This file contains archived live captions of the open meeting of the Federal Election Commission held on Decenber 08, 2016. This file is not a transcript of the meeting, and it has not been reviewed for accuracy or approved by the Federal Election Commission. >> Good morning, everyone. The opening meeting for Thursday, December 8, 2016 for the Federal Election Commission will now come to order. Before we turn to agenda items, we have a motion on documents. Mr. Vice chairman. >> Mr. Chairman, I move for the last time to suspend the rules [Away from mic] in order to consider the late submission of the following documents. Draft advisory opinion 2016-21 -- -B draft B to 2016-04 technical amendments and corrections-agenda document 16-71-A. >> Any discussion on that motion? If not, all those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Madame secretary, that vote carries by a vote of 6 to zero. Draft advisory opinion 2016-21, great America PAC, which was submitted by Michael Morley and Dan Backer and Mr. Backer if you would like to join us at the witness table if we have any questions for you. We have a presentation from Joanna Waldstreicher and Bob [Away from mic] good morning to both of you. When you're ready, begin. >> Good morning commissioners. And 16-68-B are alternative -- hybrid political committee, it plans to hire individuals and vendors to contact potential inventories through phone banks to expressly advocate the election of presidential candidate Donald Trump or did plan to do so. It anticipates some of these individuals will have performed similar work for candidate or state or national party commit within the previous 120 days. The requester asked several questions about proposed employment by person -- certain communications made by those employees or by the requester would constitute coordinated communications. Both drafts conclude that the proposed communications would be coordinated communications if the employees in question used information from their prior employment in their work for the committee or conveyed such information to the committee and the information was material to the creation, production or distribution of the communications. We did not receive any comments on the request or either of the drafts. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you for that presentation. We'll open it up for any questions that commissioners may have, any counsel or discussion or questions of Mr. Backer who was the -- >> I have a question for Mr. Backer. >> Commissioner ravel. >> Thank you very much Mr. Backer, welcome. Although counsel indicated this was the case, I would like to hear your confirmation that the requester plan to undertake materially similar activities with regard to elections and because given what you've spoken about is the Trump election and as we all know, that one is no longer a viable issue. >> Yes, we doament >> Do you have any specific plans or just in general. >> With respect to to the Louisiana run off, but because we didn't have an advisory opinion, we chose not to, and we're considering doing materially similar activities with the outcoming special elections that we anticipate in the first quarter of this year. In those circumstances, they wouldn't be Trump campaign employees, they would be employees of relevant state parties and candidates in those states. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Do we have any further questions? I would ask, Mr. Backer, you've had a chance to look at the draft. I just wonder and give you a chance to weigh in and share your thoughts on the drafts as you see them before we go to any motions. >> Well, the drafts provide, I think, guidance for my client in order for them to conduct their activities. We did have one concern or question that we're trying to wrestle with here. And it goes to the intellectual capital involved in training. If you're working for the Trump campaign and you're sitting at a computer. You're going to get a training program, how to work the software, how to do the phone bank activity and speak to people, et cetera. This is an integural part of having people come in and do this kind of work. If the PAC isn't hiring these individuals, we feel fairly confident to use our scripts, but we can't tell them don't use this training benefit that you've received. It's part of their experience and knowledge. And the only concern that I have is whether or not that intellectual capital of the training that they've received falls within the scope of information used by the employee in providing services candidate or party in the first case and in the second case when they're working for us. We would like have adequate clarity that that kind of training information, the knowledge they've gained with it, does not fall within the scope of this activity so it would not constitute a coordinated communication. >> There is language in a couple of different occasions. I'm looking at a red line copy that I have, so I believe this would be on page -- just quickly turn to it -- so I'm on page 10 of the blue draft, starting on lines 2, and I think there's similar language also on page 13. It talks about if a phone bank employee disobeys the -- previous position with the Trump campaign, merely in the course of his or her -- that information is highly unlikely to be material to the phone banks, creation -- equally unlikely to satisfy the former employee conduct standard and I believe on page 13 there's similar language where the commission says however a single phone bank employee's use of information without the committee's knowledge seems unlikely -- communication if that information is not material, the phone bank would not constitute a coordinated communications. The language that I think would appear to somewhat address the concern that you're identifying, but -- >> We would tend to agree, but I think the practical reality is if we go forth with this course or conduct, we're almost certainly going to draw a complaint from a disgruntled party or position candidate and we want something a little clearer for us to rely on when those inevitable complaints arise. If that would be possible, that would be great. We tend to agree with you that it should fall into that bucket. >> Okay. Any thoughts or discussion on this matter? Commissioner Goodman. >> I guess I ask whether there be any interest in that could be addressed by a footnote to satisfy the addresser, it should take time -- would you rather the commissioner take more time to address that issue specifically perhaps in a footnote? >> That would be great, thank you. >> You'd rather take more time than get this drafted today? >> Yes. >> I don't know what the will of the commission is with regard to that. >> Commissioner Weintraub. >> You'll help me out here Mr. Backer, because I'm sure you're more familiar with your request than I am. Did you specifically ask us to address that issue? >> No, we didn't ask for that in the initial request. As we have been reading