FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION HITS DFL HOUSE CAUCUS WITH $45,000 FINE FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has ruled that the DFL House Caucus violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by making illegal transfers between state and federal campaign accounts. The FEC forced the DFL House Caucus to pay a $45,000 fine for violating federal election law.
“The DFL House Caucus’ habitual disregard for obeying campaign finance laws has finally caught up to it,” said Republican Party of Minnesota Executive Director Corey Miltimore. “Today’s FEC ruling exposes a DFL House Caucus that is more than willing to break the law and bend the rules to try to win an election.”
In February of 2003, the Republican Party of Minnesota filed a complaint against the DFL House Caucus for illegally transferring money between its state and federal account and for failing to file numerous legally required reports with FEC. The DFL House Caucus has never adequately explained why it needs a federal account in the first place. (No other state legislative caucus in the country has such an account.) When questioned by the media about the GOP’s complaint with the FEC, Matt Entenza and DFL House Caucus spokesmen repeatedly downplayed the complaint and claimed that there was no wrongdoing.
In response to the GOP complaint, the FEC found that the DFL House Caucus violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by illegally transferring money between the DFL Caucus federal and non-federal accounts. The DFL House Caucus and FEC entered into a Conciliation Agreement pursuant to which to DFL House Caucus paid a $45,000 civil penalty. The FEC had already fined the DFL House Caucus $4,500 for failing to file its 2002 post election reports on time. The FEC also has apparently sent a letter of admonishment to Vance Opperman and Gerald Seck for violating contribution limits (by $5,000 and $2,500, respectively).
Miltimore noted that today’s ruling against the DFL House Caucus only emphasizes suspicions about another campaign finance scheme involving DFL House Leader Matt Entenza’s $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats 527.
“It’s impossible not to draw a parallel between this case and a recently unveiled DFL House scheme involving Matt Entenza’s $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats,” said Miltimore. “In both cases, the DFL House Caucus played a shell game to try to hide where it gets its money and how it is spent. Today’s ruling should encourage Matt Entenza to be more up front about his $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats 527.” Source: Republican Party of Minnesota, November 23, 2004
“The DFL House Caucus’ habitual disregard for obeying campaign finance laws has finally caught up to it,” said Republican Party of Minnesota Executive Director Corey Miltimore. “Today’s FEC ruling exposes a DFL House Caucus that is more than willing to break the law and bend the rules to try to win an election.”
In February of 2003, the Republican Party of Minnesota filed a complaint against the DFL House Caucus for illegally transferring money between its state and federal account and for failing to file numerous legally required reports with FEC. The DFL House Caucus has never adequately explained why it needs a federal account in the first place. (No other state legislative caucus in the country has such an account.) When questioned by the media about the GOP’s complaint with the FEC, Matt Entenza and DFL House Caucus spokesmen repeatedly downplayed the complaint and claimed that there was no wrongdoing.
In response to the GOP complaint, the FEC found that the DFL House Caucus violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by illegally transferring money between the DFL Caucus federal and non-federal accounts. The DFL House Caucus and FEC entered into a Conciliation Agreement pursuant to which to DFL House Caucus paid a $45,000 civil penalty. The FEC had already fined the DFL House Caucus $4,500 for failing to file its 2002 post election reports on time. The FEC also has apparently sent a letter of admonishment to Vance Opperman and Gerald Seck for violating contribution limits (by $5,000 and $2,500, respectively).
Miltimore noted that today’s ruling against the DFL House Caucus only emphasizes suspicions about another campaign finance scheme involving DFL House Leader Matt Entenza’s $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats 527.
“It’s impossible not to draw a parallel between this case and a recently unveiled DFL House scheme involving Matt Entenza’s $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats,” said Miltimore. “In both cases, the DFL House Caucus played a shell game to try to hide where it gets its money and how it is spent. Today’s ruling should encourage Matt Entenza to be more up front about his $300,000 contribution to the 21st Century Democrats 527.” Source: Republican Party of Minnesota, November 23, 2004
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