Week of March 18 - March 22, 2013

Weekly Digest

Week of March 18 – 22

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

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

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public two closed cases. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

MUR 6547
COMPLAINANT: Thomas J. Whitmore
RESPONDENT: 10th District Republican Congressional Committee and Shak Hill, in his official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the 10th District Republican Congressional Committee and Hill, in his official capacity as treasurer, (the Committee) (1) did not accurately report receipts and disbursements in monthly reports filed with the Commission between January and December 2011, (2) did not properly report its changes in treasurer in 2010 and 2011, and (3) did not amend its reports in a timely manner to reflect that its bank account and address had changed. 
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in light of the death of the Committee’s treasurer, the de minimisnature of the apparent violations, and the Committee’s continuous reporting and supplemental amendments, as well as in consideration of Commission priorities. 

MUR 6619
COMPLAINANT: Upton for All of Us
RESPONDENT: Hoogendyk for Congress and Jack W. Hoogendyk, in his official capacity as treasurer; Jack W. Hoogendyk; and Minde S. Artman
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Hoogendyk filed a late and fraudulently backdated Statement of Candidacy. The complaint alleged further that Hoogendyk, Hoogendyk for Congress and Hoogendyk, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee), facilitated the making of excessive contributions and contributions in the name of another in connection with a fundraising event held by Artman. 
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe Hoogendyk, the Committee or Artman facilitated excessive contributions or contributions in the name of another because there was no factual basis to support the allegation. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the allegation of a late and fraudulently backdated Statement of Candidacy in light of the fact that the public was informed of Hoogendyk’s candidacy in a timely manner and in consideration of Commission priorities.

LITIGATION

Conway for Senate v. FEC (Case 3:12-cv-00244-CRS-JDM). On March 15, the plaintiff filed his Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Commission’s Motion for Summary Judgment and in Reply to Commission’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Free Speech v. FEC (District Court Case 2:12-cv-00127-SWS; Circuit Court Case 12-8078). On March 19, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming issued its Order granting the Commission’s motion to dismiss.  On March 20, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Oral argument in Free Speech v. FEC is scheduled for May 7 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Libertarian National Committee, Inc. v. FEC (Case 1:11-cv-00562-RLW).  On March 18, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued itsMemorandum Opinion and Order.

Wagner v. FEC (Case 12-5365). Oral argument is scheduled for May 16 in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

PRESS RELEASES

District Court Issues Opinion in Libertarian National Committee, Inc. v. FEC (issued March 19)

District Court Issues Order in Free Speech v. FEC (issued March 20)

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

On March 20, the Commission hosted a “Seminar/Webinar for House and Senate Campaigns and Party Committees.”

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

April 24, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC. “Seminar/Webinar for Corporations and their PACs.” Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

May 22, Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC. “Seminar/Webinar for Trade Associations, Labor Organizations, Membership Organizations and their PACs.” Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

March 20: March Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

April 15: April Quarterly Reports are due. For information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.

April 20: April Monthly Reports are due. For more 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.

The 2012 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.

An index to the Record news articles published in 2012 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.

Printed copies of the 2012 edition of Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations are now available and can be downloaded from the website. To order, 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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