For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
Judith Ingram |
February 5, 2010 |
Julia Queen | |
Christian Hilland | ||
FEC Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision in Citizens United v. FEC
Washington – The Federal Election Commission today announced that, due to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, it will no longer enforce statutory and regulatory provisions prohibiting corporations and labor unions from making either independent expenditures or electioneering communications. The Commission also listed several actions it is taking to fully implement the Citizens United decision.
In Citizens United v. FEC, issued on January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court held that the prohibitions in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) against corporate spending on independent expenditures or electioneering communications are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court upheld statutory provisions that require political ads to contain disclaimers and be reported to the Commission. Provisions addressed by the decision are described below.
The Commission is taking the following steps to conform to the Supreme Court's decision.
Corporations and labor organizations that intend to finance independent expenditures or electioneering communications should:
The Commission notes that the prohibitions on corporations or labor organizations making contributions contained in 2 U.S.C. 441b remain in effect.
Political committees with specific questions regarding their reporting obligations may contact the Reports Analysis Division at (800) 424-9350 (at the prompt, press 5). Others may contact the Information Division at (800) 424-9530.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
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For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
Judith Ingram |
January 20, 2011 |
Julia Queen | |
Christian Hilland | ||
Mary Brandenberger |
FEC VOTES ON
TWO DRAFTS OF AN NPRM ON INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND ELECTIONEERING
COMMUNICATIONS, APPROVES FINAL AUDIT REPORT
WASHINGTON – At its first open meeting of the year, the Federal Election Commission today voted on two drafts of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The Commission also approved the final audit report of a state party committee.
The Commission was unable to approve either of the two NPRM drafts on Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications by Corporations and Labor Organizations. The NPRM, if approved, would seek public comment on changes to the FEC’s rules regarding corporate and labor organization funding and reporting of expenditures, independent expenditures and electioneering communications. The two drafts addressed the following issues:
"I remain hopeful that the Commission will be able to reach consensus on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing corporate and labor union expenditures so that stakeholders and the general public have an opportunity to have their voices heard by the Commission,” said Commission Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly. “Today we saw that there continues to be disagreement between the members of the Commission over the proper scope of the proposed rulemaking. Nonetheless, I felt the discussion was positive and necessary towards finding common ground on this topic. "
The Commission also approved a final audit report for the Tennessee Republican Party, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. The Commission found that the committee (a) misreported its receipts, disbursements, and cash on hand amounts, (b) received contributions from unregistered political organizations, which may have been made with impermissible funds, and (c) failed to properly document salary and wage expenditures. The report also addressed an additional issue related to potential excessive coordinated party expenditures made in 2006 by the committee, noting that the Commission did not approve a staff recommendation by the required four votes.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.# # #