Weekly Digest
Week of April 6 – 10
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public one closed case and one Statement of Reasons, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6788
COMPLAINANT: James R. Moore
RESPONDENTS: Jim Tracy; Jim Tracy State Senate Committee and Adam Coggin, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Jim Tracy for Congress and Shane Reeves, in his official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Tracy and the Jim Tracy State Senate Committee and Coggin, in his official capacity as treasurer (State Committee), paid for consulting services for Tracy’s federal committee, Jim Tracy for Congress and Reeves, in his official capacity as treasurer (Federal Committee). Tracy, a Tennessee State Senator, was a 2014 primary candidate for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe that Tracy and the State Committee made or the Federal Committee received contributions or expenditures for the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), because Tracy does not appear to have been a federal candidate at the time of the State Committee’s activities at issue and all of the expenses for those activities are consistent with the activities of state officeholders and persons running for state office.
MUR 6691 – Lampson for Congress and Lanell Wilson, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Texas Democratic Party and Gilberto Hinojosa, in his official capacity as treasurer. On April 8, Vice Chairman Matthew S. Petersen and Commissioners Lee E. Goodman and Caroline C. Hunter issued a Statement of Reasons.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public two 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 2886 – CSL Behring Employees Political Action Committee and Patrick Collins, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2894 – Lonegan for Congress and Elizabeth Curtis, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $10,110.
AUDITS AND COMMISSIONERS’ STATEMENT OF REASONS
Final Audit Report of the Commission on the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. On April 9, the Commission issued the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. (DNCC), covering campaign finance activity between September 1, 2011 and September 30, 2014. The Commission approved a finding that DNCC did not receive payments of federal funds in excess of its entitlement.
Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW). On April 6, the Commission issued the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the DPW, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. The Commission approved findings related to the misstatement of financial activity and recordkeeping for employees. The report also addresses an additional issue regarding the recordkeeping of employees. Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub issued a Statement of Reasons.
LITIGATION
FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate, et al. (Case 14-5297). On April 9, the Commission filed a Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Independence Institute v. FEC (Case 14-5249). On April 8, the Plaintiff-Appellant filed an Opening Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
April 21 and 23: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
April 23: 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 EVENTS
April 14: The Commission hosts an open house in the Public Records Office from 10:00 a.m. to noon to mark the agency’s 40th anniversary. The event will highlight the agency’s efforts to ensure disclosure of campaign finance information over the last four decades. Current and former FEC Commissioners are expected to attend. Former FEC staff members are invited to attend. The event is free and open to the public.
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
April 29: Webinar for Trade Association PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
April 15: April Quarterly Reports are due. For information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.
April 20: April Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.
OTHER RESOURCES
The 2015 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 2015 edition of the Federal Election Campaign Finance Laws is available on the Commission website and in print. The compilation contains all federal campaign finance laws (including a conversion table showing the recent changes from Title 2 U.S.C. to Title 52 U.S.C.). To order a copy at no charge, contact the Commission''''s Information Division at (800) 424-9530 (press 6, when prompted) or email info@fec.gov.
The 2014 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.
The 2014 Legislative Recommendations are available on the Commission’s website.
The 2014 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees is available on the Commission’s website.
The August 2013 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees is available on the Commission’s website.
The Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results are available in the Library section of the website. This listing was compiled from the official election results published by state election offices.
The Commission has published the 2015 Record Index page. An index to previously published Record news articles is available on the Commission website. The Record news page is available in the Publications section of the Commission website. Sign up to receive email notification when new articles are posted.
The FEC Annual Reports from 1975-2006 are available on the website. Beginning in 2007, the Commission consolidated its Annual Report with its Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) to provide a single account of the agency’s activities for each fiscal year.
Instructional videos are available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/FECTube?feature=watch. These videos are also available on the Commission’s E-Learning resources page at http://www.fec.gov/info/elearning.shtml.
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