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  • Press Release

FEC Releases 11 Compliance Cases

March 20, 1998

News Releases, Media Advisories

For Immediate Release: Contact: Kelly Huff March 20, 1998 Ron Harris Sharon Snyder Ian Stirton

FEC RELEASES 11 COMPLIANCE CASES

WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on 11 matters previously under review (MURs). This release contains only summary information. Closed files should be thoroughly read for details, including the FEC''''s legal analysis of the case. (Please see footnote at the end of this release.) Closed MUR files are available in the Public Records Office.

1. MUR 4350

RESPONDENTS: Republican Party of Minnesota, Erick Kaardal, (former) treasurer (MN)

COMPLAINANTS: Rick Kahn, General Counsel, Wellstone for Senate (MN)

SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expendiutres; use of non-federal (state) funds; prohibited contributions

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

2. MUR 4355

RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Dole for President, Inc., Robert E. Lighthizer, treasurer (DC)
  • (b) Dole for President Compliance Committee, Inc., Robert E. Lighthizer, treasurer (DC)
  • (c) Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc. (MA)
  • (d) Simon C. Fireman (MA)
  • (e) Harry Fireman (MA)
  • (f) Louise Fireman (MA)
  • (g) Barry R. Fireman (MA)
  • (h) Lisa A. Fireman (MA)
  • (i) Norma Yost Fireman (MA)
  • (j) Carol A. Nichols (MA)
  • (k) William L. Nichols (MA)
  • (l) Richard Moeller (MA)
  • (m) Barbara Moeller (MA)
  • (n) Walter A. Hand (MA)
  • (o) Carole A. Hand (MA)
  • (p) James Hegarty (MA)
  • (q) Edna C. Hegarty (MA)
  • (r) Jacob Baron (MA)
  • (s) Beverly C. Baron (MA)
  • (t) William F. Johnson (MA)
  • (u) Maureen R. Johnson (MA)
  • (v) Stephen Berenson (MA)
  • (w) Gayle M. Block (MA)
  • (x) Paul A. Hoiriis, Jr. (MA)
  • (y) Thomas A. Keane (MA)
  • (z) Cynthia Cushman (MA)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Ellen S. Miller, (former) Executive Director, Center for Responsive Politics (DC)

    SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/contributions in the names of others

    DISPOSITION: (a-z) Took no action*

    3. MUR 4372

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Nebraska Democratic Party, Gerry Finnegan, treasurer (NE)
  • (b) Nebraska State Central Committee, Gerry Finnegan, treasurer (NE)
  • (c) Honorable E. Benjamin Nelson (NE)
  • (d) Nebraskans for Nelson, Michael Shrier, treasurer (NE)
  • (e) Ben Nelson for Governor, Michael Shrier, treasurer (NE)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Nebraska Republican Party , Andy Abboud, Executive Director (NE)

    SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expenditures; use of non-federal (state) funds; union contributions

    DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

    4. MUR 4472

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Democratic Party of Arkansas Federal Account, Jim Pledger, treasurer (AR)
  • (b) Democratic Party of Arkansas State Account, Jim Pledger, treasurer (AR)
  • (c) Committee to Elect Winston Bryant US Senate, Clifford P. Block, (former) treasurer (AR)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Craig Engle, General Counsel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (DC)

    SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expenditures; excessive contributions; disclaimer; corporate contributions

    DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

    5. MUR 4483

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a)Nebraska Democratic State Central Committee (Federal Account), Gerald F. Grant, treasurer (NE)
  • (b) Nebraska Democratic State Central Committee (State Account), Gerry Finnegan, treasurer (NE)
  • (c) Nebraskans for Nelson, Michael Shrier, treasurer (NE)
  • (d) Governors Council, Constance Burkey, treasurer (NE)
  • (e) Steve Burns, Chairman, Governors Council (NE)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Craig M. Engle, General Counsel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (DC)

    SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expenditures, disclaimers, excessive contributions; corporate contributions

    DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

    6. MUR 4504

    RESPONDENTS: (a) New Hampshire Democratic State Committee - Federal and Non-Federal Account, Gaetan Digangi, treasurer (NH)

