Week of February 6 - February 10, 2012

Weekly Digest

Week of February 6 – 10

COMMISSION MEETINGS

On February 7, the Commission held an Executive Session. Click here for Sunshine Act Notices for Executive Sessions.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Drafts

AO 2012-02 (Wawa, Inc.). On February 9, the Commission made public a draft of Advisory Opinion 2012-02 (Wawa, Inc.). The requestor asks the Commission to clarify whether certain Wawa managerial employees fall within the restricted class of persons whom the requestor may solicit at any time for contributions to its separate segregated fund. Public comments on the draft are due by noon on February 15.

AO 2012-04 (Justice Party of Mississippi).On February 9, the Commission made public a draft  of Advisory Opinion 2012-04. The Justice Party of Mississippi asks whether it constitutes a state political party committee as defined in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and Commission regulations. Public comments on the draft are due by noon on February 15.

Advisory Opinions and Requests, as well as Public Comments and Draft Opinions, are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the Commission website.

AUDITS

Final Audit Report on Spike Maynard for Congress. On February 7, the Commission made public the Final Audit Report of the Commission on Spike Maynard for Congress (SMFC), covering campaign finance activity between February 17, 2010 and December 31, 2010.  The Commission found that SMFC did not disclose or inadequately disclosed purposes for disbursements.

Click here for general information about final Audit Reports. Audits are broken down into three categories: Authorized Committees, Unauthorized Committees, and Title 26 Audit Reports.

LITIGATION

Schonberg v. Boehner, SEC, and FEC (No. 11-cv-02139(JEB)). On February 6, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Dismissal without Prejudice in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint challenged, among other things, the constitutionality of the Act.

OUTREACH

On February 8, the Commission hosted an informal public forum on compliance.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 15 and 29, the Commission will host informal public forums to discuss agency operations in the areas of disclosure data (February 15) and the Commission’s enforcement and advisory opinion processes (February 29). For details including information on public participation and how to submit written comments, please see Chair Caroline C. Hunter’s invitation.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

February 22-23, Miami, Florida, Regional Conference for Campaigns, Party Committees and Corporate/Labor/Trade PACs. Registration information and schedule are on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

March 21, Washington, DC. Seminar/Webinar for House and Senate Campaigns and Political Party Committees. Registration information and the schedule are on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

February 15: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open audit hearing on the National Right to Life PAC.  

February 16: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Open Session.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

February 20: February Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2012 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

The Commission posted the filing deadlines for the Special Election in Arizona’s 8th  Congressional District. For information on reporting dates for this election, refer to the Special Election Report Notice.

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.

The August 2011 updated version of the Commission''''s Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees is available online. Printed copies of the updated Guide are also 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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