1. |
ADR 227 |
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RESPONDENT: |
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), PEOPLE |
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SOURCE: |
FEC Initiated (Audit) |
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SUBJECT: |
Failure to itemize disbursements; failure to report debt |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
Respondents did not itemize membership and fundraising disbursement because they were made from their non-federal account. All expenses that benefit both federal and non-federal accounts must be initially paid for and reported by the federal account. The Audit Division staff acknowledged that no impermissible funds were used to make the disbursements at issue. They could have made these expenses from union treasury funds in which case no disclosure would have been required. Respondents, in an effort to avoid a dispute with the FEC, ceased paying any of the administrative and solicitation costs from the non-federal account, and instead began paying for all of these costs out of AFSCME’s treasury funds. In response to the audit, the Respondent amended its practices in how it reports debts and obligations.
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 227 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
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2. |
ADR 257 |
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RESPONDENT: |
American College of Cardiology PAC, Michael A. Votaw, treasurer |
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SOURCE: |
FEC Initiated (RAD) |
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SUBJECT: |
Failure to file 48-hour report |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
$1,000 civil penalty
Respondents acknowledged an inadvertent violation of FECA, due to their inexperience. In an effort, to avoid similar errors in the future, Respondents agree to appoint a FECA compliance officer who will attend a FEC seminar within 12 months. |
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 257 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
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3. |
ADR 260 |
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RESPONDENT: |
Democratic Executive Committee of Florida, Rudy Parker, treasurer |
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SOURCE: |
FEC Initiated (Audit) |
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SUBJECT: |
Misstatements of financial activity |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
Respondents acknowledged an inadvertent violation of FECA, stated that in response to the Interim Audit and recommendations of the Audit staff, they filed amended reports to correct the misstatements of financial activity for the years 2001 and 2002. Respondents in an effort to avoid similar errors in the future, agree to hire a comptroller/accountant, hire a compliance specialist and send a representative to a FEC seminar within 12 months.
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 260 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
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4. |
ADR 271 |
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RESPONDENT: |
Taff for Congress, Kimberly S. Stewart, treasurer |
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SOURCE: |
MUR 5649: Charlyne Rothman |
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SUBJECT: |
Disclaimer |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
The Commission rejected the consolidated settlement agreement for Taff for Congress and closed the file. Statements of Reasons were issued by Chairman Thomas, Vice Chairman Toner and Commissioners Mason, McDonald and Weintraub. |
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 271 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
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5. |
ADR 279 |
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RESPONDENT: |
Citizens for Claudia Bermudez for Congress, Brion Wikes, Treasurer |
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SOURCE: |
FEC Initiated (RAD) |
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SUBJECT: |
Misstatements of financial activity |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
$500 Civil Penalty
The committee filed amendments to its 2004 October Quarterly and 30-Day Post General Election Reports showing significantly more disbursements than were originally reported. The committee argued that the errors were inadvertent and the result of inexperienced staff and a software glitch. The committee agrees to work with RAD staff to terminate the committee. |
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 279 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
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6. |
ADR 283 |
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RESPONDENT: |
No Vote Left Behind, Natasha George, Treasurer |
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SOURCE: |
FEC Initiated (RAD) |
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SUBJECT: |
Failure to file 48-hour notices of Independent Expenditures |
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NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT: |
$2,500 Civil Penalty
The committee failed to file timely four 48-Hour Notices of Independent Expenditures totaling $47,791.96. The expenditures were disclosed on subsequent quarterly reports but the statute requires more timely disclosure. The committee acknowledges a violation due to an inexperienced volunteer staff and agrees to: pay a civil penalty of $2,500, develop a FECA compliance manual, and attend a FEC seminar within 12 months. |
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DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: |
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 283 under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington. |
