Week of August 9 - August 13, 2010
Weekly Digest Week of August 9 – 13
COMMISSION MEETINGS ADVISORY OPINIONS
Advisory Opinions Issued
AO 2010-12 (Procter & Gamble). On August 13, the Commission unanimously approved Advisory Opinion 2010-12. The Commission concluded that the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) may expand its payroll deduction program to include Board members who are compensated by quarterly retainer payments, allowing them to authorize deductions from those payments for contributions to P&G''''s separate segregated fund.
Request Received
AOR 2010-19 (Google). On August 11, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2010-19. Google asks whether text ads generated by its AdWords program are exempt from the disclaimer requirements of 11 CFR 110.11, under the "small items" exception. If they are not, Google asks whether displaying the URL of the ad''''s sponsor would satisfy the disclaimer requirement. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, or by October 4, 2010.
Advisory Opinions and Requests are available here.
ENFORCEMENT The Commission made public seven closed cases and one Statement of Reasons. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System. MUR 6162 – Michael Sohn. The Commission approved a conciliation agreement that (1) requires the respondent, the former campaign manager of a federal candidate campaign committee, to provide proof of restitution payments of misappropriated funds and (2) prohibits the respondent from working or volunteering on a federal political committee for a period of 10 years. The conciliation agreement does not provide for payment of a civil penalty due to the respondent’s demonstration of financial hardship. MUR 6224 – Cara Carleton “Carly” Sneed Fiorina. The Commission found no reason to believe the respondent violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act). MUR 6236 – MN-06 Congressional Victory Committee and Christopher Ward, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission decided to take no further action. MUR 6266 – National Right to Life Political Action Committee and Carol Tobias, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission agreed to accept a conciliation agreement providing for the respondents to pay a civil penalty of $25,000. MUR 6271 – Billy Long; Billy Long for Congress and Ron Neville, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Billy Long Auctions, LLC. The Commission dismissed the case. MUR 6274 – Committee to Elect Matt Miller and Matt Miller, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission dismissed the case. MUR 6283 – Manfred Schreyer Committee and Jane E. Schreyer, in her official capacity as treasurer; and Manfred R. Schreyer. The Commission dismissed the case. MUR 6124 – Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education and Anna Burger, in her official capacity as treasurer. A Statement of Reasons was issued by Chairman Matthew S. Petersen, Vice Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly, and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter, Donald F. McGahn, and Ellen L. Weintraub.
LITIGATION Beam v. FEC. (formerly Beam v. Gonzales). On August 9, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration of Order Granting Defendant''''s Motion in Limine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The Commission asserts that the plaintiffs have failed to uncover evidence of a violation of the Right to Financial Privacy Act, the sole claim remaining in the case.
OUTREACH On August 12, 2010, Communications Specialist Kathy Carothers met with a delegation of political leaders from Armenia. The delegation visited the Commission to learn about campaign finance regulations and recent legal developments. The delegation''''s trip was sponsored by the Department of State''''s International Visitor Leadership Program.
PRESS RELEASES
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
August 9 – The Commission posted the filing deadlines for the Special Election in Illinois’ Senate race. For information on reporting dates for this special election, click here.
August 12: Alaska Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here. August 12: Arizona Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
August 12: Florida Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here. August 12: Oklahoma Pre-Runoff Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES August 16: Louisiana Pre-Primary Reports are due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here. UPCOMING EVENTS September 15, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshop on Pre-Election Communications. Registration information and schedule are here. October 6, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshop on Reporting Requirements. Registration information and schedule are here. OTHER RESOURCES The August issue of The Record is here. Sign up here to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted. The monthly supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are here.
Sunshine Act Notices for previous Executive Sessions are here. Agendas and related documents for previous Open Meetings are here. Audio recordings for selected previous meetings, hearings and presentations are here. |