    (b) Swett for Senate, Y. Katrina Lantos Swett, treasurer (NH)

    COMPLAINANTS: Craig M. Engle, General Counsel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (DC)

    SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expenditures; disclaimer; use of non-federal (state) funds; excessive contributions

    DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

    7. MUR 4507

    RESPONDENTS: (a) National Republican Senatorial Committee, J. Stanley Huckaby, treasurer (DC)

    (b) People for Boschwitz, Scott Johnson, treasurer (MN) © Arthur J. Finklestein (NY)

    COMPLAINANTS: Mark Andrew, Chair, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (MN)

    SUBJECT: Independent expenditures; failure to report coordinated expenditures

    DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

    8. MUR 4509

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party - Federal, Paul Schulte, treasurer (MN)
  • (b) Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Central Committee, Paul K. Schulte, treasurer (MN)
  • (c) Wellstone for Senate Committee, Richard S. Kahn, treasurer (MN)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Chris Georgakas, Chairman, Republican Party of Minnesota (MN)

    SUBJECT: Failure to report coordinated expenditures; disclaimer; prohibited contributions

    DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

    9. MUR 4571

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Richard Sybert (CA)
  • (b) Rich Sybert for Congress Committee, Charles F. Zilm,treasurer (CA)
  • (c) Leopold Hlavacek (CA)
  • (d) Vera Hlavacek (CA)
  • (e) Jill Hlavacek (CA)
  • (f) Lubur Hlavacek (CA)
  • (g) Countrywide PAC, Kirk Willison, treasurer (DC)
  • (h) Dreier for Congress, Jack H. Couch, treasurer (CA)
  • (i) Royce Campaign Committee, James D. Daily, treasurer (CA)
  • (j) Elizabeth Schrage (CA)
  • (k) Hodge L. Dolle, Jr. (CA)
  • (l) Gerald Katell (CA)
  • (m) Clara Link (CA)
  • (n) Robert J. Lowe (CA)
  • (o) Manfred Michelson (CA)
  • (p) Bruce E. Pherson (CA)
  • (q) Johnny Zamrzla (CA)
  • (r) Gelb Enterprises Partnership (CA)
  • (s) Roberta M. Gelb (CA)
  • (t) Ruth I. Gelb (CA)
  • (u) Rickey M. Gelb (CA)
  • (v) Lawrence S. Awbrey (CA)
  • (w) Victor E. Carlson (CA)
  • (x) Sara Carlson (CA)
  • (y) William H. Doheny (CA)
  • (z) Larry G. Saarloos (CA)
  • (aa) Donald Goodrow (CA)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Don MacDonald, Deputy Finance Director, Brad Sherman for Congress (CA)

    SUBJECT: Raising contributions after an election when no debts existed

    DISPOSITION: (a-aa) Took no action*

    10. MUR 4572

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Democratic Party of Illinois, John Gianules, treasurer (IL)
  • (b) United Democrats of Illinois, John Gianulis, treasurer (IL)
  • (c) Illinois Victory ''''96 (IL)
  • (d) Honorable Richard Durbin (IL)
  • (e) Friends of Dick Durbin Committee, Michael E. Daly, treasurer (IL)
  • (f) DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee, R. Scott Pastrick, (former) treasurer (DC)
  • (g) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Paul Johnson, treasurer (DC)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Illinois Republican Party, Harold B. Smith, Chairman (IL)

    SUBJECT: Failure to register committee and report joint fundraising activity

    DISPOSITION: (a-g) Took no action*

    11. MUR 4605

    RESPONDENTS: (a) St. Patrick''''s Catholic Church (KS)

    (b) The Christian Coalition (VA)

    COMPLAINANT: Diane Wahto (KS)

    SUBJECT: Tax exempt organization distributing campaign literature

    DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

    *There are four administrative stages to the FEC enforcement process:

    1. Receipt of proper complaint 3. "Probable cause" stage
    2. "Reason to believe" stage 4. Conciliation stage

    It requires the votes of at least four of the six Commissioners to take any action. The FEC can close a case at any point after reviewing a complaint. If a violation is found and conciliation cannot be reached, then the FEC can institute a civil court action against a respondent.

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