Week of January 24 - January 28, 2011
Weekly Digest Week of January 24 – 28
COMMISSION MEETINGS No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Requests Received AOR 2011-02 (Senator Scott Brown and Scott Brown for U.S. Senate Committee, Inc.). On January 25, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2011-02. In the request, Senator Scott Brown and the Scott Brown for U.S. Senate Committee (the Committee) ask whether they may engage in, and use campaign funds to pay for, a variety of activities related to the upcoming publication and promotion of Senator Brown’s book, including: 1) purchasing bulk numbers of the book for campaign purposes; 2) using the Committee''''s website and social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, to post material promoting the book; 3) using Committee email, text, and mailing lists to promote the book; 4) hosting fundraising activities in cities where the book''''s publisher has arranged promotional events; and 5) collecting email data from people attending the Senator’s book signing events. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by March 25, 2011.
Advisory Opinions and Requests are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the FEC website.
ENFORCEMENT The Commission made public one closed case and two Statements of Reasons. MUR 6324 – John Edwards for President and Julius Chambers, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act).
MUR 6320 – John Gomez for Congress and Denise Passero, in her official capacity as treasurer; John Gomez; Clear Channel Communications, Inc.; Premiere Radio Networks, Inc.; and Sean Hannity. A Statement of Reasons was issued by Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly and Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub.
MUR 6211 – Krikorian for Congress and Nathan Bailey, in his official capacity as treasurer, David Krikorian; Armenian National Committee of America; and Hairenik Association, Inc. (d/b/a Armenian Weekly). A Statement of Reasons was issued by Vice Chair Caroline C. Hunter and Commissioners Donald F. McGahn and Matthew S. Petersen. For information regarding each of the above matters, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System. LITIGATION Ralph Nader v. FEC (Civ. No. 10-989 (BAH)). On January 21, the Plaintiff filed a Memorandum in Support of his Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The Real Truth About Obama v. Federal Election Commission (Civ. No. 08-483(JRS)). On January 24, oral argument was held before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. The case had been remanded to the District Court by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (No. 08-1977) 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. OUTREACH On January 26, 2011, Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly discussed campaign finance regulations and the Commission''''s role in enforcing them with a delegation of civic leaders from Europe. The group was sponsored by the Department of State''''s International Visitor Leadership Program.
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS February 1: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Executive Session. February 3: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Open Session. The Open Session agenda is available on the FEC website. UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES January 31: Year-end Reports are due. For more information on reporting dates, refer to the 2011 Reporting Dates page of the FEC website.
February 20: February Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2011 Monthly Reporting page of the FEC website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
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