Commission approves rulemaking priorities for 2012
May 30, 2012
On May 24, 2012, the Commission approved and made public its rulemaking priorities for the remainder of 2012. Regulations to implement recent court decisions top the list.
- Independent expenditures and electioneering communications by corporations and labor organizations – The Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in December 2011 seeking comments on proposed changes to its rules regarding
corporate and labor organization funding of expenditures, independent expenditures, and electioneering communications. These, and other proposed changes, are in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the James Madison Center for Free Speech
urging the Commission to amend its regulations in response to the Supreme Court''s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. See 76 Fed. Reg. 80803 (Dec. 27, 2011).
- Political committees That engage in independent spending – Several cases, including two cases decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit -SpeechNow.org v. FEC and EMILY''s List v. FEC affect portions of the Commission''s regulations regarding contributions to, and disbursements by, certain committees not authorized by candidates. The proposed rulemaking would provide guidance to these committees on how to establish and maintain a separate account for their independent spending, how to allocate their administrative and fundraising expenses, and how to report their receipts and disbursements.
Additional rulemaking projects under consideration include:
- Treatment of limited liability partnerships;
- Reporting of electioneering communications;
- Party coordinated communications;
- Electronic transactions;
- Internet communication disclaimers;
- MUR disclosure; and
- Mixed purpose travel expense allocation.
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