through the draft in the last couple of weeks, thank you to the commission for extending the courtesy of the repeated extensions we asked for, it's something we have been trying to wrap our heads around in this. We're trying to get to a position of real clarity in this concern. We're -- so we upon want to have clear guidance we can rely on so we know the course of conduct we're very likely to engage in is permissible. >> I hear you, but I'm thinking more procedurally. I'm not wild about the process of having requesters come in after we go through the work of putting together a response to the written request, and of course it needs to be a written request, and at the table the requester says you know what, I thought of something else that I want you to address. At a minimum, I think we ought to get something in writing from you, asking you to revise your request to address this issue as well. >> We would be more than happy to do so and have no objection to that. >> Commissioner Goodman? >> I agree. We take supplements, factual supplements, predicate supplements and sometimes questions are modified through email exchange with the Office of General Counsel, I think that's probably the best way to receive so there's a clear record for the public as well. >> And as part of that expansion of your request, to the extent that you can not just necessarily ask for a blank check but articulate specific hypothetical facts that would be likely to arise so we can have something firm to grasp hold of as we answer that additional issue, that would be helpful as well. >> Absolutely. >> Mr. [Away from mic] is there anything from a procedural perspective we should be considering as we address this? >> Two thoughts. One, it would be helpful if rather than or in addition to hypothetical facts, we had planned -- >> I probably used the wrong -- proposed facts would be the better term. Thanks for the clarification. >> And procedurally, just in terms of timing, the current deadline for this AO is next week, so we'll need to extend that, which Mr. Backer could do orally here today if he would like. >> We would be happy to extend. Thank you. >> Just for procedural purposes, do we need to have a date certain of extension? >> Yeah, I haven't seen the meeting schedule for January, but I would suggest a day or two after whatever the January meeting is going to be. >> Okay. I'm not sure if we have the meeting schedule hammered out precisely. I don't know if there's a certain amount of time that you would feel comfortable. To be safe, you could see January 31, but if you wanted to tailor that -- >> I think that would be fine since we don't expect special elections to occur. >> We have an extension to January 31 and hopefully we can resolve it well in advance of that. And we look forward to your further written submission. Once we get that, we can resolve that quickly next year. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. We'll turn next to Item No. 2 on the agenda, which is draft advisory opinion 2016-22. Which involves Libertarian state committees. We have looks like Tony bulkily from the Office of General Counsel to give us a presentation this morning. And do we have requester's counsel, which I believe is Christine ser iso. >> Yes, this is Christine siroy. >> If we have any questions of you after the presentation of Mr. Bulkily, we will give you those over the phone. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Bulkily, good morning to you and please begin. >> Good morning commissioners. Agenda document 16-67B is a draft response to advisory opinion requests submitted by Libertarian state committees from Georgia and Tennessee. Agenda document 16-67A is a draft response to -- Georgia, Tennessee and four other states, but the committees from the four other states have withdrew their requests after this draft was made public. Therefore the only -- agenda document 16-67B. The requesters ask whether under the -- Libertarian national party. The draft concludes that each requester does qualify of the state qualifier committee -- on a ballot and being recognized as an affiliate by the national committee, each state committee -- showing it's responsible for activities commensurate with the day-to-day functions and operations of the political party at the state level. The commission did not receive comments on the requests or drafts. I'll be happy to answer questions. >> Thank you for presentation Mr. Bulkily. Any questions from the commissioners? If not, Ms. Sir roy, did you have an opportunity to look at the draft and have any comments on the draft? >> Yes, I did. And we have nothing further to add. >> Okay. Then if there's nothing further, do we have a motion? >> Mr. Chairman, I move to approve agenda document 16-67B, draft B. >> Is there any discussion on that motion? If not, all those in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed? Madame secretary, 6 to 0. Thank you for joining us this morning Ms. Sir roy. >> Thank you. We'll turn now to item 3 on the agenda, 2016-24. We have [Away from mic] step an vic to give us a presentation on this matter. When you're ready, please proceed. >> Thank you chairman Petersen. Good morning commissioners. Agenda document 16-68-A presents a draft advisory opinion in response to a request by the Independence party of Minnesota seeking recognition [Away from mic]. The Independence party of Minnesota has been recognized under Minnesota law since 1995. Running under its name in Minnesota ballots, including -- Jessie Ventura and 2016 election for president, ef an McMun. Independence party of Minnesota qualifies as a state party committee. The commission received no comments on the request or draft. Thank you. >> Thank you for that presentation. Do we have any questions of counsel or any discussion on this draft? Hearing none, do we have a motion? >> Mr. Chairman, I move approval to agenda document 16-68A draft A. >> Any discussion on that motion? Hearing none, all those in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye aye >> Any opposed. 6 to 0. Thank you Mr. Step an vic. Turn next to item 4 on the agenda, draft final rules and explanation and justification for rag 2016-04, technical amendments to 2016CFR. We have Jeanne Lynch and Bob from general counsel to give us a presentation. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman, good morning commissioners. Before you is agenda document 16-71-A for reg [Away from mic] technical amendments to the 2016CFR. This document contains a number of technical non-substantive corrections to the Code of Federal Regulations. These corrections will appear in the 2017 printing of the paper CFR and within a few days of publication in the ECFR. I'm available to answer questions. Thank you. >> Thank you for that presentation. Any questions of counsel or discussion? Commissioner Weintraub. