Weekly Digest Week of March 26 – 30
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week.
ADVISORY OPINIONS
Advisory Opinions Issued AO 2012-06 (RickPerry.org, Inc.). On March 27, the Commission approved an advisory opinion concluding that RickPerry.org, Inc. may convert to a nonconnected committee and fund its activities with any remaining primary election funds or, alternatively, donate its primary election funds to Governor Perry’s state campaign committee, subject to the provisions of Texas law. The Commission did not reach a consensus by four votes on a response to questions concerning whether the committee may obtain redesignations of its general election contributions for use by the nonconnected committee or to fund Governor Perry’s state campaign committee.
Comment Received
AOR 2012-11 (Free Speech). On March 23, the Commission made public a comment on Advisory Opinion Request 2012-11. Free Speech is an unincorporated nonprofit association that plans to finance certain advertisements and ask for donations to fund its activities. It asks (1) whether its proposed advertisements would be express advocacy communications, (2) whether its proposed donation requests would be solicitations of contributions, and (3) whether its activities would require Free Speech to register and report as a political committee. Free Speech requests expedited consideration of its Advisory Opinion pursuant to the Commission’s Advisory Opinion Procedure. Advisory Opinions and Requests are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the Commission website. AOR 2012-14 (Shaun McCutcheon). On March 26, the Commission made public a comment on Advisory Opinion Request 2012-14. The biennial statutory limit on the aggregate amount of contributions that any one individual may make to federal candidates during the current election cycle is $46,200. Shaun McCutcheon asks if he may make contributions to federal candidates totaling $51,900 in the current election cycle. Requests Received
AOR 2012-15 (American Physical Therapy Association).On March 29, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2012-15 (American Physical Therapy Association). The requestor, a non-profit corporate association of physical therapists and physical therapists' assistants, asks whether its separate segregated fund may receive contributions from certain of its members through voluntary payroll deductions administered by the corporations where those contributing members work. The Commission must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by May 29, 2012. Advisory Opinions and Requests are available through the Advisory Opinions search page in the Law and Regulations section of the Commission website. ADMINISTRATIVE FINES The Commission made public three campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program. AF 2411 – Committee to Elect Juan N. Babauta for Congress and Shelly Ann Gima Tudela, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $200. AF 2492 – Hunt B. Downer Campaign and Robert M. Thompson, Jr., in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $687. AF 2496 – Our Future Ohio PAC and Anne L. Meyers, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,850. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System. LITIGATION Combat Veterans for Congress PAC v. FEC (No. 11-cv-02168 (CKK)). On March 23, the Commission filed an Answer to Plaintiffs' Petition for Review in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Hassan v. FEC (No. 11-cv-02189 (EGS)). On March 23, the plaintiff filed a Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. PRESS RELEASES
Federal Election Commission Certifies Federal Matching Funds for Roemer (issued March 30) UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
April 25, Washington, DC. Seminar/Webinar for Corporations and their PACs. Registration information and the schedule are on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website. May 23, Washington, DC. Seminar/Webinar for Trade Associations, Labor Organizations, Membership Organizations and their PACs. Registration information and the schedule are on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website. UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
April 15: April Quarterly Reports are due. For information on quarterly reporting dates, refer to the 2012 Quarterly Reporting page of the Commission website. April 20: April Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2012 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website. OTHER RESOURCES 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. Printed copies of the 2012 edition of 11 CFR are now available. To order, call (800)424-9530 (press 6) or send an email to info@fec.gov. Follow Us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/FECupdates |
