Message from the Chairman
The upcoming year promises to be exciting and challenging as the Commission continues to improve existing programs and complete BCRA-related rulemakings. A top priority is the reconsideration of regulations as mandated by the D.C. Circuit and District Court in the Shays-Meehan v. FEC litigation. While awaiting the outcome of the appeals process in 2005, the Commission began reconsidering regulations in response to the courts’ concerns. As a result, the Commission has already finished reconsidering a number of the challenged regulations and has issued Notices of Proposed Rulemaking for all of the remaining regulations at issue. The Commission is on track to complete all of the required rulemakings by the end of February, which will ensure that final rules are in place across-the-board well in advance of the midterm elections.
In 2006, the Commission will expand its educational outreach activities, offering conferences in Tampa, Seattle and Washington, D.C., as well as state outreach workshops and roundtable discussions at the FEC. Additionally, the Commission is continuing to upgrade its website to make more campaign finance information accessible online and to make it easier to locate. In the next year, the FEC will also seek to continue making major strides in our programs.
The Reports Analysis Division, as a result of the electronic filing system and the initial implementation of “e-review,” has already finished reviewing 2004 election-cycle activity and aims to complete 2005 activity by the end of the first quarter of 2006. The Audit Division significantly increased the number of Title 2 audits completed from the 2000 and 2002 cycles, and is well ahead of schedule on completing the 2004 Title 26 Presidential audits. The Office of General Counsel continues to streamline the enforcement process, which has resulted in the resolution of 60% of the 324 enforcement cases arising out of the 2004 cycle. Moreover, the ADR and Administrative Fine programs have greatly enhanced our enforcement programs by providing a quick and efficient means for settling less serious election law violations.
The Commission has many things to accomplish in 2006. As the election year begins, the FEC continues to strive to effectively implement and enforce the federal election laws and to provide the regulated community with the clear and concise information necessary to comply with the law. I look forward to the upcoming year and working with everyone at the FEC to meet the Commission’s goals.