FEC Releases Draft Advisory Opinion Under Expedited Process

Washington – The Federal Election Commission released a draft advisory opinion under an expedited process today.  The draft advisory opinion would permit the Campaign to Elect Nancy Detert to accept a reimbursement for embezzled campaign funds, and has the tentative approval of all six Commissioners.   The advisory opinion request was made public on April 28, 2006, and per the statutorily required 10-day comment period, the Commission will accept public comments on the request through May 8, 2006. 

Under the expedited process, the Commission issued the draft advisory opinion within 10 days of the public release of the request, and will vote on the draft by tally vote at the close of the 10-day comment period.   The expedited process departs from the Commission’s long-standing practice of waiting to approve advisory opinions at regularly scheduled Commission meetings.  In this case, the advisory opinion stands to be approved 10 days earlier than if done under the standard practice.

In an effort to serve the regulated community more effectively, the FEC is examining ways to expedite the advisory opinion process, especially when presented with election-sensitive requests supported by Commission consensus.

The draft advisory opinion is available at http://www.fec.gov/aos/2006/aor2006-16draft.pdf.

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