Week of March 25 - March 29, 2013

Weekly Digest

Week of March 25 – 29

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 6513

COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENTS: 2006 Committee to Elect Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews to 26th Congressional District and Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews, in her official capacity as treasurer; and Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews
SUBJECT: In the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission found that the 2006 Committee to Elect Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews to 26th Congressional District and Matthews, in her official capacity as treasurer, (the Committee) may have failed to file disclosure reports and Matthews may have violated candidate registration requirements for her 2008 campaign.
DISPOSITION: On December 13, 2011, the Commission found reason to believe that the Committee failed to file any disclosure reports since its 2006 Year-End Report and failed to continuously report its last-disclosed cash-on-hand balance of $67,070, or any disbursements it subsequently may have made that reduced that balance, and that Matthews failed to file a Statement of Candidacy and to designate an authorized campaign committee in connection with her 2008 candidacy. On February 25, 2013, the Commission determined to take no further action in the matter because (1) the statute of limitations had expired in connection with apparent reporting violations on the 2006 disclosure reports, (2) it appears that the Committee permanently ceased activity following the 2006 election, and had less than $40 cash-on-hand as of December 31, 2006 and a zero balance as of August 23, 2007, and (3) there was no information showing that Matthews had exceeded the $5,000 threshold that would have required her to file a Statement of Candidacy and designate an authorized committee for her 2008 campaign.

MUR 6705

COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENT: Freedom and Prosperity PAC f/k/a John Dennis for Congress and Kelly Lawler, in her official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: In the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission found that Freedom and Prosperity PAC f/k/a John Dennis for Congress and Lawler, in her official capacity as treasurer, (the Committee) failed to report accurately its disbursements. 
DISPOSITION: The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for the Committee to pay a civil penalty of $5,500.

LITIGATION

FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate (Case 1:12-cv-00958-ABJ). On March 28, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a Memorandum Opinionand Order, finding that the allegations in the Commission''''s complaint, if true, would state a valid claim against the defendants and thus denying their motion to dismiss.

Free Speech v. FEC (Case 12-8078). On March 25, the plaintiff filed an Amended Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Oral argument 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 27, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

OUTREACH

On March 28, Communications Specialist Isaac Baker discussed the role of the Commission with students from Seattle University.

PRESS RELEASES

District Court Issues Opinion in FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate (issued March 28)

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

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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