Week of December 2 - December 6, 2013

Weekly Digest

Week of December 2 - 6

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

On December 3, the Commission held an executive session.

On December 5, the Commission held an open meeting. Click here for agendas and related documents for open meetings. Click here for audio recordings of selected meetings, hearings and presentations.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Advisory Opinions Considered

AOR 2013-19 (Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.).  On December 5, the Commission discussed two drafts responding to an advisory opinion request from Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. but was unable to render an opinion by the required four affirmative votes. In its request, the requestor asked whether it may solicit contributions to its separate segregated fund from the executive and administrative personnel of the dealers and service centers that sell and service Yamaha''''s marine products, and from such dealers and service centers that are individuals or partnerships. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel on behalf of the requestor.

Extension of Time

AOR 2013-18 (Revolution Messaging, LLC). On November 27, the Commission received an Extension of Time until January 31, 2014, on Advisory Opinion Request 2013-18 from Revolution Messaging. The requestor asks whether the proposed mobile phone banner advertisements are exempt from the disclaimer requirement of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public two Statements of Reasons, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

MUR 6617 – Christie Vilsack; Christie Vilsack for Iowa and John P. Kibbie, in his official capacity as treasurer; American Federation of Federal, State & County Employees, AFL-CIO; House Majority PAC and Shannon Roche, in her official capacity as treasurer; and Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education and Eliseo Medina, in his official capacity as treasurer.  On December 2, Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Matthew S. Petersen issued a Statement of Reasons.

MUR 6667 – Cheri Bustos; Friends ofCheri Bustos and Jeanette Hunter, in her official capacity as treasurer; and House Majority PAC and Shannon Roche, in her official capacity as treasurer. On December 2, Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Matthew S. Petersen issued a Statement of Reasons.

AUDITS

Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Caesars Entertainment Corporation Political Action Committee. On December 5, the Commission approved the Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Caesars Entertainment Corporation Political Action Committee, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. The Commission approved a finding related to the misstatement of financial activity and increased activity.  The Audit Division will prepare the Proposed Final Audit Report within 30 days.

Final Audit Report on the Arizona Republican Party. On November 25, the Commission made public the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Arizona Republican Party, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The Commission approved findings related to the misstatement of financial activity, reported coordinated party expenditures and the reporting of debts and obligations. The report also addressed an additional issue related to reported coordinated party expenditures.

LITIGATION

Combat Veterans for Congress PAC v. FEC (Case 1:11-cv-02168-CKK). On November 29, the plaintiffs filed an Amended Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Libertarian National Committee, Inc. v. FEC (Case 13-5094). On December 2, the Commission filed its Reply in Support of Its Motion for Summary Affirmance in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

RULEMAKINGS AND AGENCY OPERATIONS

Draft Interpretive Rule Regarding the Date of Political Party Nominations of Candidates for Special Primary Elections in New York. On December 5, the Commission approved a draft interpretive rule to clarify the Commission’s interpretation of its rules for determining the date of a special primary election as those rules apply to nominations conducted under New York Election Law, which vests special election nominating authority in the party committees.

PRESS RELEASES

FEC Approves Draft Interpretive Rule, Discusses Advisory Opinion Request (issued December 5)

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

December 17: The Commission is scheduled to hold both an open meeting and an executive session.

December 19: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

December 20: December Monthly Reports are due. For information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

January 31, 2014: Year-end Reports are due. For more information on reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Reporting Dates page of the Commission website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The August 2013 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees is available on the Commission’s website.

The 2013 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 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.

An index to the Record news articles published in 2013 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 now 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.

The 2012 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.

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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