Campaigns Cited for Failure to File October Quarterly Report

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission cited 11 congressional campaigns today for failing to file the October Quarterly report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (“the Act”).

As of 5 p.m., October 26, 2006 disclosure reports from the following committee had not been filed:

The report was due October 15, 2006 and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006. If sent by certified or registered mail, the reports should have been postmarked by October 15, 2006.

Some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal election law, even though their names may appear on state ballots.  If an individual raises or spends less than $5,000, he or she is not considered a "candidate" subject to reporting under the FECA.

The FEC notified committees involved in the primary of their potential filing requirements on September 21, 2006.  Those committees which did not file on the due date were notified on October 20, 2006 that reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days.

Other political committees supporting Senate and House candidates in elections (those which are not authorized units of a candidate''''s campaign) also are required to file pre-primary reports, unless they report monthly.  Those committee names are not published by the FEC.

Further Commission action against non-filers and late filers is decided on a case-by-case basis. Federal law gives the FEC broad authority to initiate enforcement actions and the FEC has implemented a new administrative fine program which will subject committees to penalties ranging from $30 to $16,000 or more.                             

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