Week of April 18 - April 22, 2011

Weekly Digest

Week of April 18 – 22

COMMISSION MEETINGS

No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public one closed case.

MUR 6328

RESPONDENTS: Allegretti for Congress and Ronald R. Gravino, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Michael Allegretti
COMPLAINANT: Stephen Clinton
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Allegretti for Congress, Gravino, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Allegretti failed to include disclaimers on yard signs. Allegretti was a 2010 primary candidate in New York’s 13th Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter because of the limited scope of the alleged violation and the prompt remedial action taken, and in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities relative to other pending enforcement matters. The Commission sent a letter reminding Allegretti for Congress and Gravino, in his official capacity as treasurer, about the use of appropriate disclaimers on public communications paid for by political committees.

For information regarding each of the above matters, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

ADMINISTRATIVE FINES

The Commission made public one campaign finance enforcement matter that was resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program.

AF 2152 – Friends of Elliot Richardson and Sherri N. Richardson, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,030.

For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

AUDITS

Final Audit Report on Tennessee Democratic Party (TDP). On April 20, the Commission made public the final audit report on the TDP, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. The Commission found that TDP (1) misreported certain coordinated party expenditures or shared operating expenditures as allocable federal election activity and (2) failed to disclose payees’ addresses in approximately 18 percent of itemized expenditures reviewed in a sample.

General information about final audit reports is here. Audits are broken down into three categories: Authorized Committees, Unauthorized Committees, and Title 26 Audit Reports. This information has recently been updated to include the 1982 Election Cycle Audits.

LITIGATION

Van Hollen v. FEC (No. 1:11-cv-00766 (ABJ )). On April 21, Representative Chris Van Hollen filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Van Hollen challenges as contrary to the law the Commission’s regulation concerning disclosure for electioneering communications, 11 C.F.R. 104.20(c)(9).

Schonberg v. FEC (No. 1:10-cv-02040 (RWR–JWR–CKK)). On April 21, the Commission filed a Reply in Support of its Motions to Dissolve the Three-Judge Court and to Dismiss in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On that same day, the United States also filed a Reply in Support of Defendant''''s United States''''s Motion to Dismiss.

RULEMAKING AND AGENCY PROCEDURES

On April 21, the Commission made public a petition for rulemaking from Representative Chris Van Hollen concerning independent expenditure reporting by persons other than political committees.

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

On April 19, the Commission made public the 2011 edition of the Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory. The 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 online edition is "clickable" and has active hyperlinks to the offices that are listed within the publication.  PDF and Word versions can be viewed and/or downloaded, too. 

 OUTREACH

On April 20, Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub discussed the history of campaign finance law and recent legal developments with international participants in American University''''s Election Management Institute.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

April 20: April Monthly Reports were due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2011 Monthly Reporting page of the FEC website.

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

April 26: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Executive Session.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

May 20: May Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2011 Monthly Reporting page of the FEC website.

UPCOMING EVENTS
May 11 and 18, Washington, DC. FEC Seminar for Corporations and their PACs. Registration information and schedule are on the 2011 Conference/Seminar Schedule page of the FEC website.

June 8, Washington, DC.  FEC Seminar for Trade Associations, Labor Organizations,

Membership Organizations and their PACs. Registration information and schedule are on the 2011 Conference/Seminar Schedule page of the FEC website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The April 2011 issue of The Record is in the Publications section of the FEC website. Sign up to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.

The April 2011 Supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are on the Campaign Guides page of the FEC website.

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