Commission Sets Schedule for Hearing on FEA

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission has set the schedule for the witnesses at its public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2005, concerning rulemakings on the definition of “federal election activity” (FEA) and the payment of certain salaries by State, district and local party committees.  The schedule can be found at http://www.fec.gov/pdf/nprm/fea_definition/hearing_schedule_080405.shtml.

 The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) now requires state, district and local party committees to fund certain FEA with federal funds and, in some cases, with money raised according to new limitations and prohibitions.  The Commission is proposing some regulatory changes to what constitutes FEA by modifying the definition of “get-out-the-vote activity” and “voter identification” while retaining the current definition of “voter registration activity.”  In addition, the Commission is proposing changes to its regulations regarding how state, district and local party committees pay the salary of employees who spend 25 percent or less of their compensated time during a month on federal activity.  These rulemakings are in response to the district court’s decision in Shays v. FEC in which the court remanded these regulations to the Commission for further action consistent with its opinion.

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