Murray Energy coal company fined for ‘fire Obama’ signs

A major coal mining company has agreed to pay the Federal Election Commission (FEC) $5,000 after violating election spending rules with “FIRE OBAMA” signs during the 2012 presidential election.

Following complaints from the liberal group Progress Ohio, the FEC found that Murray Energy Corp. paid about $22,000 for its “STOP the WAR on COAL — FIRE OBAMA” signs, The Hill reported.

The FEC determined that the signs should have disclosed they were paid for by the company. Murray Energy said it didn’t know disclaimers were required and said it stopped distributing the signs when it learned of the rule, The Plain Dealer reported.

“Because Murray Energy’s ’STOP the WAR on COAL - FIRE OBAMA’ signs are public communications that contain express advocacy, they required a disclaimer,” FEC attorneys said in an administrative filing.

Murray Energy should also have reported the sign purchases as independent expenditures against President Obama, the FEC said.

“Every person (other than a political committee) who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $250 during a calendar year must file a statement disclosing information about the expenditures,” the filing said. “A person that makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more at any time up to and including the 20th day before the date of an election must file a report describing the expenditures within 48 hours.”

FEC reached the settlement in September, but only disclosed it Friday.

Murray Spokesman Gary Broadbent told The Hill that the company and CEO Robert Murray “consider the matter closed, will continue to vigorously exercise their rights to participate in the political process as the law allows.”