FEC Releases 16 Compliance Cases
March 25, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:KELLY HUFF
MARCH 25, 1996 RON HARRIS
SHARON SNYDER
IAN STIRTON
FEC RELEASES 16 COMPLIANCE CASES
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on 16 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. Pre-MUR 308
RESPONDENTS: (a) Chicago Heights National Bank (IL)
(b) Mel Reynolds for Congress Fundraising Account (IL)
COMPLAINANT: Referral from Coreen S. Arnold, District Counsel,
Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of
National Banks, Central District Office (IL)
SUBJECT: National bank contribution (overdrafts)
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
2. MUR 3968
RESPONDENTS: (a) Steven R. Carroll (MO)
(b) Missourians for Carroll, John E. Bardgett, Sr.,
treasurer (MO)
(c) Kenneth A. Carroll (MO)
(d) Rheyma J. Carroll (MO)
COMPLAINANT: Todd Spencer Ransom (MO)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; exceeding the annual $25,000
contribution limit; failure to file statement of
candidacy timely
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Conciliation Agreement: $38,000 civil penalty*
3. MUR 3998
RESPONDENTS: (a) David Duke for U.S. Senate Committee, James A.
McPherson, treasurer (LA)
(b) Vincent A. Canfield (PA)
(c) Eleanor Parker Adam (LA)
(d) Jerome Layton (KY)
(e) Jerrie Bellow Trahan (LA)
(f) L. M. Neilson (LA)
(g) E. R. McElveen (LA)
(h) Benjamin Grob (WI)
(i) Lloyd A. Faulstich (LA)
(j) Mary P. Donta (OH)
(k) Jeff William Smith (IL)
(l) Francis J. Shubert, Sr. (LA)
(m) Maria Gilley Danna (LA)
(n) Frank D. Richardson (LA) (deceased)
(o) Louis J. Arrieta (CA)
(p) R. W. Weidemann (CA)
(q) Ray Cater (LA)
(r) Harold H. White, III (LA)
(s) John R. Rarick (LA)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (Audit)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; transfer from candidate''''s
non-federal account containing prohibited funds;
failure to properly itemize contributors; failure to
maintain records of persons contributing in excess of
$50; failure to promptly dispose of cash
contributions over $50
DISPOSITION: (a) Conciliation Agreement: $15,000 civil penalty*
Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: failure to maintain records of persons
contributing in excess of $50 and to promptly
dispose of cash contributions over $50]
(b) Conciliation Agreement: $ 700 civil penalty*
(c) Conciliation Agreement: $ 600 civil penalty*
(d) Conciliation Agreement: $ 600 civil penalty*
(e) Conciliation Agreement: $ 500 civil penalty*
(f) Conciliation Agreement: $ 500 civil penalty*
(g) Conciliation Agreement: $ 500 civil penalty*
(h) Conciliation Agreement: $ 500 civil penalty*
(i) Conciliation Agreement: $ 450 civil penalty*
(j) Conciliation Agreement: $ 300 civil penalty*
(k-l) Probable cause to believe, but took no further
action* Sent admonishment letters
(m-s) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[b-s re: excessive contributions]
(m) Sent admonishment letter re: cash contributions
4. MUR 4022
RESPONDENTS: Murkowski ''''98, Donna Pagano Murray, treasurer (AK)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Foreign national contribution; corporate
contribution; excessive contributions; failure to
accurately report receipts as designated for
primary/general election
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $7,500 civil penalty*
Respondents to refund outstanding excessive
contributions, including those not properly
redesignated, or donate like amounts to charitable or
educational entity; and amend previously filed
reports to correct inaccuracies.
