When news broke on Saturday morning of a leaked memo from a top Washington, D.C. lobbying firm spelling out a plan to undermine the Occupy Wall Street movement, Public Campaign Action Fund issued this press release.

"They might be rookies, but freshman Republicans are becoming Washington fundraising pros."

Millions of Americans rejoiced yesterday when a fierce negotiation involving billions and billions of dollars resulted in a deal that both sides are content with. No, I’m not talking about the debt ceiling impasse, which continues to threaten the economy, and America’s reputation all over the world.

Earlier this week, Public Campaign was on Capitol Hill and we caught up with Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750, H.R. 1404) sponsor, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.). Check out the interview below:

Here's a round-up of Public Campaign and Public Campaign Action Fund's work for the week of July 5-July 8, 2011.

Who has time to govern when there's so much fundraising to do for the next election? An op-ed in the Virginia News Leader answers the question correctly: not Congress!

From the op-ed:

"This endless electioneering limits the work of governing, especially at the national level where large amounts of money are needed to campaign effectively, compelling candidates to spend more time fundraising."

Here's a round-up of Public Campaign and Public Campaign Action Fund's work for the week of June 13-17, 2011.

"Don't hate the players, hate the game." That old saying seems particularly appropriate for our current campaign finance system that seems to reward those who least deserve it. The Washington Post's Ezra Klein had a piece yesterday bemoaning how despite bringing our economy to the brink of collapse, being bailed out by the taxpayers, and getting protected in Congress, Wall Street continues to be the go-to spot for high-dollar campaign fundraising.

They say actions speak louder than words. But in the world of money in politics, this mantra seems to have fallen on deaf ears. While President Obama and many members of Congress have called for changes to our campaign finance system, thus far rhetoric seems to have prevailed over concrete results.

As The Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel notes in her recent column, it's time that members of leadership demonstrate their commitment to Fair Elections:

Washington Post columnist and notorious arbiter of denim-wear, George Will, wrote a column yesterday criticizing a recent hearing on the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would help to put government back into the hands of everyday people.