Week of February 2 - February 6, 2015

Weekly Digest

Week of February 2 – 6

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

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

ENFORCEMENT

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

MUR 6660 – Angus King for U.S. Senate Campaign and S. Catherine Longley in her official capacity as treasurer; Angus King; Americans Elect; Eliot Cutler. On February 6, Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Ellen L. Weintraub and Steven T. Walther issued a Statement of Reasons.

MUR 6795 – Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; and Melanie Sloan. On January 29, Commissioners Lee E. Goodman and Caroline C. Hunter issued a Statement of Reasons. On February 6, Chair Ravel and Commissioners Weintraub and Walther issued a Statement of Reasons.

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 2777– Friends of Barbara Boxer and Stephen J. Kaufman, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,980.

AF 2782– McCaskill for Missouri and Michelle Sherod, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,550.

LITIGATION

Holmes, et al. v. FEC (Case 14-5281). On January 30, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a Per Curiam Order.

Public Citizen, et al. v. FEC (Case 14-5199). Oral argument is scheduled for February 17 in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

OUTREACH

On February 5, Chair Ravel participated in a panel discussion entitled “Beyond Corruption: New Approaches to Money in Politics – Featuring Representative John Sarbanes" hosted by the Brennan Center for Justice and New American Foundation in Washington, D.C.

On February 7, Commissioner Weintraub will speak at a workshop entitled “Ethics in Campaign Finance: Issues Facing our Democracy” at the 2015 Bryce Harlow Workshop on Ethics and Lobbying hosted by American University in Washington, D.C.

FEDERAL REGISTER

On February 3, the Commission published the 2015-2016 Price Index Adjustments for Contribution and Expenditure Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold in the Federal Register.

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

February 10 and 12: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

February 11: The Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Aggregate Biennial Contribution Limits. Live audio streaming of the hearing will be available on the Commission''''s website. 

February 12: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting. Live audio streaming of the meeting will be available on the Commission''''s website. 

Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS    

February 18: Webinars for Corporate PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

March 25: Webinars for Member/Labor PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

February 20: February Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Monthly Reporting pageof the Commission website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The 2014 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 2014 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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