Week of March 15 - March 19 , 2010

Weekly Digest

Week of March 15 – 19

COMMISSION MEETINGS

On March 16, the Commission held a hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Federal Officeholders'''' and Candidates'''' Participation in Nonfederal Fundraising Events. Comments from the public on this NPRM were due by February 8 and reply comments were due by February 22.

On March 17, the Commission held an Executive Session. Sunshine Act Notices for Executive Sessions are here.

The Commission did not hold an Open Meeting this week. Agendas and related documents for Open Meetings are here. Audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations are here.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Comments

AOR 2010-03 (National Democratic Redistricting Trust). On March 15, the Commission received a joint comment on Advisory Opinion Request 2010-03 from Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21. The National Democratic Redistricting Trust (NDRT) asks whether solicitations by Federal candidates or officeholders for funds to be used by NDRT to finance the litigation costs associated with post-redistricting legal disputes are "in connection with an election." The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by April 30, 2010.

Advisory Opinions, Requests, Comments and Extensions are available here.

RULEMAKING AND AGENCY PROCEDURES

On March 19, the Commission published in the Federal Register the Final Rules and an Explanation and Justification in accordance with the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in EMILY’S List v. Federal Election Commission, 581 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2009). The vacated regulations concern funds received in response to solicitations and the allocation of expenses by separate segregated funds and nonconnected committees. The Commission plans to undertake a new rulemaking in the near future to consider additional conforming changes consistent with the court decision.

FEDERAL REGISTER

On March 16, the Commission published filing deadlines for the Special General Election in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District in the Federal Register. Click here for information on reporting dates for this election.

PRESS RELEASES

FEC Holds Public Hearing on Rules for Federal Candidates’ and Officeholders’ Participation in Non-Federal Fundraising Events (issued March 16).

OUTREACH

March 19, Washington, D.C.  – Commissioner Donald McGahn II delivered a speech on the FEC''''s regulations regarding Separate Segregated Funds at the American Podiatric Medical Association PAC''''s Board of Directors meeting.

NEXT WEEK (MARCH 22 – 26)

March 23-24, New Orleans, LA. Regional Conference for Campaigns, Party Committees and Corporate/Labor/Trade PACs. This conference was previously scheduled for February 9-10. The conference registration information and agenda are here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 7, Washington, Seminar for Nonconnected Committees.  The seminar registration information and agenda are here.

May 3-4, Washington, Conference for House and Senate Campaigns and Political Party Committees.  The conference registration information and agenda are here.

OTHER RESOURCES

The March issue of The Record is here. Sign up here to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.

The March supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are here.