Week of December 5 - December 9, 2011

Weekly Digest

Week of December 5 – 9

COMMISSION MEETINGS

No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Requests Received

AOR 2011-26 (Martin H. Freeman). On December 5, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2011-26. Martin H. Freeman intends to raise funds to cover expenses associated with (1) identifying citizens who do not possess photo IDs in states that require citizens to present a photo ID to vote or register to vote, and (2) assisting those citizens in obtaining photo IDs.  Freeman asks whether his proposed activity is covered by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, (the Act), and Commission regulations. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by January 27, 2012.

AOR 2011- 27 (New Mexico Voices for Children). On December 7, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2011-27, submitted by New Mexico Voices for Children. The requestor asks whether it may make a severance payment to a former employee who is running for Congress. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by February 6, 2012.

Advisory Opinions and Requests are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the Commission website.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public one closed case.

MUR 6409
RESPONDENTS:  Lange for Congress and Greg Raymond Torgerson, in his official capacity as treasurer
COMPLAINANT:  Sue Dvorsky, Chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party
SUBJECT:  The complaint alleged that Lange for Congress and Torgerson, in his official capacity as treasurer, (the Committee) failed to disclose an expenditure for a television advertisement. Ben Lange was a 2010 candidate for Iowa’s First Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in light of the fact that the Committee subsequently reported the expenditure and in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities relative to other matters. The Commission sent a letter reminding the Committee of the requirements concerning the timely reporting of campaign debts and amending reports.

For information regarding the above matter, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

LITIGATION

Nader v. FEC (Civ. No. 10-989 (RCL)). On December 7, the plaintiff filed a Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

OUTREACH

On December 7, Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly, General Counsel Anthony Herman and Deputy Staff Director Mitra Nejad met with officials from the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to discuss campaign finance laws and the Commission''''s role in enforcing those provisions.

On December 6, Communications Specialist Myles Martin discussed Commission operations and campaign finance regulations with visitors from The Washington Center.

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

December 13: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Executive Session.

December 15: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Open Session.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

December 20: December Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2011 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The Record is in the Publications section of the Commission website. Sign up to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.

Printed copies of the August 2011 updated version of the Commission''''s Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees are available free of charge from the Commission''''s Information Division. To order, call (800)424-9530 (press 6) or send an email to info@fec.gov.

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