73 FR 31 pgs. 8696-8698 - Price Index Increases for Expenditure Limitations

Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 31Pages: 8696 - 8698
Docket number: [Notice 2008-4]
FR document: [FR Doc. 08-695 Filed 2-13-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Federal Election Commission
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

[Notice 2008-4]

Price Index Increases for Expenditure Limitations

AGENCY:

Federal Election Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of expenditure limitation increases.

SUMMARY:

As mandated by provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("BCRA"), the Federal Election Commission ("FEC" or "the Commission") is adjusting certain expenditure limitations set forth in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended ("FECA" or "the Act"), to account for increases in the consumer price index. Additional details appear in the supplemental information that follows.

Effective Date:

January 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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 20021, coordinated party expenditure limits (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(2), (3)(A) and (B)) are adjusted annually by the increase in the consumer price index. See 2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(1), 11 CFR 109.32 and 11 CFR 110.17. The Commission is publishing this notice to announce these limits for 2008.

Footnotes:

1 Public Law No. 107-155, 116 Stat. 81 (Mar. 27, 2002).

Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2008

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 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).

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.2The formula used to calculate the expenditure limitation in such States multiplies the base figure of $10,000 by the price index (4.205), 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 2008 general elections for House candidates in these States is $42,100.

Footnotes:

2 Currently, these States include the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the United States Virgin 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 (which totals $84,100); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by the price index. 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 2008 general election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The expenditure limit for 2008 House elections in states with only one congressional district3is $84,100.

Footnotes:

3 Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. See http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml .

State VAP (in thousands) VAP × .02 × the price index (4.205) Senate expenditure limit(the greater of the amount in column 3 or $84,100)
Alabama 3,504 $294,700 $294,700
Alaska 501 42,100 84,100
Arizona 4,669 392,700 392,700
Arkansas 2,134 179,500 179,500
California 27,169 2,284,900 2,284,900
Colorado 3,669 308,600 308,600
Connecticut 2,682 225,600 225,600
Delaware 659 55,400 84,100
Florida 14,208 1,194,900 1,194,900
Georgia 7,013 589,800 589,800
Hawaii 998 83,900 84,100
Idaho 1,092 91,800 91,800
Illinois 9,653 811,800 811,800
Indiana 4,759 400,200 400,200
Iowa 2,277 191,500 191,500
Kansas 2,080 174,900 174,900
Kentucky 3,238 272,300 272,300
Louisiana 3,214 270,300 270,300
Maine 1,038 87,300 87,300
Maryland 4,260 358,300 358,300
Massachusetts 5,017 421,900 421,900
Michigan 7,625 641,300 641,300
Minnesota 3,937 331,100 331,100
Mississippi 2,150 180,800 180,800
Missouri 4,454 374,600 374,600
Montana 738 62,100 84,100
Nebraska 1,328 111,700 111,700
Nevada 1,905 160,200 160,200
New Hampshire 1,018 85,600 85,600
New Jersey 6,622 556,900 556,900
New Mexico 1,470 123,600 123,600
New York 14,884 1,251,700 1,251,700
North Carolina 6,843 575,500 575,500
North Dakota 497 41,800 84,100
Ohio 8,715 732,900 732,900
Oklahoma 2,718 228,600 228,600
Oregon 2,885 242,600 242,600
Pennsylvania 9,646 811,200 811,200
Rhode Island 825 69,400 84,100
South Carolina 3,348 281,600 281,600
South Dakota 599 50,400 84,100
Tennessee 4,685 394,000 394,000
Texas 17,281 1,453,300 1,453,300
Utah 1,829 153,800 153,800
Vermont 490 41,200 84,100
Virginia 5,886 495,000 495,000
Washington 4,932 414,800 414,800
West Virginia 1,425 119,800 119,800
Wisconsin 4,280 359,900 359,900
Wyoming 397 33,400 84,100

3. Expenditure Limitation for President

The national party committees have an expenditure limitation for their general election nominee for President. The formula used to calculate the Presidential expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also the total VAP of the United States. The Department of Commerce also publishes the total VAP of the United States annually in the Federal Register . 11 CFR 110.18. The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation is $0.02 multiplied by the total VAP of the United States (227,719,424), multiplied by the price index. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. See 2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(2) and 11 CFR 109.32(a). Based upon this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2008 Presidential nominees is $19,151,200.

Contribution Limitations for Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and for Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2007-2008 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 for the 2007-2008 election cycle:

Statutory provision Statutory amount 2007-2008 limitation
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(A) $2,000 $2,300.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B) $25,000 $28,500.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(3)(A) $37,500 $42,700.
2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(3)(B) $57,500 (of which no more than $37,500 may be attributable to contributions to political committees that are not political committees of national political parties) $65,500 (of which no more than $42,700 may be attributable to contributions to political committees that are not political committees of national political parties).
2 U.S.C. 441a(h) $35,000 $39,900.

Dated: February 7, 2008.

David M. Mason,

Chairman, Federal Election Commission.

[FR Doc. 08-695 Filed 2-13-08; 8:45 am]

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