Notices. Notice of adjustments to expenditure limitations and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold

1,203 words·~5 min read·/register/2018/02/12/2018-02163

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION [NOTICE 2018-03] Price Index Adjustments for Expenditure Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold AGENCY: Federal Election Commission. ACTION: Notice of adjustments to expenditure limitations and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold. SUMMARY: As mandated by provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act (“the Act”), the Federal Election Commission (“the Commission”) is adjusting certain 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: These adjustments are applicable January 1, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information Division, 999 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20463;

(202)694-1100 or

(800)424-9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-46, coordinated party expenditure limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)) and the disclosure threshold for contributions bundled by lobbyists (52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A)) are adjusted periodically to reflect changes in the consumer price index. *See* 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3), 30116(c); 11 CFR 109.32, 110.17(a), (f). The Commission is publishing this notice to announce the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold for 2018. Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2018 Under 52 U.S.C. 30116(c), the Commission must adjust the expenditure limitations established by 52 U.S.C. 30116(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 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 1974). 52 U.S.C. 30116(c). 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. *See* 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(B). This limitation also applies to the District of Columbia and territories that elect individuals to the office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner. 1 *Id.* The formula used to calculate the expenditure limitation in such states and territories multiplies the base figure of $10,000 by the difference in the price index (4.97135), rounding to the nearest $100. *See* 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(B); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Based upon this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2018 general elections for House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is $49,700. 1 Currently, these are 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/representatives.* 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. *See* 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A). The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also the voting age population (“VAP”) of the state. *Id.* The VAP figures used to calculate the expenditure limitations were certified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The VAP of each state is also published annually in the **Federal Register** by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. The general election expenditure limitation is the greater of: The base figure ($20,000) multiplied by the difference in the price index, 4.97135 (which totals $99,400); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by 4.97135. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. *See* 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. The chart below provides the state-by-state breakdown of the 2018 general election expenditure limitation for Senate elections. The expenditure limitation for 2018 House elections in states with only one congressional district 2 is $99,400. 2 Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. *See http://www.house.gov/representatives/.* 3 This expenditure limit does not apply to 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* 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(2)(i). Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits—2018 Elections 3 State Voting age population

(VAP)VAP × .02 × the price index (4.97135) Senate expenditure limit (the greater of the amount in column 3 or $99,400) Alabama 3,779,274 $375,800 $375,800 Alaska 554,867 55,200 99,400 Arizona 5,382,780 535,200 535,200 Arkansas 2,298,739 228,600 228,600 California 30,476,517 3,030,200 3,030,200 Colorado 4,345,321 432,000 432,000 Connecticut 2,844,358 282,800 282,800 Delaware 757,455 75,300 99,400 Florida 16,782,417 1,668,600 1,668,600 Georgia 7,914,681 786,900 786,900 Hawaii 1,121,794 111,500 111,500 Idaho 1,273,151 126,600 126,600 Illinois 9,904,838 984,800 984,800 Indiana 5,093,409 506,400 506,400 Iowa 2,413,764 240,000 240,000 Kansas 2,200,585 218,800 218,800 Kentucky 3,443,650 342,400 342,400 Louisiana 3,575,930 355,500 355,500 Maine 1,083,273 107,700 107,700 Maryland 4,704,671 467,800 467,800 Massachusetts 5,489,864 545,800 545,800 Michigan 7,785,662 774,100 774,100 Minnesota 4,277,949 425,300 425,300 Mississippi 2,270,533 225,800 225,800 Missouri 4,730,561 470,300 470,300 Montana 821,604 81,700 99,400 Nebraska 1,444,343 143,600 143,600 Nevada 2,312,576 229,900 229,900 New Hampshire 1,084,022 107,800 107,800 New Jersey 7,026,626 698,600 698,600 New Mexico 1,599,980 159,100 159,100 New York 15,694,902 1,560,500 1,560,500 North Carolina 7,971,073 792,500 792,500 North Dakota 579,621 57,600 99,400 Ohio 9,053,374 900,100 900,100 Oklahoma 2,971,579 295,500 295,500 Oregon 3,269,157 325,000 325,000 Pennsylvania 10,141,022 1,008,300 1,008,300 Rhode Island 852,307 84,700 99,400 South Carolina 3,919,695 389,700 389,700 South Dakota 654,810 65,100 99,400 Tennessee 5,208,482 517,900 517,900 Texas 20,938,557 2,081,900 2,081,900 Utah 2,175,134 216,300 216,300 Vermont 506,832 50,400 99,400 Virginia 6,600,844 656,300 656,300 Washington 5,759,927 572,700 572,700 West Virginia 1,446,139 143,800 143,800 Wisconsin 4,512,839 448,700 448,700 Wyoming 442,832 44,000 99,400 Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2017-2018 Election Cycle For the convenience of the readers, the Commission is also republishing the contribution limitations for individuals, non-multicandidate committees and for certain political party committees giving to U.S. Senate candidates and national party committees for the 2017-2018 election cycle: Statutory provision Statutory amount 2017-2018 limit 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) $2,000 $2,700 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) 25,000 33,900 52 U.S.C. 30116(h) 35,000 47,400 Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2018 The Act 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. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(1), (3)(A). The Commission must adjust this threshold amount annually to account for inflation. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(1). The disclosure threshold is increased by multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure threshold by 1.21588, 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* 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3), 30116(c)(1)(B); 11 CFR 104.22(g). Based upon this formula ($15,000 × 1.21588), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2018 is $18,200. On behalf of the Commission. Dated: January 29, 2018. Caroline C. Hunter, Chair, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2018-02163 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 5

Traces to 5 documents

U.S. Code

CFR

1 reference not yet in our index