FEC APPROVES ADVISORY OPINION, ELECTS 2011 OFFICERS WASHINGTON – At its open meeting today, the Federal Election Commission approved an advisory opinion, considered another, and elected a Chair and Vice Chair for 2011. In Advisory Opinion 2010-29 (Working Families Party of Oregon), the Commission concluded that the Working Families Party of Oregon (WFP OR) qualifies as a state committee of a political party because: (1) the WFP OR qualifies as a political party; (2) the WFP OR possesses an official party structure; and (3) the WFP OR is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a political party at the state level. In Advisory Opinion 2010-30 (Citizens United), the Commission could not render an opinion on whether the proposed rental of email lists to federal candidates, authorized committees, political party committees or other political committees for emails soliciting contributions or inviting recipients to fundraisers would constitute a prohibited corporate facilitation of contributions. The Commission did agree, however, that the proposed rental program would not result in either a coordinated expenditure or a coordinated communication. The Commission directed the Office of the General Counsel to redraft the advisory opinion reflecting these conclusions. The Commission elected Cynthia L. Bauerly as Chair and Caroline C. Hunter as Vice Chair for 2011. Bauerly and Hunter have both served as Commissioners since 2008, following their nomination by former President George W. Bush and unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate. The Commission also approved a schedule of meeting dates for 2011. 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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