[Federal Register: February 17, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 30)]
[Notices]
[Page 7435-7437]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17fe09-73]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
[Notice 2009-04]
Price Index Increases for Contribution and Expenditure
Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold
AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.
ACTION: Notice of increases to contribution and expenditure limitations
and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As mandated by provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971, as amended (``FECA'' or ``the Act''), the Federal Election
Commission (``FEC'' or ``the Commission'') is adjusting certain
contribution and expenditure limitations and the lobbyist bundling
disclosure threshold set forth in the Act, to index the amounts for
inflation. Additional details appear in the supplemental information
that follows.
DATES: Under 2 U.S.C. 441a(c), the change in the dollar limits on
contributions to candidates and candidates' authorized political
committees is effective as of November 5, 2008. Under 2 U.S.C.
434(i)(3), the change in the threshold amount for reporting bundled
contributions is effective as of January 1, 2009. Under 2 U.S.C.
441a(c), the changes in dollar limits on contributions to national
political party committees, contributions by an individual,
expenditures by party committees in connection with a general election
for Federal office, and contributions to Senatorial candidates are
effective as of January 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Greg J. Scott or Mr. Kevin R.
Salley, Information Division, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463;
(202) 694-1100 or (800) 424-9530.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971, 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq., as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign
Reform Act of 2002 \1\ and the Honest Leadership and Open Government
Act of 2007,\2\ coordinated party expenditure limits (2 U.S.C.
441a(d)(3)(A), (B) and (d)), certain contribution limits (2 U.S.C.
441a(a)(1)(A) and (B), (a)(3) and (h)), and the disclosure threshold
for contributions bundled by lobbyists (2 U.S.C. 434(i)(3)(A)) are
adjusted periodically to reflect increases in the consumer price index.
See 2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(1) and 11 CFR 110.17. The Commission is publishing
this notice to announce the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Public Law No. 107-155, 116 Stat. 81 (Mar. 27, 2002).
\2\ Public Law No. 110-81, 121 Stat. 735 (Sep. 14, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2009
Under 2 U.S.C. 441a(c), the Commission must adjust the expenditure
limitations established by 2 U.S.C. 441a(d) (the limits on expenditures
by national party committees, state party committees, or their
subordinate committees in connection with the general election campaign
of candidates for Federal office) annually to account for inflation.
This expenditure limitation is increased by 4.36663, the percent
difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by
the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of
the calendar year and the
[[Page 7436]]
price index for the base period (calendar year 1974).
1. Expenditure Limitation for House of Representatives in States With
More Than One Congressional District
Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure
limitation for each general election held to fill a seat in the House
of Representatives in States with more than one congressional district.
This limitation also applies to those States that elect individuals to
the office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner.\3\ The formula used to
calculate the expenditure limitation in such States multiplies the base
figure of $10,000 by the price index (4.36663), rounding to the nearest
$100. See 2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(3)(B) and 11 CFR 109.32(b). Based upon this
formula, the expenditure limitation for 2009 general elections for
House candidates in these States is $43,700.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Currently, these States include the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of American
Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands and the Northern
Mariana Islands. See http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_
State.shtml and http://about.dc.gov/statehood.asp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Expenditure Limitation for Senate and for House of Representatives
in States With Only One Congressional District
Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure
limitation for a general election held to fill a seat in the Senate or
in the House of Representatives in States with only one congressional
district. The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation
considers not only the price index but also the voting age population
(``VAP'') of the state. The VAP of each state is published annually in
the Federal Register by the Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. The
general election expenditure limitation is the greater of: The base
figure ($20,000) multiplied by the price index, 4.36663 (which totals
$87,300); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by
4.36663. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. See 2 U.S.C.
441a(d)(3)(A) and 11 CFR 109.32(b). The chart below provides the state-
by-state breakdown of the 2009 general election expenditure limitations
for Senate elections. The expenditure limit for 2009 House elections in
states with only one congressional district \4\ is $87,300.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Currently, these States are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. See http://
www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml.
