| Request that the Board reconsider its decision to reduce to $2,000 and decline to waive a $2,400 campaign finance late fee assessed against Louisiana Common Sense Fund - IE, a political committee, and its committee's chairperson and treasurer, Steve Verzwyvelt, in the November 3, 2020 election, whose 10-G campaign finance disclosure report was filed 12 days late. |
|
Original request stated:
Steve Verzwyvelt, chairman/treasurer for the PAC, is requesting a waiver for reduction or suspension of the assessed fine. The PAC received two $2,000 contributions which were promptly reported in accordance with the campaign finance law. After these 2 transactions, they had no further activity in the 2020 election and during this time period he had some family members dealing with COVID. After family members were safe from COVID, he reviewed the filing schedule and it appeared that he did not have to file again until the yearly report. He only learned differently when he called staff at Ethics.
Reconsideration states:
Mr. Steve Verzwyvelt, chairman/treasurer for the PAC, believes they were not required to file because they had no activity for the November 2020 election. The PAC has less than $200 in funds and did not register for 2022. They believe the fee is excessive for the nature of the offense.
|
|
ELECTION: November 3, 2020
TYPES OF REPORT: 10-G
DAYS LATE: 12
ASSESSED FEE: $2,400
REPORTS DUE: November 25, 2020
REPORTS FILED: December 7, 2020
REPORT ACTIVITY: $-0 in Receipts; $-0 in Expenditures; $4,768.27 Funds at Close of Reporting Period
OTHER LATE FILINGS: ONE -PAID
10/14/2017 Election: 10-G (29 days late)- $3,000 - Suspend all but $500 - $2,500 Reassessed
|
|
18:1505.4.A(1) Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of a political committee, or any other person required to file any reports under this Chapter, who knowingly fails to file or who knowingly fails to timely file any such reports as are required by this Chapter may be assessed a civil penalty for each day until such report is filed.
LAC 52:1205(C) states if a report is filed more than 10 days late and the amount of activity on the report is less than the amount of the late fee to be assessed, the staff may reduce the late fee to the amount of activity or 10 times the per-day penalty, whichever is greater.
|
|
|
Reaffirm decision to reduce to $2,000 based on Rule 1205C; decline to waive.
|
|
| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
|
|