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question about the Oxford comma. >> I'm a big believer in it, by the way. >> So am I. I note that we are amending 100.155 to add the comma after creating. Let's see. Where is that? But the phrase is creating, maintaining or hostile a website. So my question is, since I'm a great believer in the Oxford comma, whether we should not at the same time add a comma after maintaining. >> We should. The reason we are not proposing that here is because there's a parallel provision at 100.94 and the parallel provision does not have the Oxford comma so the choice was we thought either to propose changing both. >> I think we should change both. >> You will have no objection from ODC on that. >> Unless it's a -- I know different publications have their own style book. Does the Federal Register have an option to the Oxford comma? >> and they are not consistent without through the Oxford comma. >> I would recommend that we amend that in both places shvment for those who say that the commission cannot agree on things, here's a matter of weighty substance that I will enthusiastically support. One further issue that I would like to identify and this is with respect to to section 300.13, the proposal is to remove paragraph C, which deals with the transitional reporting rules for the non-federal accounts the parties once had pre-McCain fine gold. It would appear that the same rationale for deleting that paragraph would also extend to paragraph B, which is the termination report for the non-federal accounts, so while we're in the process of cleaning up the regs, I would propose that we also remove paragraph B of section 300.13. >> Okay. That would be fine with OGC. >> Is there any further discussion on this document? If none, do we have a motion? >> [Away from mic] Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the draft final rules -- excuse me. I move to approve reg 2016-04 technical amendments and corrections agenda document 16-71A as amended based upon the discussion we just had. >> Is there any discussion on that motion? If none, all those in favor indicate by taking psi. Aye aye >> Any opposed? 6 to zero. Thank you Mr. [Away from mic] and Mr. Knop. >> thank you. >> We'll now turn to Alec Palmer, who is our staff director and chief information officer who is going to give us an update on the latest IT initiatives here at the commission. >> Thank you chairman Petersen and goorgz commissioners. At the request of chairman Petersen, I'll be providing an update on three initiatives. Over the past couple of years we have been working to improve and modernize our IT systems to serve the public better, not only now but in the future. In 2016, we reached a number of important milestones. The website effort is the first one I would like to address. The FEC has long sought to improve information services that it provides to the public. In 2009 then chairman wallet her, held a hearing -- on the commission's website and internet improvement initiatives and we see our current efforts as a continuation of that process. In 20134, commissioners Goodman and ravel joined the FEC with a shared goal to [Away from mic] the following year. In the following year we partnered with ATF to begin that process of redesigning the FEC's data delivery services. In fact all commissioners deserve thanks in their collective support of their effort. We would like to thank chairman Petersen in this year in pushing forward on the E modernization. Late last year we launched the beta version of the FEC website. Since then we completed work to move the entire campaign database which includes about 40 years worth of transactional level campaign finance data to a cloud environment. Because of cloud hosting, we're now able to provide the public users with the ability to search, sort and download transaction level data directly from our website, which has never been capable before. Our transition to cloud hosting will also position us to meet the future needs of the volume of data in our campaign finance database. The FEC's primary database has dramatically increased this year. In fact, Dr. This past calendar year, it's almost double the capacity of the previous year. Moving to the cloud also improves the security of our data and will save a significant amount in operational and maintenance expenses, which will put us in line with the GAO initiative that came out this year. With this initiative, the commission has positioned the FEC to stay ahead of the curve in meeting government-wide IT requirements such as reducing investments in legacy systems, develop open source software, meet accessibility requirements, and provide robust public access to information while ensuring information security and integrity. Our new website, supported by our publicly accessible API, provides intuitive search for campaign finance data as well as the ability to perform searches across legal resources such as statutes, regulations, and advisory opinions and more search compatibilities are coming. We're building the site using user centered design principles, plain language, and open source software all of which have given us ample opportunities to share our work with the public and learn their needs as we build it. We have aggressive plans to continue to capitalize on these successes. At the end of March 2017, we plan to take our new beta website and have it become the new FEC.gov website. We plan to continue to add content and features to this site well beyond March, the new user centered design models and processes we've used to create the site thus far. For example, the home page design, ul have an opportunity to see that by the end of the year, will be the first public iteration to be viewed. Based on comments and feedback from the public and the commission, we'll continue to make improvements and enhancements. E filing is the next topic I would like to address. We're also finishing up a study to identify ways to improve our E filing system using many of the same design principles and practices employed in the website redesign. With this study, we're looking for ways to build upon the work we've completed thus far and in order to ensure a seamless integration. The FEC filing system has continuously been updated since its debut in 1996. It needs more than a face lift. We need to take advantage of the new technologies and design concepts. In 2016 under chairman Petersen undertook an E filing study to identify areas to be upgraded and make recommendations for improvements. Interviews -- pointed to a few major areas. First, the study will suggest upgrades and filing tools to focus on improving the filer experience and the quality and accuracy of reported data. Second, we will consider technical upgrades and take advantage of newer technologies such as cloud-based computing and storage for rapid scale ability and centralized security. Third, we recommend improvements in the electronic filing formats with the goal of producing machine readable data and streamlining the reporting process. We will redesign the entire internal technical arc temper workflow how filing are processed and