Here is a look at what happened yesterday on the Sunlight network.

• Paul Blumenthal began the day with several transparency related headlines including tricks for stockpiling cash by 2012 presidential candidates, news that President Obama will probably be unable to seat any new commissioners for the Federal Election Commission, and more. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Daniel Schuman announced that, as of yesterday morning, more than 3,000 citizens have signed Sunlight’s open letter to Congress to save online transparency programs from drastic budget cuts. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Zubedah Nanfuka included a round-up of transparency bloggers from Maine, Illinois, West Virginia, New York, and Montana. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Nicko Margolies highlighted the possible results of a government shutdown, including a list of what is likely to remain open and what will likely be slowed or closed. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Lindsay Young announced that Sunlight’s Lobbying Tracker now lets users track foreign influence as well through filings made under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. (Sunlight Reporting Group)
• Keenan Steiner reported that in response to lobbying by the Renco Group for its Doe Run Peru subsidiary, a coalition of environmental advocates has launched a letter writing campaign. (Sunlight Reporting Group)
• Ethan Phelps-Goodman detailed how to use the public APIs for both TransparencyData.com and InfluenceExplorer.com. (Sunlight Labs Blog)
• Patrick Simmons looked at how lawmakers use birthday parties as a means for raking in the campaign cash. (Party Time Blog)
• Take a look at the previous day’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency related events. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)