Week of May 17 - May 21 , 2010
Weekly Digest Week of May 17 – 21
COMMISSION MEETINGS
ADVISORY OPINIONS Drafts AO 2010-05 (Starchannel Communications, Inc.). On May 20, the Commission made public a draft of Advisory Opinion 2010-05. Starchannel Communications asks whether its plan to sell advertising time on television broadcast stations owned by a Mexican entity to Federal candidates would entail the making of an impermissible contribution or donation to those Federal candidates by a foreign national.Comments on the draft are due by noon on May 26.
AO 2010-06 (Famos LLC). On May 20, the Commission made public a draft of Advisory Opinion 2010-06. Famos seeks to operate an affinity-type account program and market its web-based technology platform to political committees, including authorized committees, nonconnected committees, and party committees. Comments on the draft are due by noon on May 26.
AO 2010-07 (Yes on FAIR). On May 21, the Commission made public two drafts of Advisory Opinion Request 2010-07. Yes on FAIR, a California state ballot measure committee, asks whether and how Members of Congress may solicit donations to it (i) during the period before the measure qualifies for the November 2010 general election ballot, and (ii) during the post-qualification period leading up to the date of the general election. Comments on the drafts are due by noon on May 26.
Advisory Opinions and Requests are available here. ENFORCEMENT The Commission made public one closed case and two Statements of Reasons. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System. MUR 6222 – Iowa Christian Alliance; Steve Scheffler as President, Iowa Christian Alliance; Morris Hurd as Chairman and in his official capacity as treasurer, Iowa Christian Alliance; West Hill United Methodist Church; Romney for President, Inc. and Darrell Crate, in his official capacity as treasurer; and David Kochel. The Commission found no reason to believe the Respondents violated the Act.
MUR 5625 – Aristotle International Inc. A Statement of Reasons was issued by Chairman Matthew S. Petersen and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Donald F. McGahn. Another Statement of Reasons was issued by Vice Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly and Commissioners Ellen L. Weintraub and Steven T. Walther.
LITIGATION Beam v. FEC (formerly Beam v. Gonzales). On May 18, the Commission filed a Reply in Support of Second Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois after that court denied the first motion. The Commission argued that the court should enter judgment for the Commission because the plaintiffs have failed to uncover evidence of a violation of the Right to Financial Privacy Act, the sole claim remaining in the case. RULEMAKING AND AGENCY PROCEDURES . CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
May 20 – May monthly reports were due. For information on reporting dates, click here.
May 20: Alabama Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 20: Mississippi Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 20: New Mexico Pre-Primary Reports were due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS May 25: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Executive Session. May 27: The Commission is scheduled to hold an Open Session. UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
May 24: Virginia Democratic Party (District No. 5) Pre-Convention Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Arkansas Pre-Runoff Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: California Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Iowa Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Maine Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Montana Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Nevada Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: New Jersey Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: North Dakota Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: South Carolina Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: South Dakota Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
May 27: Virginia Pre-Primary Reports. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
June 8-9, Arlington, VA. Regional Conference for Trade Associations, Membership Organizations, and Labor Organizations and Their Political Action Committees. The conference registration information and agenda are here.
June 30, Washington, DC. FEC Campaign Finance Law Roundtable Workshop. The schedule is here.
OTHER RESOURCES
The monthly supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are here. |