Week of June 24 - June 28, 2013
Weekly Digest Week of June 24 – 28
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
On June 25, the Commission held an executive session.
On June 27, the Commission held an open meeting. Click here for agendas and related documents for open meetings. Click here for audio recordings of selected meetings, hearings and presentations.
Future Meeting Dates. The Commission approved meeting dates for the second half of 2013.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
AOR 2013-04 (DGA/Jobs and Opportunity). On June 28, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2013-04. The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is an independent, unincorporated political organization that operates under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. Its membership consists of the nation''''s incumbent Democratic governors. Jobs and Opportunity intends to be a separate 527 organization that will engage in independent spending in gubernatorial races. The requestors ask whether, under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, (the Act) and Commission regulations, their disbursements for voter registration, get-out-the-vote activities, voter identification, and generic campaign activities may be made with non-federal funds. The Commission will accept written comments on the request during the 10-day period following publication of the request (no later than July 8, 2013) and must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, specifically by August 26, 2013.
AOR 2013-05 (Gallegly). On June 28, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2013-05. The requestor, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, asks whether, under the Act and Commission regulations, payment for temporary storage of official and campaign documents may be made with federal campaign funds. The Commission will accept written comments on the request during the 10-day period following publication of the request (no later than July 8, 2013) and must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, specifically by August 26, 2013. Advisory Opinions and Requests are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the Commission website.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public one closed case. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6506
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public 30 campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program.
AF 2546 – Jim Horn Election Committee and Olivia Julia Horn, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2567 – Jim Horn Election Committee and Olivia Julia Horn, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.
AF 2585 – Jim Horn Election Committee and Olivia Julia Horn, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,237.
AF 2612 – Strength & Liberty PAC and Andrew Barnett, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,300.
AF 2615 – Texas Industries Inc. Political Action Comm. and Dana L. Link, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission terminated proceedings.
AF 2621 – Kansans for Huelskamp and Ron Schneweis, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,072.
AF 2625 – Roseanne for President 2012 and Joan Christian, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2635– Sheldon for Congress and Patricia Toye, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $380.
AF 2645– Capital BluePAC and Robert Baker, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2646 – CalPortland Company Political Action Committee (CPCC-PAC) and Irma Cabrera, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2647 – Chiang Patel and Yerby Inc. PAC and David W. Hays, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $825.
AF 2648 – Commonwealth-Altadis, Inc. Employee PAC and Hattie Hines, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $825.
AF 2649 – Community Oncology Alliance PAC and Patrick W. Cobb, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2650 – Conservative Opportunities for a New America PAC and William Bain, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2651 – CoryPAC Inc. and Judy Zamore, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2652 – Edwards Wildman PAC Inc. and John Holthaus, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.
AF 2653 – ESOP Association PAC and J. Michael Keeling, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2654 – Freedom Club Federal PAC and Richard Andolshek, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2657 – Liberty & Prosperity PAC and Warren J. Leshner, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2658 – The Madison PAC and Brian J. Ahern, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $660.
AF 2659 – Management and Training Corporation Political Action Committee and Lyle J. Parry, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2660 – Manufactured Housing Institute PAC and Laura Lee, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,300.
AF 2662 – New Asurion Corp. Employees Federal Political Action Committee and Paul Fassbender, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $825.
AF 2663 – PPL People for Good Government and Russell R. Clelland, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.
AF 2664 – Right to Life/Oregon PAC and Gayle Atteberry, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2665 – The Loose Group and James Baker, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2666 – To Organize a Majority PAC (TOMPAC) and Theresa Kehoe, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,400.
AF 2667 – Transportation Intermediaries Association’s TIAPAC and Robert A. Voltmann, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission closed the file.
AF 2668 – Triumph Group Inc. PAC and Paul S. Davidson, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
AF 2670 – World Alliance for Israel Political Action Committee and Lee Ziff, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
AUDITS
Final Audit Report on the California Republican Party/V8. On June 25, the Commission made public the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the California Republican Party/V8, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008. The Commission approved a finding related to the misstatement of Levin Fund activity. The report also addressed additional issues related to the reporting of debts and obligations and the extension of credit by a commercial vendor.
LITIGATION
Free Speech v. FEC (Case 13-8033). On June 25, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit today issued its Opinion and Judgment.
Wagner v. FEC (Case 13-5162). Oral argument is scheduled for September 30 in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
RULEMAKING AND AGENCY OPERATIONS
Interpretive Rule on Reporting Ultimate Payees of Political Committee Disbursements. On June 27, the Commission approved an Interpretive Rule on Reporting Ultimate Payees of Political Committee Disbursements. The rule clarifies the Commission’s interpretation of the regulatory requirement that political committees report the full name and address of each person to whom they make expenditures or other disbursements aggregating more than $200 per calendar year, or per election cycle for authorized committees, and the date, amount, and purpose of such payments, in three situations.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
On June 26, the Commission hosted a Seminar/Webinar on July Quarterly Reporting for Candidate Committees. On June 26, the Commission hosted a Seminar/Webinar on FECFiling & E-Filing for Candidate Committees.
PRESS RELEASES
FEC Approves Interpretive Rule and Meeting Calendar (issued June 27)
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
July 10, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC. Seminar/Webinar on Mid-Year Reporting for PACs and Party Committees. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
July 10, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC. Seminar/Webinar on FECFiling & E-Filing for PACs and Party Committees. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
August 20-21, Austin, Texas, Regional Conference for House & Senate Campaigns, Political Party Committees and Corporate/Trade/Labor PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
October 23-24, San Francisco, California, Regional Conference for House & Senate Campaigns, Political Party Committees and Corporate/Trade/Labor PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
July 15: July Quarterly Reports are due. For information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.
July 20: July Monthly Reports are due. For information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.
OTHER RESOURCES 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 the Record news articles published in 2013 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.
The 2012 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.
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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