Final rules: contribution limits between authorized committees

On September 14, 2006, the Commission approved regulations that implement an earlier statutory increase in the limit on contributions from one federal campaign to another from $1,000 to $2,000 per election.

Background

Under the Act and FEC regulations, a candidate's authorized committee may not support more than one candidate. 2 U.S.C. 432(e)(3)(A); 11 CFR 102.12(c)(1) and 102.13(c)(1). However, these provisions have long exempted from the definition of the term "support" contributions of $1,000 or less, per election, from one authorized committee to another authorized committee. 2 U.S.C. 432(e)(3)(B) (2004); 11 CFR 102.12(c)(2) and 102.13(c)(2). In the 2005 Appropriations Act, Congress amended 2 U.S.C. 432(e)(3)(B) to increase the exempt amount from $1,000 to $2,000 per election. The amount was not indexed for inflation.

Final Rules

The Commission voted to update its regulations to reflect the statutory change by amending the definitions of "support" in its regulations. No notice or comment period was required as the regulations simply restate the statute provided by Congress. The Final Rules became effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register, September 20, 2006, and are available on the FEC website at http://sers.fec.gov/fosers/showpdf.htm?docid=11771.