January 25, 2008 Commission Meeting
Click the title of an agenda item below to obtain a pdf file of the
meeting materials relating to that item. The agenda
(2 pages) and materials
for all agenda items (137 pages) are also available as pdf files.
1. Ratification of Minutes
of the December 7, 2007 Meeting
2. Request for Waiver
of Late-Filing Penalty/Gary C. Wood
Gary C. Wood is registered as a lobbyist for the City of Portland.
He was one day late filing a monthly lobbyist report due October 15,
2007. The amount of the statutory penalty is $100. He has requested
a waiver of the penalty. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends
assessing the $100 penalty.
3. Failure to File
Report and Return Unspent Campaign Funds/David Hughes
David Hughes was a Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) candidate for
House District 72 in the 2007 special election, after the incumbent,
William Walcott, resigned. He received $4,287 in MCEA funds for his
campaign. He has not responded to eight communications requesting that
he file a post-election campaign finance report disclosing how he spent
the funds and that he repay unspent campaign funds to the Commission.
Staff recommendation: the staff requests permission to investigate
Mr. Hughes’ expenditures of MCEA funds to verify whether all funds were
used for campaign-related purposes.
4. Results of Staff
Investigation/Lobbying for Maine Community Cultural Alliance
On the Commission’s own motion, the staff has investigated whether
two attorneys providing services to the Maine Community Cultural Alliance
during 2004 - 2007 were required to register as lobbyists. The staff
has concluded that no registration was necessary because the attorneys
did not meet the threshold of lobbying for more than 8 hours in a calendar
month. Staff recommendation: the staff believes no further action
by the Commission is required.
5. Adoption of Rule
Amendments
At its meeting on October 30, 2007, the Commission voted to invite
public comment on proposed changes to the Commission Rules drafted by
staff. The Commission held a public hearing at the December 7 meeting
and interested persons were invited to submit comments through December
17. Staff recommendation: The staff recommends adoption of the rule
amendments.
6. Proposed Advice
to Section 1056-B filers
The staff seeks the Commission’s approval to provide further advice
to organizations that raise or spend more than $1,500 to influence a
ballot question but do not qualify as political action committees.
On November 14, 2007, the staff distributed a notice of opportunity
to comment on the proposed guidance. In response to comments received,
the staff amended the proposed advice in the first week of December.
At the December 7 meeting, the Commission requested that the staff distribute
the currently proposed advice for additional comment because the most
recent amendments were not publicly available until the morning of the
meeting. Following a second invitation to comment, one more set of
comments were received. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends
adopting the proposed advice.
Other Business
EXECUTIVE SESSION
If necessary.
ADJOURNMENT