improve reliability and speed. In addition we will reduce the annual operating expenses related to the legacy infrastructure by providing a new platform independent design. With all of this, our goal is to make E filing a much streamlined and smoother process for the filers. The study is scheduled to conclude at the end of this month, at which time we will immediately begin plans that will hopefully facilitate a roadmap for implementation in late 2017 or early 2018. The third topic I would like to discuss is correspondence tracking. This is an effort that commissioner Goodman has encouraged us to follow up on. In addition to our efforts to modernize and improve our website and E filing systems, we're implementing a new system to improve customer service by providing better tracking and responding to public inquiries. The new website will provide an interface to this tool that will offer another way to receive reporting advice and guidance. Committees will be able to ask reports analysis division questions that are automatically routed to the assigned and proper campaign finance analysts. This system will enable reg to answer more common questions efficiently. This is the first phase of the project. It will be integrated into other FEC offices and shared information will provide comprehensive customer service across all public facing divisions. We expect implementation by the end of January for the reports analysis division and other public facing divisions will follow. Thank you very much for your time in allowing me to provide these updates and we look forward to making continued significant progress in 2017. >> Thank you, Mr. Palmer for that comprehensive update on some of the latest initiatives that we have. Are there any comments that commissioners would like to make about the presentation or any questions that anyone has? Yes, commissioner Goodman. >> I would just like to extend I think on behalf of the entire commission, our appreciation, Mr. Palmer, for you and your staff as well as all the other groups that have been working with you diligently on these projects. And I think they greatly enhance the agency and they enhance the agency's usefulness to the people who rely on the agency and are regulated by it. I want to extend our appreciation and our congratulations to you on some projects well done. Thank you. >> If I may, I would just like to -- >> Mr. Palmer. >> This would not be possible if it were not for the staff. Their dedication, their effort, not only in the IT department but across all the divisions, it has been an enormous dedication and effort and I personally want to thank them as well. Without them, this would not have been a success. >> Mr. Chairman, I would like to add to the accolades that commissioner Goodman expressed. The work that's been done on beta FEC by our staff, by you, by the associates and groups that we're working with has been astronomical. It's been such a change. And I have talked to lots of groups that are now using our website that never before have done so and find it to be very useful, very convenient, easy to access information. And so not only for those who we regulate, but for the American public, this is an incredible step forward and you should really be congratulated, you and your entire team. Thank you. >> Mr. Vice chairman? >> I would like to add to those that are commenting. I really think it's a great step forward for us. It's been something that's been percolating over the years and finally it came to pass and it's going to be a really fine thing. I want to mention one thing that's been big to me is we are going to be able to get all this data on our hand-held. And that's pretty neat. I think we'll find that a lot of the communities are going to spend most of the time searching and reading and that kind of thing. We're really getting into the very latest and I think it's terrific. >> Commissioner Weintraub. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to extend my compliments to the staff, to Ray and Paul and all the folks throughout the agency who have worked on this. I just want to comment that change is hard and sometimes people might think that the staff might say, oh, we don't want to change things, we know how it works now. In fact, what I have found throughout the time I have been here is that this kind of a project is exactly the sort of thing our staff gets excited about and is thrilled to be working on. We give them a lot of of direction and they just run with it and do terrific work. My compliments also to everyone involved. >> I would certainly echo what everyone has said about Mr. Palmer and his fine staff and the tremendous work they do and how much we appreciate that. And I'll also, while we're extending the congratulations, I know that when commissioner Goodman was chair and commissioner Ravel was vice chair, I know they jointly put a great deal of effort and energy in helping to propel this project along. I know everyone up here has been supportive of this project and I know that they especially took a special interest in this one and I commend you for your efforts too to help move this process forward and it looks like it's already bearing fruit. And now that we can see the transition in sight, in just a few months, I think it's something that the commission and especially those who made it come to fruition can take justifiable pride in. So thank you. The next item on the agenda is the 2017 meeting dates. We're still working out a few kinks in that. Since we're still relatively early in the month, I think we'll have some time to hammer that out the and pass that on tally. Commissioner Weintraub? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say something about whenever we decide what our meeting dates are going to be about something I would like to see on the agenda in January and I will ask the incoming chairman to put it on the agenda in January. As my colleagues know, I have been throughout the year trying to start a rule making on foreign influence in politics using campaign finance as a vehicle. This is an issue that I -- well, first raised after citizens United in 2010, but this year in particular, I made it a renewed focus. And that was before we learned from our national security authorities that there had been attempts by foreign governments to hack into our data systems, not here at the FEC but in other election organizations and political organizations in this country, which that didn't prompt what I'm trying to do, but it confirmed for me that it's really important that we address these issues. I last raised this on September 29. I tried to narrow my proposal. I raised it for the first time earlier in the year and my colleagues said it was too vague and open-ended. I tried to narrow it, I eliminated PACs from the proposal. I was trying to narrow it down to areas we could agree. And my colleagues have repeatedly said they want more time to think about this. I just want to put everybody on notice that I'm going to ask for this to be on the agenda in January. I have been patient. This has been on the table for months and I really want to either have an up and down vote or actually push forward on that. >> Any other discussion on the meeting dates? If none, like we said, stay tuned and those should be available on tally and available to the public very soon. We now turn to item 7, the election of officers. It's come to that time of the year and at this point of the agenda when the baton is passed from one administration to another. I imagine our transition process will be a little bit easier than others that are taking place in this town. But the first item with respect to election of officers, do we have a nomination for chairman for the year 2017? Commissioner Goodman? