Week of July 28 - August 1, 2014

Weekly Digest

Week of July 28 – August 1

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

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

ENFORCEMENT

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

MUR 6538
COMPLAINANTS: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; and Melanie Sloan
RESPONDENTS: Americans for Job Security; and Stephen DeMaura, individually and in his capacity as president and treasurer of Americans for Job Security
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Americans for Job Security (AJS), a tax-exempt entity organized under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, and DeMaura, individually and in his capacity as president and treasurer of AJS, failed to organize, register, and report as a political committee in 2010.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file.  On July 30, Statements of Reasons were issued by Chairman Lee E. Goodman and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Matthew S. Petersen and by Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub. 

MUR 6589
COMPLAINANTS: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; and Melanie Sloan
RESPONDENTS: American Action Network; and Stephanie Fenrijo, in her capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the American Action Network, a nonprofit corporation organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Fenrijo, in her capacity as treasurer, failed to organize, register, and report as a political committee in 2010.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file.  On July 30, Statements of Reasons were issued by Chairman Lee E. Goodman and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Matthew S. Petersen and by Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub. 

MUR 6650
COMPLAINANT: Utah Republican Party
RESPONDENTS: Citizens to Elect Soren Simonsen and Brandy Brock, in her official capacity as treasurer; and Soren Dahl Simonsen
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Simonsen and Citizens to Elect Soren Simonsen and Brock, in her official capacity as treasurer (the Committee) failed to file a Statement of Organization and an initial disclosure report in a timely manner. Simonsen was a 2012 candidate in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter.

LITIGATION

Center for Competitive Politics v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00970-RBW). On July 28, the Commission filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Holmes, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-01243-RMC). On July 21, Laura Holmes and Paul Jost filed a Complaint for Declaratory Relief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint challenges the separate limits on contributions for primary and general elections under the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Kuhn for Congress v. FEC (Case 2:13-cv-03337-PMD-WWD). On July 29, the plaintiff filed a Memorandum to Deny Commission’s Motion to Dismiss in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.

La Botz v. FEC (Case 1:13-cv-00997-RC). On July 25, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued its Memorandum Opinion and Order granting the Commission’s motion to dismiss.

Parsons, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-01265). On July 24, Inga L. Parsons and Stephen C. Leckar filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and a Motion for Certification Order Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. § 437h in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  The complaint challenges the Federal Election Campaign Act provision that prohibits individuals with government contracts from making contributions to any political party, committee or candidate.

Public Citizen, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00148-RJL). On July 30, the plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

RNC, et al. v. FEC(Case 1:14-cv-00853-CRC). On July 31, the Commission filed its Memorandum in Support Of Motion to Allow Time for Discovery Under Rule 56(d) and in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Rufer, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00837-CRC). On July 28, the Commission filed its Answer to Plaintiffs’ Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

PRESS RELEASES

District Court Issues Opinion in La Botz v. FEC (issued July 25)

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

August 14: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.

August 26: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

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

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

August 21, 2014, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC.Roundtable/Webinar on Pre-Election Communications. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

August 20: August Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2014 Monthly Reporting page of 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 2013 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 now 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.

An index to Record news articles published 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 now 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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