Weekly Digest
Week of January 4 –8
COMMISSION MEETINGS
The Commission did not hold Open or Executive Sessions this week. Sunshine Act Notices for Executive Sessions are here. Agendas and related documents for Open Meetings are here.
Audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations are here.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Request Received
AOR 2010-01 (Nevada State Democratic Party). On January 5, 2010 the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2010-01, in which the Nevada State Democratic Party asks whether it can pay for campaign materials used by volunteers on behalf of a party''''s favored candidates before they are nominated. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by March 5, 2010.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public three closed cases this week. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6161 – Hocking County Republican Party Central Committee. The Commission found no reason to believe the respondent violated the Act.
MUR 6091 – Roy Carter for Congress and John C. Rhineberger, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Bully Documentary, Inc. The Commission dismissed the case.
MUR 6145 – Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership; Robert Mitchell, President; and Bay Oaks Country Club, Inc. The Commission dismissed the case.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
AF 1996 – Americans Against Illegal Immigration PAC and Scott B. MacKenzie as Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,125.
AF 2106 – Monroe County Democratic Committee and Leigh Kegerreis as Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.
AF 2108 – Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee: United Campaign Committee - Federal and William Guy Crouch, CPA EA as Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $206.
AF 2092 – Jeb Bradley for Congress Committee and Eugene F. Leone, Jr. as Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $7,660.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Commission made public two campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
ADR 499 (consolidated agreement with ADR 510) – League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and Patrick Collins as Treasurer. The respondents agreed to implement compliance measures, send a representative to an FEC conference and pay a civil penalty of $4,000.
ADR 515 – Norfolk Southern Corporation Good Government Fund and Marque Ledoux as Treasurer. The respondents agreed to implement compliance measures, send a representative to an FEC conference and pay a civil penalty of $1,000.
LITIGATION
FEC v. Novacek. On January 7, the Commission filed its Reply in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment in FEC v. Novacek. The Commission alleges in this enforcement action that defendant Novacek created several entities -- including the "Republican Victory Committee" -- and made misrepresentations to vendors and the general public stating or implying that the entities were raising money for a political party committee. The FEC found probable cause to believe that the fundraising solicitations by phone and in mailers constituted knowing and willful fraudulent misrepresentations of the source of the solicitation and raised more than $75,000. In addition, the defendants are alleged to have failed to include on their communications some of the required disclaimer information, such as the street address, telephone number, or Internet address of the person who paid for the communication.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
January 7 – Massachusetts Special Senate Pre-General Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here. For information on campaign finance data concerning the special election, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 20, Washington, FEC Roundtable Reporting Requirements Workshop. The schedule is here.
February 9-10, New Orleans, LA – Regional Conference for Campaigns, Party Committees and Corporate/Labor/Trade PACs. The schedule is here.
February 24, Washington, FEC Travel Rules Workshop. The Schedule is here.
March 9-10, Washington, Conference for Corporations and their PACs. Information is forthcoming and will be posted here.
NEXT WEEK (JANUARY 11 – 15, 2009)
January 12: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Executive Session.
January 14: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Open Session.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
January 21: Florida 19th District Pre-Primary Reports due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here. For information on campaign finance data concerning the special election, click here.
January 31: Year-End Disclosure Reports due. Click here for information on electronic filing.
