Week of January 17 - January 21, 2011

Weekly Digest

Week of January 17 – 21

COMMISSION MEETINGS

On January 19, the Commission held an Executive Session. Click here for Sunshine Act Notices for Executive Sessions.

On January 20, the Commission held an Open Meeting. Click here for Agendas and related documents for Open Meetings. Click here for Audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public two closed cases.

MUR 6211 – Krikorian for Congress and Nathan Bailey, in his official capacity as treasurer; David Krikorian; Armenian National Committee of America; Hairenik Association, Inc. (d/b/a Armenian Weekly). The Commission closed the file.

MUR 6296 – Kenneth R. Buck; Buck for Colorado and Kenneth Salazar, in his official capacity as treasurer; Perry Buck; Hensel Phelps Construction; Cache Bank and Trust; Jerry Morgensen; Americans for Job Security; Campaign for Liberty; and Declaration Alliance. The Commission found no reason to believe violations occurred in connection with Perry Buck, Hensel Phelps Construction, Cache Bank and Trust, Campaign for Liberty, and Declaration Alliance. The Commission closed the file concerning Buck, Buck for Colorado and its treasurer, Americans for Job Security, and Jerry Morgensen.

For information regarding each of the above matters, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

AUDITS

Tennessee Republican Party. On January 20, the Commission approved a final audit report for the Tennessee Republican Party, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. The Commission found that the committee (a) misreported its receipts, disbursements, and cash on hand amounts, (b) received contributions from unregistered political organizations, which may have been made with impermissible funds, and (c) failed to properly document salary and wage expenditures. The report also addressed an additional issue related to potential excessive coordinated party expenditures made in 2006 by the committee, noting that the Commission did not approve a staff recommendation by the required four votes.

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

Bluman v. FEC (Civ. No. 10-1766 (RMU)). On January 18, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and a Memorandum in Support of Motion and in Opposition to FEC''''s Motion to Dismiss in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On January 20, the Court issued an Order for Designation of Judges to Serve on Three-Judge District Court.

Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington (CREW) v. FEC (No. 1:10-cv-01350-RMC). On January 18, the Commission filed a Reply in Support of Its Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

RULEMAKING AND AGENCY PROCEDURES

On January 20, the Commission was unable to approve either of two NPRM drafts on Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications by Corporations and Labor Organizations. The NPRM, if approved, would seek public comment on changes to the FEC’s rules regarding corporate and labor organization funding and reporting of expenditures, independent expenditures and electioneering communications in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly and Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub issued a Statement. Vice Chair Caroline C. Hunter and Commissioners Donald F. McGahn and Matthew S. Petersen issued a Statement.

PRESS RELEASES

FEC Votes On Two Drafts Of An NPRM On Independent Expenditures And Electioneering Communications, Approves Final Audit Report (issued January 20)

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

January 31:  Year-end Reports are due. For more information on reporting dates, click on the 2011 Reporting Dates page of the FEC website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 January 24, 2011, 9:30am, Richmond, Virginia. Oral argument before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in The Real Truth About Obama v. Federal Election Commission (Civ. No. 08-483(JRS)). The case was remanded to the District Court for further consideration in light of the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and the Solicitor General''''s suggestion that two issues are moot.

March 2, 2011, Washington, DC. FEC Seminar for Political Party Committees. Registration information and schedule are on the 2011 Conference/Seminar Schedule page of the FEC website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The January 2011 issue of The Record is in the Publications section of the FEC website. Sign up to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.

The January 2011 Supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are on the Campaign Guides page of the FEC website.

Sunshine Act Notices for previous Executive Sessions are on the Executive Sessions page of the FEC website. Agendas and related documents for previous Open Meetings are on the Open Meetings page of the website. Audio recordings for selected previous meetings, hearings and presentations are on the Audio page of the FEC website.