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. This nomination must evoke a sense of day jaw view all over again for many including the incoming chairman because commissioner walt her, this will be the second term. They often say second time is a charm. Hopefully it will be. 2017 promises to be a transitional year for the commission. We'll be moving into a new building, launching a new website and face of the agency to the public, we'll be building a new IT architecture for all agency functions behind that website, there are positions still to fill to bring in some new leaders into the agency and there are still employment matters and personnel issues to be addressed within our agency. So there are many institutionsal challenges facing the agency in addition to the substantive matters that we addressed. And I would have to say that more than any other commissioner here in my three years here, commissioner Walther has proved ton an institutionalist at heart and he demonstrates probably more than any other commissioner a sincere concern for the agency and the people who work here. And in his 10 years, certainly in my three years here, I have seen commissioner Walther delve deeply into budgetary issues, he has [Away from mic] for personnel employee morale issues, he's been deeply involved in IT issues than any other commissioner has engaged themselves, and as chair in 2009, as Mr. Palmer just mentioned, he led website improvements. So he will, as chairman in 2017, be able to cut the ribbon on yet the continuation and culmination of that project, which has been many years in development. So in many ways, this agency is getting the right chair at the right time to address many transitional issues. Also, you know, the commission works best when the chair of the agency is steady, even handed and fair. I know that we've seen that this year, chairman Petersen. And we appreciate it and I know that commissioner Walther personifies steady, easy and fair. We have big issues to debate. In addition, commissioner Walther maintenance a strong personal rapport with all five commissioners and just sitting in his office many afternoons, I've learned a lot about mountain isoterse, heard a good story today about Ronald Reagan eating mountainoyisters and the Reno rodeo, I hear a lot about Notre Dame football. Commissioner Walther is a Feynman, he has a fine family. We've met his son Wyatte. And so it is my honor to nominate for chairman of the FEC in 2017 commissioner Steven Walther. >> Do we have any discussion on that nomination? Let me just add that I've had the privilege of working with Steve, vice chairman, I don't want to make it too informal yet, on two different occasions. When he was the chairman back in 2009, I was his vice chairman and now this year he was my vice chairman. And it's always been a pleasure to work with Steve on an interpersonal basis. We like to reminisce about our upbringings back West in the mountains, amongst the livestock. I didn't have to wait until talking to Steve to know what rocky mountain isoterse were as the grandson of a sheep man, I know all too well what that entails. One constant throughout my experience in working with Steve, regardless of what the issue is, whether or not we might have ultimate agreement on how to resolve particular matters is that we've always had a very collegial and congenial relationship and friendship. And that has been sometimes when some of the stresses amp up in the building and the things get a little bit frantic, I have never had to worry about having any problems or issues exacerbated by the vice chairman. He's been a great friend, one who's been a pleasure to work with throughout my time on the commission and especially when we have been able to work together in a leadership capacity. I know of his integrity, I know of his intellect, his tremendous background in terms of his legal understanding and also his management experience, which I think leads to the concerns that commissioner Goodman identified about him being an institutionalist. I am very pleased to support his nomination to be chairman next year and look forward to continuing to work with you and helping to you want you and making your chairmanmanship a success in any way I can. At the appropriate time we call votes, I'll be enthusiastically supportive of that vote. Any other comments? If none, we'll call the votes on the nomination of the vice chairman to be the chairman for the year 2017. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. >> Aye aye >> Any opposed? Madame secretary that vote carries by a vote of 6 to zero. >> I kept my mouth shut. >> Congratulations. >> I do support it. >> I always forget, do we count the chairman's vote. >> I think the nominee traditionally sustains. >> Let me change that vote. It was nan mus. But the man from Reno who was humble, the vote was five to 0 with the vice chairman abstaining. Do we have a nomination for vice chairman for 2017? Mr. Vice chairman? >> Mr. Chairman, thanks. It's my pleasure to make that nomination. I'm going to maybe wait a minute to thank you so much for the comments. Maybe I'll make a comment after we get through with the nomination and the election. It's my privilege to nominate Carol Hunter for the vice chair position. We've worked together for a long time. I'm bracing myself and I'm looking forward to it. It's a challenge. But a very, very nice relationship and one where most of the time we find ourselves moving the ball forward in a positive way. And I recall when I first think referred to you in the open session on a nomination, I made a comment that in many ways she reminds me of this TV character called Colombo, and I assumed everybody in the room knew who Colombo was. Then I realized it was a dated situation and I learned that later, that not everybody knew that. Colombo is, for those of you who still haven't learned, was a humorous character who was a detector who walked around in a rum pelled coat and slouched and had a worn notepad and he would ask questions and never was one who was being asked questions really knew exactly where the questions were coming from but usually toward the end of the conversation, you might be walking out the door and say wait a