[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 2504-2506] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-01516] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION [Notice 2019-03] Price Index Adjustments for Contribution and Expenditure Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold AGENCY: Federal Election Commission. ACTION: Notice of adjustments to contribution and 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 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: The effective date for the limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) is November 7, 2018. The effective date for the limitations at 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A), 30116(a)(1)(B), 30116(d) and 30116(h) is January 1, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information Division, 1050 First Street NE, 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)), certain contribution limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) and (B), and (h)), 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. Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2019 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 (5.09279), 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 2019 general elections for House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is $50,900. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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, 5.09279 (which totals $101,900); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by 5.09279. 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 2019 general election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The expenditure limitation for 2019 House elections in states with only one congressional district \2\ is $101,900. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. See http://www.house.gov/representatives/. [[Page 2505]] Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits--2019 Elections ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senate Expenditure Voting age VAP x .02 x Limit (the State population the price greater of the (VAP) index amount in (5.09279) column 3 or $101,900) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alabama......................................................... 3,798,031 $386,900 $386,900 Alaska.......................................................... 553,622 56,400 101,900 Arizona......................................................... 5,528,989 563,200 563,200 Arkansas........................................................ 2,310,645 235,400 235,400 California...................................................... 30,567,090 3,113,400 3,113,400 Colorado........................................................ 4,430,329 451,300 451,300 Connecticut..................................................... 2,837,472 289,000 289,000 Delaware........................................................ 763,555 77,800 101,900 Florida......................................................... 17,070,244 1,738,700 1,738,700 Georgia......................................................... 8,013,724 816,200 816,200 Hawaii.......................................................... 1,117,077 113,800 113,800 Idaho........................................................... 1,307,236 133,100 133,100 Illinois........................................................ 9,883,814 1,006,700 1,006,700 Indiana......................................................... 5,123,748 521,900 521,900 Iowa............................................................ 2,425,378 247,000 247,000 Kansas.......................................................... 2,205,544 224,600 224,600 Kentucky........................................................ 3,459,573 352,400 352,400 Louisiana....................................................... 3,564,062 363,000 363,000 Maine........................................................... 1,088,000 110,800 110,800 Maryland........................................................ 4,702,570 479,000 479,000 Massachusetts................................................... 5,535,291 563,800 563,800 Michigan........................................................ 7,831,247 797,700 797,700 Minnesota....................................................... 4,308,564 438,900 438,900 Mississippi..................................................... 2,280,389 232,300 232,300 Missouri........................................................ 4,749,622 483,800 483,800 Montana......................................................... 832,871 84,800 101,900 Nebraska........................................................ 1,452,427 147,900 147,900 Nevada.......................................................... 2,345,395 238,900 238,900 New Hampshire................................................... 1,098,288 111,900 111,900 New Jersey...................................................... 6,954,877 708,400 708,400 New Mexico...................................................... 1,613,275 164,300 164,300 New York........................................................ 15,474,107 1,576,100 1,576,100 North Carolina.................................................. 8,082,975 823,300 823,300 North Dakota.................................................... 581,379 59,200 101,900 Ohio............................................................ 9,096,117 926,500 926,500 Oklahoma........................................................ 2,986,593 304,200 304,200 Oregon.......................................................... 3,317,146 337,900 337,900 Pennsylvania.................................................... 10,158,149 1,034,700 1,034,700 Rhode Island.................................................... 852,102 86,800 101,900 South Carolina.................................................. 3,978,182 405,200 405,200 South Dakota.................................................... 664,629 67,700 101,900 Tennessee....................................................... 5,263,790 536,100 536,100 Texas........................................................... 21,303,746 2,169,900 2,169,900 Utah............................................................ 2,228,643 227,000 227,000 Vermont......................................................... 510,326 52,000 101,900 Virginia........................................................ 6,647,893 677,100 677,100 Washington...................................................... 5,872,306 598,100 598,100 West Virginia................................................... 1,441,672 146,800 146,800 Wisconsin....................................................... 4,537,465 462,200 462,200 Wyoming......................................................... 442,962 45,100 101,900 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2019-2020 Election Cycle The Act requires inflation indexing of: (1) The limitations on contributions made by persons under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) (contributions to candidates) and 30116(a)(1)(B) (contributions to national party committees); and (2) the limitation on contributions made to U.S. Senate candidates by certain political party committees at 52 U.S.C. 30116(h). See 2 U.S.C. 30116(c). These contribution limitations are increased by multiplying the respective statutory contribution amount by 1.41818, 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 52 U.S.C. 30116(c); 11 CFR 110.17(b). Contribution limitations shall be adjusted accordingly: [[Page 2506]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Statutory Statutory provision amount 2019-2020 ---------------------------------------------------------------limit---- 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A)................ $2,000 $2,800 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B)................ 25,000 35,500 52 U.S.C. 30116(h)...................... 35,000 49,600 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(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 $2,800 figure above is in effect from November 7, 2018, to November 3, 2020. The limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(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 limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) are in effect from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. See 11 CFR 110.17(b)(1). Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2019 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 1.24558, 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 x 1.24558), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2019 is $18,700. On behalf of the Commission. Dated: February 4, 2019. Ellen L. Weintraub, Chair, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2019-01516 Filed 2-6-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715-01-P