[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7088-7090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02135]
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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
[NOTICE 2023-03]
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.
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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 new limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) applies beginning
on November 9, 2022. The new limitations at 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A),
30116(a)(1)(B), 30116(d) and 30116(h) apply beginning on January 1,
2023.
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. 30101-45, coordinated party expenditure limits (52 U.S.C.
30116(d)(2) and (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)(B), 30116(c); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), (b)(3),
110.17(a) and (f). The Commission is publishing this notice to announce
the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold.
Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2023
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)(B)(i) and (2)(B)(i).
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 (5.93544), rounding to the nearest $100. See 52 U.S.C.
30116(c)(1)(B) and (d)(3)(B); 11 CFR 109.32(b) and 110.17. Based upon
this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2023 general elections for
House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is
$59,400.
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\1\ Currently, these are Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the
United States Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. See
http://www.house.gov/representatives.
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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,
5.93544 (which totals $118,700); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the
state, multiplied by 5.93544. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B) and
(d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b) and 110.17. Amounts are rounded to the
nearest $100. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(3) and
110.17(c). The chart below provides the state-by-state breakdown of the
2023 general election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The
expenditure limitation for 2023 House elections in states with only one
congressional district \2\ is $118,700.
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\2\ Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. See http://www.house.gov/representatives/.
Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits--2023 Elections \3\
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Senate
VAP x .02 x expenditure limit
Voting age the price (the greater of
State population index the amount in
(VAP) (5.93544) column 3 or
$118,700)
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Alabama...................................................... 3,962,734 $470,400 $470,400
Alaska....................................................... 557,060 66,100 118,700
[[Page 7089]]
Arizona...................................................... 5,770,187 685,000 685,000
Arkansas..................................................... 2,348,518 278,800 278,800
California................................................... 30,523,315 3,623,400 3,623,400
Colorado..................................................... 4,624,351 549,000 549,000
Connecticut.................................................. 2,895,175 343,700 343,700
Delaware..................................................... 810,269 96,200 118,700
Florida...................................................... 17,948,469 2,130,600 2,130,600
Georgia...................................................... 8,402,753 997,500 997,500
Hawaii....................................................... 1,142,870 135,700 135,700
Idaho........................................................ 1,475,629 175,200 175,200
Illinois..................................................... 9,861,901 1,170,700 1,170,700
Indiana...................................................... 5,263,114 624,800 624,800
Iowa......................................................... 2,476,028 293,900 293,900
Kansas....................................................... 2,246,318 266,700 266,700
Kentucky..................................................... 3,507,735 416,400 416,400
Louisiana.................................................... 3,528,548 418,900 418,900
Maine........................................................ 1,137,442 135,000 135,000
Maryland..................................................... 4,818,071 571,900 571,900
Massachusetts................................................ 5,644,540 670,100 670,100
Michigan..................................................... 7,924,418 940,700 940,700
Minnesota.................................................... 4,423,022 525,100 525,100
Mississippi.................................................. 2,261,996 268,500 268,500
Missouri..................................................... 4,813,049 571,400 571,400
Montana...................................................... 889,114 105,500 118,700
Nebraska..................................................... 1,491,246 177,000 177,000
Nevada....................................................... 2,487,994 295,300 295,300
New Hampshire................................................ 1,142,307 135,600 135,600
New Jersey................................................... 7,267,590 862,700 862,700
New Mexico................................................... 1,653,831 196,300 196,300
New York..................................................... 15,687,863 1,862,300 1,862,300
North Carolina............................................... 8,404,094 997,600 997,600
North Dakota................................................. 596,486 70,800 118,700
Ohio......................................................... 9,193,508 1,091,400 1,091,400
Oklahoma..................................................... 3,066,654 364,000 364,000
Oregon....................................................... 3,403,149 404,000 404,000
Pennsylvania................................................. 10,347,543 1,228,300 1,228,300
Rhode Island................................................. 889,822 105,600 118,700
South Carolina............................................... 4,164,762 494,400 494,400
South Dakota................................................. 690,659 82,000 118,700
Tennessee.................................................... 5,513,202 654,500 654,500
Texas........................................................ 22,573,234 2,679,600 2,679,600
Utah......................................................... 2,449,192 290,700 290,700
Vermont...................................................... 532,307 63,200 118,700
Virginia..................................................... 6,816,709 809,200 809,200
Washington................................................... 6,139,213 728,800 728,800
West Virginia................................................ 1,423,234 169,000 169,000
Wisconsin.................................................... 4,646,910 551,600 551,600
Wyoming...................................................... 451,267 53,600 118,700
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Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate
Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate
Candidates for the 2023-2024 Election Cycle
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\3\ This expenditure limit does not apply to the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands because those
jurisdictions do not elect Senators. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A);
11 CFR 109.32(b)(2)(i).
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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 52 U.S.C. 30116(c). These contribution
limitations are increased by multiplying the respective statutory
contribution amount by 1.65284, 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). 52 U.S.C.
30116(c)(1)(B)(i) and (2)(B)(ii). 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 7090]]
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Statutory
Statutory provision amount 2023-2024
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52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A)................ $2,000 $3,300
52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B)................ 25,000 41,300
52 U.S.C. 30116(h)...................... 35,000 57,800
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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. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(C); 11 CFR
110.1(b)(1)(ii). Thus the $3,300 figure above is in effect from
November 9, 2022, to November 5, 2024. 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. 11 CFR 110.1(c)(1)(ii). Thus the new contribution
limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) are in effect
from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024. See 11 CFR 110.17(b)(1).
Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2023
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) and (i)(3)(A). The Commission
must adjust this threshold amount annually to account for inflation. 52
U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B). The disclosure threshold is increased by
multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure threshold by 1.45167, 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). See 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3) and 30116(c)(1)(B); 11 CFR
104.22(g). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of
$100. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B) and 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR
104.22(g)(4). Based upon this formula ($15,000 x 1.45167), the lobbyist
bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2023 is $21,800.
Dated: January 27, 2023.
On behalf of the Commission,
Dara S. Lindenbaum,
Chair, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-02135 Filed 2-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P