minute, and he would ask a bottom shell question and the person was left really concerned about the fact that that person be identified as the perpetrator. So anyway, I didn't mean it in that regard except that Colombo was so well able to ask questions and just kept at it, and kept at it and kept at it until pretty soon you know you got your question answered. So I have been subject to this here and even yesterday. So I enjoy it. So I'm encouraging you to continue it. But it is a trait that I admire and you're very earnest and very honest about how you feel and all that is great. Yesterday, for example, she's proactive. I was looking at some adjectives and proactive and persistent, prepared, which she always is, but even yesterday she had a meeting lined up with a number of us to talk about the future and I was invited and it was very helpful to get started on some issues. So I don't think there will be any problem with identifying issues to move forward on and I look forward to your input and always have enjoyed it. One sequel to the thing that I should tell you, to the last time I mentioned Colombo was she had to learn from her father who Colombo was. So her father thought that was pretty interesting. So he went out and bought a full set of tapes of Colombo and gave it to her. I assume you have been going through it. I'm very pleased to have her on board and so I'm happily nominate you for vice chairman. >> Do we have any discussion on the nomination? In commissioner Weintraub. >> I have never seen commissioner Hunter look rum pelled. I really don't understand the analogy at all. >> It's the persistence. >> I will happily support this nomination as well. I have known Caroline for many years. From the time that she was at the Republican national committee and I was a counsel at the committee on house administration. And just to build upon the vice chairman's story about commissioner Hunter's persistence, back in 2004, in a short period of time in, I believe it was -- I had a new son, my now 12 year old son was born, I moved into -- there was a family funeral over the summer, and then in the first weekend of October I moved. We had a major move from a town home into a single family home and we had boxes streun all over the place and I came back that Monday after a very frantic weekend of shuttling things back and forth and completely exhausted and I remember my staff director at the time saying there's been a request that you take leave from the committee on house administration and go to the Republican national committee for a month because this was in the aftermath of the health America vote act and I had been involved in the negotiations and the process for enacting that so there were kinks being worked out in terms of how that was going to be implemented. And I remember telling my staff director Paul vin vich that I would like to help, I have got, but I have got a new kid, I'm in a house with boxes streun all over the place and this isn't going to work out. Paul said Caroline asked for you to go over there. I really think that you should go over for this month and take leave. That pretty much ended the debate. I lived amongst boxes for the month of October. I had a great experience working alongside Caroline during that month. But in addition to her persistence, she's a wonderful person to be around, she's got a great sense of humor, is always just a fun figure, full of vitality and I always know she'll do an excellent job at vice chair and her concerns with how the building operates, the work of the agency make her very well suited. And I know that she'll tighten the screws on when it needs to happen and I think that's all for the good of the agency. I'll be happy to support your nomination when the vote is called. Is there any thing further? If none, let's take a vote on the nomination for Caroline Hunter to serve as the vice chair in 2017. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye aye >> Any opposed? I should say aye. Madame secretary, that motion carries by a vote of five to 0 with the incoming vice chair, commissioner Hunter abstaining from that vote. So we now -- Mr. Vice chairman. >> A moment of privilege. I would like to address the issue of my experience with Matt. At the beginning of the year last year, I received a call from somebody that might be in the room who asked me what did I think about the incoming year and Mr. Petersen? And I ended up being quoted that I considered him to be a gentleman's gentleman. And that's been just the way it's always been with Matt and certainly was this year. And it's a trait that few people have because it comes so natural to him and he's got a calm demeanor even the pressure is on, it was always a kind, intelligent conversation. And it was really made a lot of difficult questions palatable and we got through a lot of issues. But that leadership trait is pretty rare and certainly Matt has it. He said that I think at the beginning of the year that he wasn't looking to hit a home run necessarily, but he thought he'd like to hit a number of singles. So I do have a list of a couple of things that have happened this year that really are important in moving the agency forward. One was the enforcement backlog. We have been playground a little bit over the years with a big backlog and there's been a lot of movement the last couple of years, but this particular year, a big difference was made to the point where our backlog is very close to not a backlog anymore. I would think within the next few sessions we might have it down to the point where we simply don't have an issue at all. And that's the amount of time between the time something reaches the commission for consideration and the time we actually act on it. That is due in large part to the fact that we have been able to move through these needle a very comfortable way and do it productively and a lot of these questions that sometimes hang up got done. Updated forms, progress in updating disclosure forms to make them consistent with one another. That's a big thing. It's something we don't think of so much because we are not the ones making the filing. For the filers, that's where we need to be predominant in our thinking all the time is how we can improve their lives. We're currently undertaking the project that was mentioned to be more proficient and flexible on electronic filing. Environment, we introduced the paper automation project. Introduced an innovative approach to capture the data received from paper filings to allow the public quicker access to finance information. [Away from mic] proposed rule making on technological modernization which proposed changes to more than 100 -- by electronic means such as student and internet-based payment processors or text messaging to eliminate [Away from mic] technologies and to address similar issues. These are all steps that are really bringing up constructively forward on how we're getting our work done for the community and the public. Those are all