FEC Takes Final Action on Six Cases

For Immediate Release

Contact:  

Judith Ingram

July 1, 2010

MUR 6251

RESPONDENTS:

Walt Minnick; and Minnick for Congress and Vern Bisterfeldt, in his official capacity as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

David E. Olson

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that Rep. Minnick misused his congressional mail franking privileges by sending  campaign flyers containing endorsements by four constituents, and that the flyers resulted in a contribution to Minnick for Congress. The complaint alleged further that the flyers lacked disclaimers. Rep. Minnick represents Idaho’s First Congressional District.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Act or Commission regulations with the flyers because the  mailings did not involve a contribution or expenditure by a person as defined in the Act (the federal government is excluded from the definition) and did not constitute the sort of mailings that require disclaimers under the Act.

MUR 6124

RESPONDENTS:

Service Employees International Union SEIU Committee on Political Education, et al.

COMPLAINANT:

National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, Inc.; Karen Glass; and Michael R. Casaretto

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that an amendment to the SEIU constitution amounted to a threat of a financial reprisal against local unions that did not raise a required minimum amount for the SEIU''''s federal political action committee (PAC).

OUTCOME:

The Commission dismissed the matter.

MUR 6213

RESPONDENTS:

Decidedly Unhappy Mainstream Patriots Rejecting Evil-Mongering Incompetent Democrats PAC (DUMPREID PAC) and Charles Muth, in his official capacity as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

Nevada State Democratic Party by its Chairman, Sam Lieberman

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that the DUMPREID PAC improperly used Sen. Harry Reid’s name in its own title and failed to include adequate disclaimers on public communications and websites.

OUTCOME:

The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter because the Committee''''s current Statement of Organization and its website disclaimer include the Committee''''s full name in the text and a mailer used the "DUMPREID" name, thereby providing partial identification. The Commission cautioned the Committee and its treasurer to take steps to ensure that their conduct is in compliance with the Act and Commission regulations.

MUR 6205

RESPONDENTS:

Fort Bend Democrats

COMPLAINANT:

Paul Ware

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that the Fort Bend Democrats (FBD) failed to register as a political committee and file campaign finance reports with the Commission when the group made expenditures in excess of $1,000 to support the election of U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega and presidential candidate Barack Obama. The complaint alleged that the expenditures were for the payment and distribution of door hangers and other materials to advocate for the election of the two candidates. Noriega was a candidate in Texas’s 2008 Senate race.

OUTCOME:

The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in light of the modest expense associated with the production and distribution of the materials at issue, and in furtherance of Commission priorities and resources related to other matters.   

MUR 6176

RESPONDENTS:

Bentley B. Rayburn; Committee to Elect Rayburn for Congress and Loren E. Shannon in his official capacity as treasurer; and Ralph Braden, President, Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region (HBA)

COMPLAINANT:

Matthew J. Werner

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that Rayburn, the Committee to Elect Rayburn for Congress and Shannon, in his official capacity as treasurer, accepted and HBA made a prohibited in-kind contribution when HBA conducted a poll to gauge support for Rayburn’s candidacy. The complaint contends that the Committee to Elect Rayburn for Congress failed to disclose any payments to HBA for the poll. Rayburn was a 2008 primary election candidate from Colorado’s 5th Congressional District.

OUTCOME:

The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion, and dismissed the matter due to the low dollar amount at issue and in furtherance of Commission priorities and resources related to other matters. The Commission also sent a letter to HBA, reminding it to comply with the Act and Commission regulations.

MUR 6240

RESPONDENTS:

Steve Austria; Steve Austria for Congress and Donald D. Jones, in his official capacity as treasurer; Eileen Austria; David L. Hobson; Walther A. Wildman; The Turner Foundation; John T. Landess; and Raymond A. Hagerman

COMPLAINANT:

John R. Mitchel

SUBJECT:

The complaint made various allegations regarding Rep. Austria, Rep. Austria’s spouse, and former Rep. Hobson, specifically, that Rep. Austria failed to report information in his 2008 Financial Disclosure Statement related to compensation paid to his spouse, as well as allegations with respect to the posting of pictures of members of the military in uniform giving the appearance of official endorsement by the military. Austria was a 2008 and is a 2010 candidate in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.

OUTCOME:

The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter due to the lack of specific credible information to substantiate certain claims and because certain allegations were not within the jurisdiction of the agency.