to stop hiding behind its foolscap.”
SUPER PACS IN THE TARGET. Story here. “Standard practice suggests voters are rarely interested in arguments over campaign finances, particularly in the face of a tough economy and a political system awash in money on both sides.”
WHO’S GIVING? USAT. “Nearly $110 million — more than half the money raised by super PACs since Jan. 1, 2011 — came from just 46 people, businesses and organizations that donated at least $1 million each.”
LOBBYING SPENDING UPDATE. Politico. “Many of the nation’s most powerful political forces scaled back their lobbying expenditures early this year during a do-little congressional season, a POLITICO analysis of new federal disclosures indicates.”
EDWARDS TRIAL STARTS. Story here. “In a federal criminal case that has the markings of sex, money, betrayal and a handsome politician’s fall from grace, former presidential candidate John Edwards’ trial for alleged campaign finance violations opens Monday in Greensboro, N.C.” Politico has what to watch here.
PHOENIX TO CHOOSE. Story here. “The Phoenix City Council will decide Tuesday how to award more than half a million dollars in federal lobbying contracts as the city determines the best way it should be represented in Washington, D.C.”
HAVE A GREAT DAY.