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
, 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.
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.
2
The 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.
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 district
3
is $84,100.
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
.
Senate General Election Expenditure Limitations—2008 Elections
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.