Week of May 5 - May 9, 2014

Weekly Digest

Week of May 5 – 9

COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

On May 6, the Commission held an executive session.

On May 8, the Commission held an open meeting. Click here for agendas and related documents for open meetings. Click here for audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Advisory Opinion Issued and Commissioner’s Statements

AO 2014-02 (Make Your Laws PAC). On May 8, the Commission approved an advisory opinion based on a request from Make Your Laws PAC, Inc. (MYL). The Commission concluded that MYL may accept contributions of bitcoins as proposed, subject to valuation and reporting procedures detailed in the opinion. The Commission also concluded that Make Your Laws PAC may purchase bitcoins with funds from its campaign depository for investment purposes, but must return the funds to the depository before they are used to make disbursements. The Commission could not approve a response by the required four affirmative votes as to whether bitcoins received as contributions may be used to purchase goods and services. Statements were issued by Chairman Lee E. Goodman and Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub.

ADMINISTRATIVE FINES                               

The Commission made public four campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

AF 2769 – Fairfax County Republican Committee (Federal) and Allan W. Ruppar, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $170.

AF 2770 – FaegreBD PAC and Frederick Garver, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $140.

AF 2771 – Fairfax County Republican Committee (Federal) and Allan W. Ruppar, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.

AF 2772 – Republican Central Committee of Los Angeles County (Fed. Acct.) and Albert Gersh, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $412.

LITIGATION

James v. FEC (Case 1:12-cv-01451-JEB-JRB-RLW). On May 2, the Commission filed a Joint Status Report and Stipulation for Entry of Judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On May 5, the Court for the District of Columbia issued its Order and Judgment.

Stop Reckless Economic Instability caused by Democrats, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00397-AJT-IDD). On May 6, plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs'''' Motion for Summary Judgment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

OUTREACH

On May 7, Chairman Lee E. Goodman discussed the role and work of the Commission with a group of civic and government leaders from Europe as part of the State Department''''s International Visitor Leadership Program.

PRESS RELEASES

District Court Issues Judgment in James v. FEC (issued May 5)

FEC Issues Advisory Opinion (issued May 8)

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS

May 20: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

June 5: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 4: FEC Chairman Goodman and Vice Chair 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

May 20: May 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

May 21, Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 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.

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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