Week of November 1 - November 5, 2010
Weekly Digest Week of November 1 – November 5, 2010
COMMISSION MEETINGS No Commission Executive Sessions were scheduled this week. Sunshine Act Notices for Executive Sessions are here.
On November 4, the Commission held an Open Meeting. Agendas and related documents for Open Meetings are here. Audio recordings for selected meetings, hearings and presentations are here.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Extensions of Time Received AOR 2010-24 (Republican Party of San Diego County). On November 1, the Commission received an Extension of Time until November 22 on an advisory opinion request submitted by the Republican Party of San Diego County (the “Committee”). The requestor asks: (1) whether the activities of the Committee''''s Voter Registration Coordinator, who recruits, trains and supervises contractors hired by the Committee to perform voter registration services, qualify as voter registration activity within 120 days of a Federal election, and are therefore Federal Election Activity (FEA); (2) if the activities of the Voter Registration Coordinator are voter registration activity, then would the activities of the Executive Director of the Committee also be voter registration activity during the time he is supervising the Voter Registration Coordinator; (3) if the activities of the Voter Registration Coordinator are not voter registration activity, may the Committee amend its reports that have already treated such activities as FEA and make transfers of the appropriate amount of non-Federal funds; and (4) would the Commission''''s analysis of the preceding questions differ if it applies new FEA regulations recently published in the Federal Register that will take effect on December 1, 2010.
AOR 2010-23 (CTIA - The Wireless Association). On November 4, the Commission received an Extension of Time until November 22 on an advisory opinion request submitted by CTIA – The Wireless Association. The requester asks whether it may administer Common Short Codes (five- or six-digit numbers) to allow the use of cellular phone text messaging for anonymous contributions to candidates and political committees.
Supplement Received AOR 2010-25 (RG Entertainment, Ltd.). On November 2, the Commission made public a supplement from RG Entertainment, Ltd. The requestors have asked whether (1) disbursements in connection with the production, marketing, and distribution of a documentary film and its trailer would be covered by the press exemption or would constitute bona fide commercial activity; (2) payments for the production and distribution of the film would constitute a coordinated communication with Star Parker, a Federal candidate who appears in the film; (3) public theatrical exhibitions of the film would require disclaimers; and (4) Parker''''s appearances and licensing activities in conjunction with screenings of the film would be subject to the Act and Commission regulations.
Advisory Opinions and Requests are available here.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public one campaign finance enforcement matter that was resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program. A summary of the matter is below.
AF 2053 – Committee to Elect John Stone and Winston Hogan, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $900.
For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
AUDITS The Commission approved and made public two final Audit Reports. Summaries of the findings are below. Harry Teague for Congress. The Commission approved the recommended finding concerning the misstatement of disbursements and cash on hand balance. The Committee filed amended reports to correct the misstatements.
United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, Active Ballot Club. The Audit examined reports and statements filed by the organization and discovered no significant non-compliance.
General information about final Audit Reports is here. Audits are broken down into three categories: Authorized Committees,Unauthorized Committees, and Title 26 Audit Reports. LITIGATION SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission (consolidated with Keating v. FEC). On October 29, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a Memorandum Opinion and an Amended Judgment. On November 1, the Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs'''' petition for a writ of certiorari in the case. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE On November 1, the Commission’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) made public its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2010 – 2015.
PRESS RELEASES December 2: Post-General Reports are due. For information on reporting dates for this election, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS November 17, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshop on Winding Down the Campaign for House and Senate Campaigns. Registration information and schedule are here.
January 12, 2011, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshops on FEC Reporting Requirements. Registration information and schedule are here.
January 12, 2011, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshops on FECFile & E-Filing. Registration information and schedule are here.
OTHER RESOURCES The November issue of The Record is here. Sign up here to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.
The monthly supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are here.
|