FEC CHAIRMAN ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING DECISION IN EMILY’S LIST V. FEC

FEC CHAIRMAN ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING DECISION IN EMILY’S LIST V. FEC

WASHINGTON – At an open meeting of the Federal Election Commission today, Chairman Steven T. Walther read his statement in response to the September 18, 2009 ruling by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in EMILY’s List v. FEC.

“The decision raises many complex and procedural issues. The Commission has already received a preliminary briefing from our General Counsel’s Office and we will receive additional briefings from OGC in the next few weeks. I anticipate that the six of us will engage in some extremely interesting discussions in the weeks to come,” Walther said in his statement.

The law provides that a party may seek rehearing of a three-judge panel decision by the full Court of Appeals. The Commission has 45 days from the decision to seek such a rehearing by the full Court of Appeals.

“As soon as the Commission reaches a decision on what steps it will take, we will announce that decision publicly and, at that time, provide as much information and guidance as we can to the regulated community,” Walther said.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

###