At Public Campaign and the Action Fund, we've long argued that campaign finance reform ought to be as much about bringing voters back into politics and our democracy as it is about getting big money out of elections. That means focusing on greater and more meaningful participation as the organizing principle around which we design policies.

President Obama’s unexpectedly strong comments on climate change during his inauguration speech—which the New York Times called “the most prominent policy vow of his second Inaugural Address”—have left many climate hawks and environmentalists excited for the prospects of action during his second term.

Bank of America was sued today by the U.S. Attorney in New York City for "allegedly engaging in a scheme to defraud Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

The bank has been a familiar face in Washington over the years and has spent roughly $8 million on campaign contributions and lobbying since 2011, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

With five fundraisers in Chicago on Sunday, President Barack Obama reached his 200th fundraising event since filing for re-election, according to USA Today. In fact, by day’s end, he’ll reach 203.

According to the USA Today report:

Bank of America shareholders will vote at their annual meeting this week on two proposals to limit or disclose political spending by the behemoth bank. After the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Citizens United v.

CBS News reports today that in New York City tonight, President Obama will reach his 100th fundraiser of the cycle.

From the article:

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has come under scrutiny for his service on the board of Marriott International during a time when the company paid millions to settle charges of taking kickbacks and cheating clients. Given the close relationship Romney has to the Marriott family (Romney’s father was a close friend of the hotel chain’s founder J.

President-Elect Barack Obama's incredible ability to generate small online donations has some members of Congress thinking they can apply his methods to their campaigns. That flies in the face of reality.

President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress have an ambitious agenda come January. And those industries that donated the $5 billion to 2008 candidates will want to make sure their voices are heard.

On Tuesday, Obama's transition team laid out an ethics plan that should assure some voters on the power of lobbyists in his administration.

From The Hill:

The news of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) $150 million haul in September with an average donation under $100 combined with Obama's decision to opt out of the partial presidential public financing system gave political prognosticators and pundits the opportunity to declare the death of public financing. They signed the certificate and called the morgue.