Week of May 20 - May 24, 2013

Weekly Digest
Week of May 20 – 24

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

On May 21, the Commission held an executive session.

No Commission open meetings were held this week. Click here for agendas and related documents for open meetings. Click here for audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations.

ENFORCEMENT

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

MUR 6590
COMPLAINANT: Mark R. Brown
RESPONDENTS: Columbus Metropolitan Club; Ohio Democratic Party; and Ohio Republican Party 
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) made and the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) and Ohio Republican Party (ORP) received prohibited, in-kind corporate contributions when CMC paid to (1) promote a forum featuring ODP and ORP speakers, (2) lease the facility where the forum was held, and (3) produce and distribute a film of the event.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in light of the de minimis amount at issue.

ADMINISTRATIVE FINES

The Commission made public three campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program.

AF 2594 – Rudy Moise for Congress and Mirjam Moise, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,970.

AF 2603 – Wenona for Arizona and Sal Baldenegro, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $540.

AF 2618 – Joe Kennedy for Congress and David N. Martin, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,550.

For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

LITIGATION

Shaun McCutcheon, et al. v. FEC (Case 12-536). On May 13, Senator Mitch McConnell filed an Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Appellants in the United States Supreme Court.  

Stop This Insanity, Inc., et al. v. FEC (D.C. Cir. No. 13-5008).  On May 23, the Commission filed its Brief of Appellee in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

On May 22, the Commission hosted a “Seminar/Webinar for Trade Associations, Labor Organizations, Membership Organizations and Their PACs.” 

OUTREACH

On May 22, Chair Ellen Weintraub and Commissioner Steven Walther met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe''''s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).  The ODIHR representatives presented the Commissioners with the final report on their observation of the 2012 U.S. general election.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

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

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

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

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

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 more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2013 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

OTHER RESOURCES 

The 2013 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.

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.

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.

Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/fec
Users of smartphones and other mobile devices may access our mobile interface at http://www.fec.gov/mobile/