achievements. Maybe they are not home runs, but by the time you put them all together, there's certainly more than four singles. Matt, thanks for a great year and a half. >> Thank you for your friendship and for your support. >> And there is one thing too. >> Okay. >> Here's a little item to commemorate your service and from all of us. It says Matthew S Petersen, [Away from mic] 2016, federal election commission, can be used at will. Hereby hand you this with gratitude. >> I thank you very much for that. Thank you very much. I really genuinely appreciate that. I thank you for that gesture and like I said, for the ability that we've had to work in a very productive way this year and like I said, I look forward to continuing to work with you to help your chairmanship next year be as productive and successful as possible. And some of the things that you mentioned that have been mentioned so far about the enforcement doc and updating the forms, the electronic filing initiative that's moving forward that I think is going to make a really big difference, making it easier for entities to file and for end users and the public to get more readily accessible and easier to understand data. I'm also looking forward to next year. We'll have that hearing on internet communications dislairls. Obviously along with technological modernization, we have so many advancements which are revolutionizing the ways in which political information is being disseminated and being consumed. And I think it's wonderful that we're continuing to move forward to take into account those innovations so we can be a facilitator of further innovation rather than being an impedament. And so I look back at the year and I realize there's nothing we can do without the support of my colleagues and I know it doesn't fit necessarily neatly into the narrative about this agency but I genuinely like and appreciate each one of my colleagues, each person up here as well as on the phone are talented, intelligent people who have taught me a great deal. And I have benefited from my relationships with them and I appreciated that the interactions that I've had with each and every one of them, I think that -- even when we disagree, I genuinely appreciate the dedication that each of my colleagues have for the law, for this agency, for their principles. And like I said, I've benefited greatly from my associations with each of you. Let me also thank the staff. We've talked earlier about Mr. Palmer and your staff and I see many here and up here and Ms. Stephenson who's been willing to step into the role of acting general counsel and it is much appreciated. It can sometimes be the hottest of hot seats and you've done an excellent job fitting into that role, Mr. Noti, for all the work that comes up through the policy side, the rule makings, the AOs, the excellent job that you and your staff do in order to keep us on serve when it comes to addressing things that come up through your shop. Ms. Guth, on the enforcement, thanks for the help that I think that considering the number of complaints and matters that come up through enforcement, greatly appreciate all of your efforts. And again, as I look around and see Ms. Chi conia, I was handed the number, when I think about the reports analysis has to do, being a presidential year, I believe our current stats of total documents reviewed have been 77, 560, the total [Away from mic] this year are roughly 24.4 million. And along the way fielding over 13,000 phone calls. And your over sight and leadership of that office, obviously, without it, there would be chaos in the building without somebody who could handle that volume of responsibility. So I greatly appreciate the efforts. Mr. Baker, thank you to you and your shop. You and indicate hig enboth am for fielding the foyer requests that have been numerous and for staying on top of that and for keeping the environment light and never allowing things to get too dire and serious. I greatly appreciate the positive element that you bring to every setting in which you work. And I also want to mention our litigation team, Kevin dealy leads that, obviously their work never ends. There are always cases that we are filing offense I feel or more oftentimes defensively and their tire less efforts are greatly appreciated. I also want to mention the last few meetings a familiar figure at the secretary's table is no longer here. Sean Woodhead worth who had been at the agency over 30 years is retiring. She and her husband are moving to Campbell's port Wisconsin, I just looked this morning. The temperature there is 15 degrees and snow is already on the ground. She may -- as she pointed out to me, ice fishing is a way of life. I imagine that maybe she is parked in her shanty over a hole. As she said, it's not just fishing. One of the real sports there is don't just use a lore, it's is it your intention spearing. I thought that can't be real. It's like a trident that you throw into the hole in the ice. Her adventures, obviously, are only beginning as she makes that transition. >> [Away from mic]. >> Yes. But certainly, the wonderful service that she extended to the commission in different capacities over many years are very much appreciated. Shelley Gar, who is also going to be retiring from the secretary's office, certainly greatly appreciate everything that you've contributed and for again a very calm and even tempered demeanor, even when chaos was breaking out all around. And also want to thank Dana Brown, who has agreed to step into those shoes and she is currently our acting secretary and is doing excellent as we make that transition. Again, I feel bad. I'm undoubtedly going to forget some people. I also wanted to mention Greg Scott and especially in a presidential election year. The educational conferences, the webinars, the materials they make available in order to help campaigns and parties and political parties to understand the law. Those in his shop are very much appreciated and certainly don't go unnoticed. I know that I hear oftentimes about how much those who participate in the conferences and in the educational opportunities that we provide mention that, and I think that that should not go without recognition. And a couple more people I just want to mention who have always been, from the time that I have been here, no matter when I see them on the elevator, on the floor, anywhere, have always a smile on their face and always a pleasant hello and pleasant conversation. Lisa Chapman who works up here on the ninth floor, I want to thank her for always being a good friend and a source of positiveativity and also Donny Harris who knows even more than me about baseball. So whenever I run into him, we can always have a good conversation on whatever is going on during the season or off season, we can talk hot stove and the latest transaction. I want to thank him for his great work here. And then finally, I think every one of us as commissioners would acknowledge that it would be impossible