FEC Seeks Comment on Coordination Proposal

News Releases/Media Advisories

FEC SEEKING COMMENTS ON COORDINATION PROPOSAL

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is seeking public comment on proposed new rules to address coordinated communications made in support of or in opposition to clearly identified candidates -- communications paid for by persons other than candidates, candidates’ authorized committees, and party committees.

Comments must be received on or before January 24, 2000. If the Commission receives requests to testify, it will conduct a hearing on the proposed rules on February 16, 2000, at 10 a.m. in the Commission’s ninth floor hearing room.

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits corporations and labor organizations from using general treasury funds to make contributions to a candidate for federal office. It also imposes various limits on the amount of money or in-kind contributions other persons may contribute to federal campaigns. Unlike independent expenditures, which are unlimited, expenditures that are coordinated with a candidate or campaign are considered in-kind contributions. As such, they are subject to the various limits and prohibitions set out in the FECA.

The proposed rules would incorporate into the Commission’s rules the standard on coordination articulated by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Federal Election Commission v. The Christian Coalition, with references to the Supreme Court’s plurality opinion in Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. Federal Election Commission.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on December 9, 1999, pps. 68951-56. Text of the Federal Register notice can also be found at the FEC’s Web site, www.fec.gov.

All comments should be addressed to Rosemary C. Smith, Assistant General Counsel, and must be submitted in either written or electronic form. Oral comments cannot be accepted. Written comments should be sent to Ms. Smith at the Federal Election Commission, 999 E St., NW, Washington, DC 20463. Faxed comments should be sent to (202) 219-3923, with printed copy follow-up to ensure legibility. Electronic mail comments should be sent to coordnprm@fec.gov. Those sending comments by electronic mail should include their full names and postal service addresses within the text of their comments. Comments that do not contain the full name, electronic mail address and postal service address of the commenter will not be considered.

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