5. MUR 4027
RESPONDENTS: (a) Progressive Conservative Political Action
Committee and its treasurer (GA)
(b) Robert C. Beckman, Chairman, Progressive
Conservative Political Action Committee (GA)
COMPLAINANT: Republicans of Columbia County, Nancy M. Bobbitt, 1st
Vice Chairperson (GA)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
6. MUR 4033
RESPONDENTS: (a) Fox for Congress Committee, Frank W. Jenkins,
treasurer (PA)
(b) Greenwood for Congress, Robert O. Baldi,
treasurer (PA)
(c) Horsham Republican Party and its treasurer (PA)
COMPLAINANT: Friends of Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, Amy Walter,
Campaign Manager (PA)
SUBJECT: Contributions from an unregistered committee; failure
to register and report; failure to provide
contributor information ("best efforts")
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
7. MUR 4045
RESPONDENTS: (a) Stephen M. Largent (OK)
(b) Largent for Congress, Stephen A. Jay, treasurer
(OK)
(c) KVI-AM, Brian Jennings, Program Director (WA)
COMPLAINANT: Kathleen F. Cado (WA)
SUBJECT: Excessive contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
8. MUR 4049
RESPONDENTS: United We Stand America - Vermont, John T. Simmons,
Chairman (VT)
COMPLAINANT: Gavin Mills, Mills for U.S. Senate ''''94 (VT)
SUBJECT: Corporate expenditures in connection with federal
election
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
9. MUR 4057
RESPONDENTS: (a) Friends of Steve Stockman, John Hart, treasurer
(TX)
(b) Stockman for Congress, Stephen E. Stockman,
treasurer (TX)
COMPLAINANT: Jean L. Smith (TX)
SUBJECT: Disclaimer
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
10. MUR 4059
RESPONDENTS: (a) Progressive Conservative Political Action
Committee and its treasurer (GA)
(b) Robert C. Beckman, Chairman, Progressive
Conservative Political Action Committee (GA)
COMPLAINANT: Martha W. Moore (GA)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
11. MUR 4065
RESPONDENTS: (a) Representative Robert F. (Bob) Smith (OR)
(b) Bob Smith for Congress Committee, Lisa Martinez,
treasurer (OR)
(c) Wester Shadric (Wes) Cooley (OR)
(d) Wes Cooley for Congress Committee, Carole D.
Ashcraft (OR)
COMPLAINANT: Jay Mullen (OR)
SUBJECT: Independent expenditures made by a principal campaign
committee; excessive contributions; failure to report
contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
12. MUR 4066
RESPONDENTS: (a) Paul W. Bucha (NY)
(b) Committee to Elect Paul W. Bucha, Victor J.
Tardino, Jr., treasurer (NY)
(c) Michael R. Navarro, deputy treasurer, Committee
to Elect Paul W. Bucha
(d) Fisher Brothers Management Company (NY)
COMPLAINANT: Guy T. Parisi (NY)
SUBJECT: Failure to provide contributor information ("best
efforts"); inaccurate reporting; use of general
election funds for primary election; candidate loans
from other than personal funds
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
13. MUR 4067
RESPONDENTS: (a) Joe Scarborough (FL)
(b) Joe Scarborough for Congress, Donna Bloomer,
treasurer (FL)
(c) Charles B. Scarborough (CA)
(d) Patricia Talbert (FL)
(e) Richard M. Dodd (FL)
COMPLAINANT: Ralph F. Perkins (FL)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; failure to provide
contributor information ("best efforts"); innacurate
reporting
DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*
14. MUR 4069
RESPONDENTS: (a) Donald S. Davis (NC)
(b) Don Davis for Congress Committee, Don Davis,
treasurer (NC)
COMPLAINANT: Grant K. Gibson (NC)
SUBJECT: Failure to report debts and obligations
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
15. MUR 4086
RESPONDENTS: (a) Anderson for Congress Committee, Inge A. Fisher,
treasurer (NC)
(b) Insurance Professionals for Anderson (NC)
COMPLAINANT: George Breece (NC)
SUBJECT: Disclaimers
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
16. MUR 4281
RESPONDENTS: Hispanic PAC USA, Inc., Dennis Rivera, treasurer (NY)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $3,400 civil penalty*
*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 takes 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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