Week of May 26 - May 30, 2014

Weekly Digest

Week of May 26 – 30

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

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

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Commission made public three campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

ADR 655 – Massachusetts Republican Party and Brent Andersen, in his official capacity as treasurer. The respondent agreed to (1) perform an internal audit and reconciliation, providing annual certification, (2) designate a compliance specialist, (3) continue to retain the services of an outside compliance vendor and certify retention for two years, and (4) pay a civil penalty of $31,000.

ADR 659 – Ann Wagner for Congress and Richard Magee, in his official capacity as treasurer. The respondent agreed to (1) perform an annual internal audit and reconciliation, providing certification of review in a year, (2) send a representative to an FEC seminar, and (3) pay a civil penalty of $2,600.

ADR 669 – State Democratic Executive Committee of Alabama and Edgar Gentle, III, in his official capacity as treasurer. The respondent agreed to (1) develop and certify implementation of a compliance operations manual, (2) certify that a representative of the Committee participated in an FEC conference, and (3) pay a civil penalty of $7,625.

LITIGATION

Garcia for Congress, et al. v. FEC (Case 3:13-cv-02401-K).  On May 27, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division issued its Memorandum Opinion and Order, granting the Commission’s motion for summary judgment.

Libertarian National Committee, Inc. v. FEC (Case 1:11-cv-00562-RLW). On May 27, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia received a mandate issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in matter number 13-5088.

Stop Reckless Economic Instability caused by Democrats, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00397-AJT-IDD). On May 23, the Commission filed its Motion to Allow Time for Discovery Under Rule 56(d) and Opposition to Plaintiffs'''' Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. On May 27, plaintiffs filed their Rebuttal Brief In Support of Motion for Summary Judgment and Against the Commission’s Rule 56(d) Motion. 

Wagner v. FEC (Case 13-5162). On May 29, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a Per Curiam Order.

OUTREACH

On May 28, Chairman Lee E. Goodman discussed the Commission''''s structure and other aspects of campaign finance law with representatives from the Control Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

PRESS RELEASES

District Court Issues Order in Garcia for Congress, et al. v. FEC (issued May 28)

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

June 5: The open meeting scheduled for June 5 has been canceled.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 4: FEC Chairman Lee E. Goodman and Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel will host an informal public forum to discuss agency operations that affect local, state, and national political parties with Commissioners and senior staff.  If you would like to attend the forum in person or participate via webcast, or if you are unable to attend but would like to submit written comments, please email us at politicalpartyforum@fec.gov. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either of our offices at 202-694-1000.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

June 20: June Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2014 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

July 15: July Quarterly Reports are due. For more information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2014 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.

July 20: July Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2014 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

June 19, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. Webinar on July Quarterly Reporting for Candidate Committees.

June 19, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. Webinar on FECFile for Candidate Committees.

June 25, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. Webinar on July Quarterly Reporting for PACs and Party Committees.

June 25, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. Webinar on FECFile for PACs and Party Committees.

OTHER RESOURCES

The 2014 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 2014 edition of Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be downloaded from the website.  To order printed copies, call (800) 424-9530 (press 6) or send an email to info@fec.gov.

The 2013 Legislative Recommendations are available on the Commission’s website.

The August 2013 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees is available on the Commission’s website.

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.

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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