Weekly Digest
Week of August 3 – 7
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Drafts
AO 2015-03 (Democracy Rules, Inc.). On July 16, the Commission made public a draft of Advisory Opinion 2015-03.The Commission discussed and held over the draft from the previous meeting. On August 7, the Commission made public a second and third draftof, and a supplement to, the Advisory Opinion. The requestor asks whether its plan to collect contributions and transmit them to federal candidates is permissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act) and Commission regulations. Public comments on the drafts are due by noon on August 10.
AO 2015-05 (Shaber). On August 5, the Commission made public a draft of Advisory Opinion 2015-05. The requestor asks whether she may, as a trustee, engage an independent, third-party escrow agent to receive a distribution from the trust and to distribute such funds to a party committee designated as the recipient in amounts not to exceed the annual contribution limits permitted under the Act and Commission regulations. Public comments on the draft are due by noon on August 10.
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 2920 – New Trier Democratic Organization and John Michael Ungashick, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $660.
AF 2971 – If He Votes Like That In Salem Imagine What He Will Do In Congress and Carol Russell, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.
LITIGATION
FEC v. O’Donnell (Case 15-cv-00017-LPS). On August 6, the Commission filed its Reply Brief in Support of its Motion to Dismiss Counterclaims in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Public Citizen, et al. v. FEC (Case No. 14-5199). On August 5, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a Mandate.
Republican Party of Louisiana, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-1241). On August 3, the Republican Party of Louisiana, Jefferson Parish Republican Parish Executive Committee and Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee filed a Verified Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and an Application for a Three-Judge Court in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
OUTREACH
On August 5, Chair Ravel discussed campaign finance disclosure rules and the role of the Commission with a group of government and political party leaders from Gabon, as part of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
August 11: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting and an executive session.
August 13: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
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.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
August 20: August 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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