Weekly Digest
Week of September 21 – 25
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Requests Received
AOR 2015-10 (21st Century Fox). On September 21, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2015-10, submitted on behalf of 21st Century Fox. The requestor, as the owner and operator of a number of regional sports television networks, asks for guidance on the appropriate method of calculating whether a communication can be received by 50,000 or more persons for purposes of determining whether the communication is an electioneering communication. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after the receipt of the complete request, that is, by November 10, 2015.
AOR 2015-11 (FYP). On September 22, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2015-11. The requestor, FYP, LLC, asks several questions about a proposed app, MyChange, that would allow users to round up spare change from the user''''s credit or debit card transactions and contribute those amounts to designated political committees or nonprofit organizations. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by November 23, 2015.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public one closed case, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6945
COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENT: Immigration911, LLC and Stanley P. Dull, in his official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: In the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission initiated proceedings to determine whether Immigration911, LLC and Dull, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee), failed to disclose $117,204.33 in receipts and disbursements in its original 2011 Year-End report.
DISPOSITION: The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for the Committee to pay a civil penalty of $5,000.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public one campaign finance enforcement matter that was resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
AF 2970 – Friends of Dick Durbin and Anne Dougherty, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination to take no further action and close the file.
LITIGATION
Republican Party of Louisiana, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-01241-CRC). On September 23, the Plaintiffs filed a Reply Memorandum Supporting Application for Three-Judge Court in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Pursuing America''''s Greatness v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv- 01217). On September 24, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued its Opinion and Order, denying the plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction. Plaintiff had challenged Commission regulations and a recent advisory opinion restricting an unauthorized committee’s use of a candidate’s name in the name of its special projects.
OUTREACH
On September 25, Chair Ann M. Ravel spoke with a delegation of professionals from Latin America about the FEC’s oversight of federal elections. The meeting was part of a “Transparency and Accountability in Government” program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
On September 25, the Commission issued the Statistical Summary of 6-Month Campaign Activity of the 2015-2016 Election Cycle.
PRESS RELEASES
District Court Issues Opinion in Pursuing America’s Greatness v. FEC (issued September 25)
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
September 29: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
October 1: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session and an open meeting.
Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
September 30: FECFile Webinar for Candidates. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
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.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
October 15: October Quarterly Reports are due. For more information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website.
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.
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