Weekly Digest
Week of August 17 – 21
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Requests Received
AOR 2015-07 (Hillary for America). On August 18, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2015-07, submitted on behalf of Hillary for America. The requestor, the principal campaign committee for Hillary Clinton, asks whether attendees at campaign events may pay for their own food and beverages and valet parking services without making a contribution to the campaign committee. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after the receipt of the complete request, that is, by October 6, 2015.
AOR 2015-08 (Repledge). On August 20, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2015-08. Repledge proposes to establish a web-based platform that allows supporters of opposing Federal candidates to redirect potential contributions to charitable organizations. Repledge asks a number of questions relating to its proposal, including whether it will receive contributions and violate the prohibition on corporate contributions to candidates. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, specifically by October 19, 2015.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public two closed cases, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6697
COMPLAINANT: Republican Party of Montana
RESPONDENTS: League of Conservation Voters, Inc.; Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund and Joe Splinter, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Montana Conservation Voters and Theresa M. Keaveny, in her official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the League of Conservation Voters, Inc., Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund and Splinter, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Montana Conservation Voters and Keaveny, in her official capacity as treasurer, paid for and authorized an anonymous mailer containing express advocacy and failed to include a disclaimer.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file.
MUR 6704
COMPLAINANT: Virgil H. Goode
RESPONDENT: John Doe
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that an unknown party distributed mailers that failed to include a disclaimer and may have failed to file independent expenditure notices.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public 10 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 2895 – Curt Gottshall Campaign and Curt Gottshall, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $175.
AF 2896 – Doc Moylan Goes to Washington Election Committee and Robert Beauvais, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2897 – Gagnier for Congress 2014 and Christina Gagnier, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $200.
AF 2898 – Larry Smith Veteran for Congress and Larry Stanley Smith, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $150.
AF 2899 – Louis Minor for Congress and Anna Vazquez, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2900 – Robles for Congress and Silvia Castro, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2901 – Ron Leach for Congress Campaign Committee and Theresa Drake, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,827.
AF 2902 – Sharon Sund for Congress and Eugene Roberson, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2903 – Wade for US Senate 14 and Kevin Wade, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,970.
AF 2969 – Flinn for Senate and Lloyd Hetzer, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $330.
LITIGATION
Holmes, et al. v. FEC (Case 15-5120). On August 17, the Plaintiffs-Appellants have filed an Opening Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
FEC v. O’Donnell (Case 15-cv-00017-LPS). On August 14, the Commission filed its Answer to the Defendants’ Counterclaims in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Pursuing America’s Greatness v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-1217-TSC). On August 17, the plaintiffs filed a Reply to Commission''''s Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
IT INITIATIVES
On August 19, the Commission released a video tutorial designed to help members of the media and the public use raw data files of campaign finance reports. The video, posted on the FEC’s YouTube channel, FECTube, provides step-by-step instructions on how to locate, download and analyze these files. The Press Office''''s Data Tutorials web page provides templates that allow users to transfer raw data files to user-friendly spreadsheets with column headers.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
August 20: August Monthly Reports were due.
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
September 15: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
September 17: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session and an open meeting.
Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
August 25-26, Chicago, IL, Regional Conference for House & Senate Campaigns, Political Party Committees and Corporate/Trade/Labor PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
September 30: FECFile Webinar for Candidates. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
October 20-21, San Diego, CA, Regional Conference for House & Senate Campaigns, Political Party Committees and Corporate/Trade/Labor PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
September 20: September 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 2015 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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