for us to do our jobs without having personal staff who can keep us on the straight and narrow and who do so much hard work and I certainly am no exception. I want to thank theoLots and John bar man who is been here with me almost the entire time I have been at the agency for the excellent work they've done. Not only excellent attorneys, but they're even better people. I thoroughly enjoy my association with both of them and like I said, I couldn't do what I do without their assistance. And I would also say the same thing for my past executive assistants. David Adkins, Stuart cross land, Kevin plumber, that's one constant. It's been a blessing to me to not only have such smart and capable individuals, but people who are of such solid character and are people that I've thoroughly enjoyed being around. I thank Lindsey Melody, she's ensured from an agenda perspective that we've always been toeing the line and has worked extremely hard to help us for my efforts this year. So it's, again, I feel a deep gratitude to my colleagues up here, the staff throughout this agency. And like I said, I'm missing out on people, but I hope everyone genuinely knows how much I appreciate the efforts that they put in on a day-to-day basis to ensure that the building is operating smoothly, that audits are being done, Mr. Hintermeister, I see you out there as well. Reports are being reviewed, enforcement matters are proceeding. Everybody who contributes in this agency, I just want to say how much and to the extent it's not mentioned enough, how much your efforts are appreciated and how much your talents and abilities and also the personalities that you bring to the agency that I thank you for for all that contribute on a daily basis. One other thing that I want to add is that a tradition that was started a few years ago by commissioner Goodman who received this little -- it is a figure that represents an individual bearing the weight of the world. And for those of you who can tell, it's basically an individual sitting down, hands over his face, and in some ways maybe representative of what it's like to be the chair, which comes with a few perks and many, many burdens. And I believe when chairman Goodman yielded the gavel to commissioner Ravel and she became the chair, she then gave it to me and included a little orgami hat made out of a talks dollar bill and said we need to add something to it. There were some cusser broken in sports. The dodgers was not one of them. This is also a fair representation of what I looked like when the dodgers got eliminated in by the cubs in the champion series. I added an Insignia. You are going to add cowboy boots and spurs and Lasso, but I happily hand that over to the vice chairman and I would say that one thing to remember is whenever it comes that you're feeling that this little figure represents how you're feeling in terms of the pressures that are on your shoulders, the wise sayinga that it is always darkest just before it turns absolutely pitch black, so ... [Laughing] ... but that is -- >> I probably will feel that way tomorrow morning. No, this is a great thing. It will remind me to take sol as that others have held it and you're still holding up. That's a wonderful thing. >> Haven't completely been beaten down yet. That will be en trusted to your care. >> Thanks, I will keep my eye on it. >> Commissioner Hunter. >> Thank you, chair Petersen. I just wanted to say you did an amazing job this year as has been pointed out. There are a lot of things that the chairman deals with behind the scenes and one of them is the enforcement docket. Chairman Petersen came in with a long list of matters on the docket and he dealt with them very efficiently, professionally, without a lot of drama. I think he communicated very well with the staff what was going to be on the agenda and what the game plan was and he managed expectations and did it in a way that made the executive sessions this year much less painful than they have been before. And I certainly appreciate it because that's the bread and butter of what we do is the advisor opinions and the enforcement dockets and you managed that along with John, theo and Lindsey in a very professional manner that we appreciate without a lot of drama and there are important issues that affect what members of the public are doing and they're very cons convertible and we appreciate you doing that with such professionalism and efficiency. The other thing is the management issues that you had to deal with on a daily basis. And we made it through an election year without any major drama, no real problems, our website wasn't hacked this go around so good job on that. And a lot of things that could have happened didn't. So thank you for being so even keeled and efficient throughout your chairmanship this year. I truly appreciate having a chance to work with you all these number of years and have enjoyed our many conversations both about campaign finance law but even more so about the variety of topics that come up in our personal lives and politics. Petersen knows a lot about a lot of things, from baseball to living out West to all kinds of travel that he's done, but more importantly, he's always willing to learn new things and he listens very well and considers and has always been an excellent friend and advisor to me and I really appreciate our friendship and will always value it. Thank you. >> Commissioner Goodman. >> Yes. Chair Petersen, thank you for your calm and professional leadership this year and I think everyone can attest to the professionalism that you've instill and the way you've guided the agency. On the enforcement docket, I just looked at the numbers, and we looked at when you started in January of 2016, the commissions docket, that is matters pending for commission action, the number was 62 matters. And as of today, and we might resolve one or two more perhaps this afternoon, I noted that there were 22 matters pending commission action as of today. Only about 16 of those are the subject of some type of formal hold. About nine of those are bipartisan reasons and about five of those are individuals wanting to take a little bit more time with something. So that leaves probably 6 matters pending immediate action in January and I just want to congratulate you on moving through that enforcement docket and moving us through very efficiently and calmly. The substantive debates don't go away, but how we conduct those and move through is always important and largely reflective of how the chair moves the agency through. I just want to thank you for a good and efficient year and a year of professionalism and as well for your friendship. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. We now can turn to the last time, 2016, ask Mr. Palmer, are there any management and administrative matters that need to be considered. >> Mr. Chairman, there are no such matters. >> Hearing none, actually I think I'll use the new gavel. Hearing none, this meeting is adjourned.