BNA reports ($): “The Federal Election Commission is set to consider July 16 two competing draft advisory opinions regarding a key legal issue — ‘political committee’ status — with the dueling drafts suggesting that the FEC commissioners may again be headed for deadlock over a contentious question of campaign finance law. The rival rulings drafted by FEC staff attorneys respond to a request for an advisory opinion (AO 2009-13) on behalf of a consulting company called Black Rock Group. The company is headed by two veteran political professionals with strong ties to Republican candidates and organizations, Carl Forti and Michael Dubke.”