FEC Announces 2000 Presidential Spending Limits

For Immediate Release:                                                                                             Contact:   Sharon Snyder
March 1, 2000                                                                                                                            Ron Harris
                                                                                                                                                        Ian Stirton
                                                                                                                                                        Kelly Huff

Corrected March 1, 2000 
 

FEC ANNOUNCES 2000 PRESIDENTIAL SPENDING LIMITS

WASHINGTON --  Presidential candidates who accept public funding may spend $40,536 million on their pre-nomination efforts while each party''''s nominee will be able to spend $67.56 million during the 2000 general election, according to unofficial calculations released today by the Federal Election Commission.

	Each of the two major parties will be able to spend up to $13,680,292 on behalf of their presidential nominees, and $13,512,000 on their conventions, according to these calculations.

	There is an overall spending limit for the entire pre-convention period as well as limits for spending in each state.  The limits apply only to those campaigns choosing to accept federal funds.  Campaigns which forego federal funding may spend unlimited amounts of money.

The overall "base" spending limit for presidential primary campaigns is $10 million, plus a cost-of-living adjustment (over 1974).  For the 2000 primary season, the "base" spending limit is $33,780,000.  An exemption for 20% of a campaign''''s fundraising expenses effectively raises the amount primary contenders may spend in the pre-convention period to $40,536,000.  In addition, Commission regulations permit campaigns an allowance for legal and accounting costs associated with compliance with the FECA.  During the period that the campaign is active, the allowance is 15% of the "base" spending limit or $5,067,000.  Once the campaign is over and is winding down, all salary and overhead expenses may be considered exempt compliance in addition to the 15% of the "base" spending limit allowed during the campaign.





	State spending limits are keyed to the voting age population of each state, with a minimum of at least $200,000 plus a cost-of-living adjustment for those states with a low VAP.  The formula for setting state limits is 16¢ x VAP + cost-of-living.  A less populated state, such as New Hampshire, would have a limit of $200,000, plus cost-of-living, or $675,600.  A larger state, such as California, would have a limit of 16¢ x 24,222,000 (VAP), plus cost-of-living, or $13,091,507.

	The two major party nominees will be given $67,560,000 each for the general election campaign.  Candidates opting for general election funding have a spending limit of $20 million plus a cost-of-living adjustment, (over 1974).  They receive all of their funds from the U.S. Treasury and may not raise private contributions for the campaign, other than for certain legal and accounting costs, which are not subject to the spending limit.

Note to editors/correspondents:  The spending limits are, at this time, unofficial until the Labor Department and the Bureau of Census certify the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and voting age population (VAP) figures.  However, the FEC does not expect the computations to change and committees are being so notified.

 










     State-By-State Expenditure Limitations



        2000 Presidential Primary Candidates



















State

VAP

Expenditure

State

VAP

Expenditure




 (in thousands)

Limitation


 (in thousands)

Limitation











Alabama

3,304 

$1,785,746 

New Hampshire

897 

$675,600



Alaska

423 

$675,600 

New Jersey

6,140 

$3,318,547



Arizona

3,444 

$1,861,413 

New Mexico

1,244 

$675,600



Arkansas

1,891 

$1,022,048 

New York

13,756 

$7,434,843



California

24,222 

$13,091,507 

North Carolina

5,710 

$3,086,141



Colorado

2,991 

$1,616,576 

North Dakota

474 

$675,600



Connecticut

2,454 

$1,326,338 

Ohio

8,413 

$4,547,058



Delaware

571 

$675,600 

Oklahoma

2,476 

$1,338,228



DC

424 

$675,600 

Oregon

2,489 

$1,345,255



Florida

11,541 

$6,237,680 

Pennsylvania

9,141 

$4,940,528



Georgia

5,731 

$3,097,491 

Rhode Island

750 

$675,600



Hawaii

896 

$675,600 

South Carolina

2,930 

$1,583,606



Idaho

901 

$675,600 

South Dakota

535 

$675,600



Illinois

8,947 

$4,835,675 

Tennessee

4,143 

$2,239,209



Indiana

4,414 

$2,385,679 

Texas

14,325 

$7,742,376



Iowa

2,150 

$1,162,032 

Utah

1,422 

$768,563



Kansas

1,955 

$1,056,638 

Vermont

454 

$675,600



Kentucky

2,995 

$1,618,738 

Virginia

5,208 

$2,814,820



Louisiana

3,182 

$1,719,807 

Washington

4,270 

$2,307,850



Maine

963 

$675,600 

West Virginia

1,403 

$758,293



Maryland 

3,862 

$2,087,334 

Wisconsin

3,902 

$2,108,953



Massachusetts

4,707 

$2,544,039 

Wyoming

353 

$675,600



Michigan

7,303 

$3,947,125 






Minnesota

3,504 

$1,893,842 






Mississippi

2,016 

$1,089,608 






Missouri

4,069 

$2,199,213 






Montana

659 

$675,600 






Nebraska

1,222 

$675,600 






Nevada

1,318 

$712,353 














US Territories:




American Samoa


$675,600


Guam


$675,600


Puerto Rico


$675,600


Virgin Islands


$675,600