Week of October 10 – October 14, 2016

Commission meetings and hearings

No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.

Advisory opinions

Advisory opinions considered

Advisory Opinion Request 2016-13 (Martins for Congress II)

On October 12, the Commission made public a letter regarding Advisory Opinion Request 2016-13, which stated that it was unable to render an opinion by the required four affirmative votes. The requestor asked whether, in light of a federal court’s cancellation of a primary election that the Commission concluded warranted a separate contribution limit, the requestor may continue to raise contributions subject to that separate limit to retire debts incurred in furtherance of the canceled primary.

Advisory opinion issued

Advisory Opinion Request 2016-15 (Gary Johnson Victory Fund)

On October 13, the Commission issued an advisory opinion in response to a request from Gary Johnson Victory Fund. The Commission concluded that the requestor, a joint fundraising committee, may solicit, receive, and hold in escrow contributions reflecting the increased contribution limits for which some of the participating committees will be eligible if and when the Commission recognizes them as state party committees. The Commission had received an Extension of Time until October 13.

Administrative fines

The Commission made public eight campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

AF 3048 

Dean Foods Company Political Action Committee and Edgar Deguia, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $275.

AF 3049 

Citizens for Xavier Salinas and Ray Perez, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.

AF 3050 

Eddie Bernice Johnson for Congress and Randy Whitaker, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,090.

AF 3051 

Gigliotti for Congress and Karen Gigliotti, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,400.

AF 3053 

Friends of Bennie Thompson and Reuben V. Anderson, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,300.

AF 3054 

Stella for Congress and Edward Louis Antognoli, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,500.

AF 3055 

Thomas Day for Congress and Brandon Thomas Bodor, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.

AF 3081 

Maria for America 2016 and Timothy J. Lyng, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,220.

Litigation

• CREW v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-02038-RC). On October 12, the Plaintiffs filed a Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment and in Opposition to Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
• Pursuing America's Greatness v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-01217-TSC). On October 12, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an Order granting Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction.

Outreach

On October 13, Commissioner Ann M. Ravel discussed campaign finance issues with the American Constitution Society at Yale Law School.

Upcoming Commission meetings and hearings

• October 18: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
• October 25: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
• October 27: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.

Upcoming reporting due dates

• October 15: October Quarterly Reports are due. For more information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2016 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.
• October 20: October Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2016 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.
• October 27: Pre-General Reports are due. For more information on reporting dates, refer to the 2016 Reporting Dates page of the Commission website.

Disclosure initiatives

Commission staff, together with our partners at 18F, continue to add new features to the agency's beta.fec.gov website. The Commission encourages website visitors to submit comments and questions by clicking on the “Feedback” tab at the bottom of each page.

Additional research materials

Additional research materials about the agency, campaign finance information, and election results are available through the Library section of the Commission website.

The 2016 edition of the Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available in the Public Records section of the Commission website. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives and other financial filings.

The Commission has published the October Record newsletter. Sign up to receive email notification when new Record articles are posted.

The 2016 edition of Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be downloaded from the website. To order printed copies, call (800) 424-9530 (press 6) or send an email to info@fec.gov.