Senate General Election Expenditure Limitations--2009 Elections
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate
Expenditure
VAP x .02 x Limit (the
State VAP (in the price greater of the
thousands) index amount in
(4.36663) column 3 or
$87,300)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama......................................................... 3,540 $309,200 $309,200
Alaska.......................................................... 506 44,200 87,300
Arizona......................................................... 4,793 418,600 418,600
Arkansas........................................................ 2,153 188,000 188,000
California...................................................... 27,392 2,392,400 2,392,400
Colorado........................................................ 3,732 326,000 326,000
Connecticut..................................................... 2,689 234,900 234,900
Delaware........................................................ 667 58,300 87,300
Florida......................................................... 14,324 1,251,100 1,251,100
Georgia......................................................... 7,137 623,300 623,300
Hawaii.......................................................... 1,003 87,600 87,600
Idaho........................................................... 1,111 97,000 97,000
Illinois........................................................ 9,722 849,100 849,100
Indiana......................................................... 4,792 418,500 418,500
Iowa............................................................ 2,290 200,000 200,000
Kansas.......................................................... 2,102 183,600 183,600
Kentucky........................................................ 3,261 284,800 284,800
Louisiana....................................................... 3,303 288,500 288,500
Maine........................................................... 1,042 91,000 91,000
Maryland........................................................ 4,293 375,000 375,000
Massachusetts................................................... 5,071 442,900 442,900
Michigan........................................................ 7,613 664,900 664,900
Minnesota....................................................... 3,966 346,400 346,400
Mississippi..................................................... 2,172 189,700 189,700
Missouri........................................................ 4,490 392,200 392,200
Montana......................................................... 747 65,200 87,300
Nebraska........................................................ 1,336 116,700 116,700
Nevada.......................................................... 1,932 168,700 168,700
New Hampshire................................................... 1,023 89,300 89,300
New Jersey...................................................... 6,635 579,500 579,500
New Mexico...................................................... 1,482 129,400 129,400
New York........................................................ 15,082 1,317,300 1,317,300
North Carolina.................................................. 6,979 609,500 609,500
North Dakota.................................................... 498 43,500 87,300
Ohio............................................................ 8,756 764,700 764,700
Oklahoma........................................................ 2,736 239,000 239,000
Oregon.......................................................... 2,923 255,300 255,300
Pennsylvania.................................................... 9,686 846,000 846,000
Rhode Island.................................................... 822 71,800 87,300
[[Page 7437]]
South Carolina.................................................. 3,414 298,200 298,200
South Dakota.................................................... 606 52,900 87,300
Tennessee....................................................... 4,736 413,600 413,600
Texas........................................................... 17,601 1,537,300 1,537,300
Utah............................................................ 1,887 164,800 164,800
Vermont......................................................... 492 43,000 87,300
Virginia........................................................ 5,946 519,300 519,300
Washington...................................................... 5,008 437,400 437,400
West Virginia................................................... 1,428 124,700 124,700
Wisconsin....................................................... 4,314 376,800 376,800
Wyoming......................................................... 404 35,300 87,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2009
The Act, as amended by HLOGA, requires certain political committees
to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists/registrants and
lobbyist/registrant political action committees once the contributions
exceed a specified threshold amount. The Commission must adjust this
threshold amount annually to account for inflation. The disclosure
threshold is increased by multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure
threshold by 1.06797, the difference between the price index, as
certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12
months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index
for the base period (calendar year 2006). The resulting amount is
rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. See 2 U.S.C. 434(i)(3)(A) and
(B), 441a(c) and 11 CFR 104.22(g). Based upon this formula ($15,000 x
1.06797), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year
2009 is $16,000.
Contribution Limitation Increases for Individuals, Nonmulticandidate
Committees and for Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S.
Senate Candidates for 2009-2010 Election Cycle
BCRA amended the Act to extend inflation indexing to: (1) The
limitations on contributions made by persons under 2 U.S.C.
441a(a)(1)(A) (contributions to candidates) and 441a(a)(1)(B)
(contributions to national party committees); (2) the biennial
aggregate contribution limits applicable to individuals under 2 U.S.C.
441a(a)(3); and (3) the limitation on contributions made to U.S. Senate
candidates by certain political party committees at 2 U.S.C. 441a(h).
See 2 U.S.C. 441a(c). These contribution limitations are increased by
multiplying the respective statutory contribution amount by 1.21597,
the percent difference between the price index, as certified to the
Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the
beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period
(calendar year 2001). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest
multiple of $100. See 2 U.S.C. 441a(c) and 11 CFR 110.17(b). The
Commission has calculated the applicable percent difference to be 21.6
percent. Contribution limitations shall be adjusted accordingly:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009-2010
Statutory provision Statutory amount limitation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(A).......... $2,000............ $2,400.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B).......... $25,000........... $30,400.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(3)(A).......... $37,500........... $45,600.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(3)(B).......... $57,500 (of which $69,900 (of which
no more than no more than
$37,500 may be $45,600 may be
attributable to attributable to
contributions to contributions to
political political
committees that committees that
are not political are not political
committees of committees of
national national
political political
parties). parties).
2 U.S.C. 441a(h)................ $35,000........... $42,600.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The increased limitation at 2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(A) is to be in
effect for the two-year period beginning on the first day following the
date of the general election in the preceding year and ending on the
date of the next regularly scheduled election. Thus the $2,400 figure
above is in effect from November 5, 2008, to November 2, 2010. The
limitations under 2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B), 441a(a)(3)(A) and (B), and
441a(h), shall be in effect beginning January 1st of the odd-numbered
year and ending on December 31st of the next even-numbered year. Thus
the new contribution limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B), 441a(a)(3)(A)
and (B), and 441a(h) are in effect from January 1, 2009, to December
31, 2010. See 11 CFR 110.17(b)(1).
Dated: February 5, 2009.
On behalf of the Commission,
Steven T. Walther,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-2837 Filed 2-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P