Commission cites committees for failure to file Missouri and Washington Pre-Primary reports (2012)
On August 3, 2012, the Commission cited three campaign committees for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Election Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act), for the Missouri and Washington primary elections held on August 7, 2012.
As of August 2, 2012, the required disclosure report had not been received from:
- Jason Greene for Congress (MO/05)
- Friends of Stephan Brodhead (WA/06)
- Friends to Elect Don Rivers to Congress 2012 (WA/07)
The report was due on July 26, 2012, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2012, through July 18, 2012. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by July 23, 2012.
Some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal campaign finance law, even though their names may appear on state ballots. If an individual raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not considered a "candidate" subject to reporting under the Act.
The Commission notified committees involved in the Michigan, Missouri and Washington primary elections of their potential filing requirements on July 2, 2012. Those committees that did not file on the due date were sent notification on July 27, 2012 that their reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days.
Other political committees that support Senate and House candidates in elections, but are not authorized units of a candidate''s campaign, are also required to file quarterly 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 an Administrative Fine program with provisions for assessing monetary penalties.
Resources:
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- Myles Martin
- Public Affairs Specialist
- Myles Martin