FEC issues two advisory opinions, discusses a third advisory opinion request; approves technical corrections to agency regulations; elects officers for 2017

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission today approved two Advisory Opinions and discussed a third Advisory Opinion Request. The Commission also approved technical corrections to its regulations and elected officers for the 2017 calendar year.

Advisory Opinion Request 2016-21 (Great America PAC) 

The Commission discussed a draft in response to a request from Great America PAC, a non-connected hybrid political committee, but did not vote on the matter. The requestor asked several questions about the applicability of the former employee conduct standard of the Commission’s coordinated communications regulations to its plan to hire phone bank personnel and door-to-door canvassers. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestor, who indicated that he would like to amend his request and agreed to grant the Commission an extension of the statutory deadline to answer the request until January 31, 2017.

Advisory Opinion 2016-22 (2 Libertarian State Committees)

The Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2016-22 in response to a request from the Libertarian Party of Georgia, Inc., and the Libertarian Party of Tennessee (the Committees). (Four Committees had withdrawn from the advisory opinion request.) The Commission concluded that the Committees qualify as state committees of a national political party. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestor.

Advisory Opinion 2016-24 (Independence Party of Minnesota)

The Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2016-24 in response to a request from the Independence Party of Minnesota (IPM). The Commission concluded that the IPM qualifies as a state committee of a political party.

REG 2016-04: Technical amendments and corrections

The Commission approved technical amendments to the 2016 Code of Federal Regulations.

IT update

Staff Director Alec Palmer outlined the progress of initiatives to develop a new website to better serve the public, an overhaul of the electronic filing program to improve the efficiency of disclosure, and a correspondence tracking system to improve customer service.

Election of officers

The Commission elected Steven T. Walther as Chairman and Caroline C. Hunter as Vice Chairman for 2017.