skip navigation
Here's how you know US flag signifying that this is a United States Federal Government website

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Weekly Digests

Week of October 12 - October 16, 2015

October 16, 2015

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Judith Ingram
October 16, 2015   Christian Hilland
    Julia Queen
     
  ISSUE 2015-42
     


Weekly Digest
Week of October 12 – 16


COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

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

ENFORCEMENT

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

MUR 6659
COMPLAINANT: Brian Rothenberg, Progress Ohio
RESPONDENT: Murray Energy Corporation
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Murray Energy Corporation (Murray Energy) produced and distributed signs that contained express advocacy and failed to include a disclaimer. DISPOSITION: The Commission found reason to believe that Murray Energy (1) failed to identify who paid for public communications that contained express advocacy and state whether a candidate or candidate committee had authorized the communications and (2) failed to report the costs of public communications that contained express advocacy as independent expenditures. The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for Murray Energy to pay a civil penalty of $5,000.

ADMINISTRATIVE FINES

The Commission made public three 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 2934 – Foundation for a Greater America, Inc. and James P. Hodgins, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $9,800.

AF 2950 – The Real Conservatives National Committee and Michael Leahy, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination to terminate the proceedings and close the file.

AF 2993 – The Real Conservatives National Committee and Michael Leahy, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination to terminate the proceedings and close the file.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

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

ADR 758 – Headrick for Congress and Sunny Jewel, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission closed the file.

LITIGATION

FEC v. Johnson (Case 2:15-cv-00439-DB). On October 8, the United States District Court for the District of Utah issued an Order on Plaintiff''''s Motion for Waiver of Local Counsel Rules and on Defendant''''s Motion to Dismiss Complaint. On October 9, the Commission filed its Opposition to the Defendant''''s Motion to Dismiss.

Republican Party of Louisiana, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-01241-CRC). On October 13, the Commission filed its Answer to Plaintiffs’ Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

OUTREACH

On October 12, Chair Ann M. Ravel delivered a speech on campaign finance law to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, California.

On October 15, Chair Ravel delivered a speech on the post Citizens United environment at the Money in Politics Forum hosted by the Oakland Public Ethics Commission and the Oakland League of Women Voters in Oakland, California.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

October 15: October Quarterly Reports were due. For more information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

October 27: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

October 29: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session and an open meeting, which will include a presentation of the betaFEC website, currently under development.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS    

October 20-21, San Diego, CA, 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.

November 18: Candidate 101: Basics for Campaign Treasurers & Staff webinar for new candidates and their committees.  Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES

October 20: October Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

OTHER RESOURCES

The 2015 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 2015 edition of the Federal Election Campaign Finance Laws is available on the Commission website and in print. The compilation contains all federal campaign finance laws (including a conversion table showing the recent changes from Title 2 U.S.C. to Title 52 U.S.C.). To order a copy at no charge, contact the Commission''''s Information Division at (800) 424-9530 (press 6, when prompted) or email info@fec.gov.

The 2015 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 2014 Legislative Recommendations are available on the Commission’s website.

The 2014 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees is 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.

The Commission has published the 2015 Record Index page. An index to previously published Record news articles 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 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.

Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/fec