Week of February 18 - February 22, 2013

Weekly Digest

Week of February 18 – 22

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public two closed cases and one Statement of Reasons. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

MUR 6591
COMPLAINANT: Angel Seufert
RESPONDENTS: Friends of Tom Stilson and Wanda Martens, in her official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Friends of Tom Stilson and Martens, in her official capacity as treasurer, (the Committee) maintained a website that failed to enclose the disclaimer within a printed box. Stilson was a 2012 candidate for Missouri’s 7th Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe that the Committee did not comply with the disclaimer requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, (the Act) because the Committee’s website disclaimer was not required to be enclosed within a printed box.

MUR 6623
COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENT: William A. Bennett
SUBJECT: In the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission found that Bennett reimbursed three individuals for contributions to the Scalise for Congress committee, and made excessive contributions to the committee. Stephen Scalise was a 2008 candidate for Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District.
DISPOSITION:  The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for Bennett to pay a civil penalty of $4,000. A Statement of Reasons was issued by Chair Ellen L. Weintraub and Commissioners Cynthia L. Bauerly and Steven T. Walther.

LITIGATION

Conway for Senate v. FEC (Case 3:12-cv-00244-CRS-JDM). On February 15, the Commission filed its Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate (Case 1:12-cv-00958-ABJ). Oral argument on the defendants'''' motion to dismiss is scheduled for February 27 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Libertarian National Committee, Inc. (LNC) v. Federal Election Commission (Case 1:11-cv-00562-RLW). Oral argument on the plaintiff''''s motion to certify facts and questions and the Commission''''s motion for summary judgment is scheduled for February 25 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Shaun McCutcheon, et al. v. FEC (Case 12-536). On February 19, the United States Supreme Court issued an order noting probable jurisdiction. This case will now proceed to full briefing and oral argument on the merits.

Wagner v. FEC (Case 12-5365). On February 20, the Commission filed a Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

OUTREACH

On February 8, 2013, Vice Chairman Donald F. McGahn, II discussed the effect of Citizens United  on the 2010 and 2012 elections at the Journal of Business Law Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

On February 20, Chair Ellen L. Weintraub discussed Commission operations and campaign finance law with students from American University. Chair Weintraub also met with the Vice Chair of Indonesia''''s Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to discuss the nature of the Commission''''s work as it pertains to election-related broadcast communications.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

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

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

February 26: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

March 20, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC. “Seminar/Webinar for House and Senate Campaigns and Party Committees” Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

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

OTHER RESOURCES

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 2012 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.

An index to the Record news articles published in 2012 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.

Printed copies of the 2012 edition of Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations are now available and can be downloaded from the website. To order, 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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