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MUR 6122 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
National Association of Home Builders; and Gary Miller for Congress and Cathleen Miller, in her official capacity as treasurer |
COMPLAINANT: |
Aaruni Thakur |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that the National Association of Home Builders made a prohibited corporate expenditure, a prohibited PAC solicitation outside its restricted class and a prohibited in-kind contribution to Gary Miller for Congress in connection with a mailing praising Representative Miller’s (CA-42) voting record on certain issues. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act) or Commission regulations. |
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| MUR 6166 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Republican National Lawyers Association; Coleman for Senate ‘08 and Rodney A. Axtell, in his official capacity as treasurer; Coleman Minnesota Recount Committee and Anthony Sutton, in his official capacity as treasurer; Republican Party of Minnesota and Anthony Sutton, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Norm Coleman |
| COMPLAINANT: |
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |
| SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) made and Coleman for Senate ‘08 and Axtell, as treasurer, the Coleman Minnesota Recount Committee and Sutton, as treasurer, and the Republican Party of Minnesota and Sutton, as treasurer, received prohibited corporate contributions. The complaint further alleged that RNLA, a 527 organization, failed to register as a political committee and, along with the remaining respondents, failed to disclose the contributions on disclosure reports to the Commission. |
| OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Act because the available information presented did not support the allegations in the complaint. |
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MUR6086 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Jim Risch for U.S. Senate and R. John Insinger, in his official capacity as treasurer |
COMPLAINANTS: |
James D. Hansen and the Idaho Democratic Party |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint questioned whether the Committee and its treasurer properly reported and allocated expenses such as rent, overhead and staff salaries between then-candidate Risch’s law firm. Jim Risch was a Senate candidate from Idaho. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in light of the complainants’ failure to present information supporting the allegations raised in the complaint.
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MUR 6116 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Timothy M. Cunha; Tim Cunha for Congress and Timothy M. Cunha, in his official capacity as treasurer |
COMPLAINANT: |
Sean Walsh |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that the Committee and Cunha, as treasurer, violated disclaimer provisions of the Act by failing to include a clearly identified image of the candidate of at least 80% of the vertical screen height on broadcast campaign advertisements. Cunha was a candidate for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. |
| OUTCOME: |
The Commission dismissed the case using its prosecutorial discretion in light of the technical and unintentional nature of the possible violation and the committee’s immediate action to address the allegation. |
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MUR 6125 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
McClintock for Congress and David Bauer, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Representative Tom McClintock |
COMPLAINANT: |
Charlie Brown for Congress by its Campaign Manager, Todd Stenhouse |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that the Committee and Bauer, as treasurer, placed automated calls advocating McClintock’s election and the defeat of his opponent but failed to include the required disclaimer. McClintock was a candidate in California’s 4th Congressional District. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission used it prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the matter in light of the respondents’ sworn statements, the small potential dollar amount involved, and the possibility of vendor error. It sent a letter of caution, advising the Committee to take steps to ensure that its conduct is in compliance with the Act and Commission regulations. |
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MUR 6147 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Kansas City Chiefs Football Club, Inc.; and John McCain 2008, Inc. and Joseph Schmuckler, in his official capacity as treasurer |
COMPLAINANT: |
David A. Raffel |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that the Kansas City Chiefs made an unreported in-kind contribution to the McCain Presidential campaign when a speech honoring veterans by the then-presidential candidate was broadcast on large stadium screens during a football game two days prior to the presidential election. |
OUTCOME:
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The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter, because the overall circumstances did not justify further enforcement since the tribute did not refer to the presidential election or to the candidate’s military record and did not contain any language promoting or supporting the candidate. |
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.
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