Candidate Solicitation at State, District and Local Party Fundraising Events; Definition of “Agent” for BCRA Regulations; Payroll Deductions By Member Corporations for Contributions to a Trade Association's Separate Segregated Fund, 21163 [05-8109]

Agencies

• Federal Election Commission

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 78 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8109]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 78 / Monday, April 25, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 21163]]



FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Parts 109, 114, and 300

[Notice 2005-11]


Candidate Solicitation at State, District and Local Party 
Fundraising Events; Definition of ``Agent'' for BCRA Regulations; 
Payroll Deductions By Member Corporations for Contributions to a Trade 
Association's Separate Segregated Fund

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Election Commission is announcing public hearings 
on the following rulemakings: The proposed revision to the Commission's 
regulations on candidate solicitation at State, district and local 
party fundraising events; the proposed revision of the definition of 
``agent'' for the Commission's regulations on non-Federal funds and 
coordinated and independent expenditures; and the proposed revision to 
the Commission's regulations on payroll deductions by member 
corporations for contributions to a trade association's separate 
segregated fund. The Commission plans to consider final rules for these 
three rulemakings in an open session scheduled for June 23, 2005.

DATES: The hearings will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 and will 
begin at 10 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Commission hearings are held in the Commission's ninth floor 
meeting room, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad C. Deutsch or Ms. Mai T. 
Dinh, Assistants General Counsel, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20463, (202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Rulemaking on Candidate Solicitation at State, District and Local Party 
Fundraising Events

    On February 24, 2005, the Commission published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (``NPRM'') proposing revisions to the Explanation and 
Justification for the Commission's regulation at 11 CFR 300.64, which 
allow Federal officeholders and candidates to speak without restriction 
or regulation at fundraising events for State, district and local party 
committees, and proposing an alternative rule that would replace 
current section 300.64 with a rule barring candidates and Federal 
officeholders from soliciting or directing non-Federal funds while 
attending or speaking at party fundraising events. 70 FR 9014 (Feb. 24, 
2005). The comment period for this NPRM ended on March 28, 2005. The 
Commission received eleven comments in response to this NPRM. Six 
commenters who submitted four of the comments requested to testify at a 
public hearing if one is held.
    After considering these requests and the other comments received to 
date in response to this NPRM, the Commission believes a public hearing 
would be helpful in considering the issues raised in the rulemaking. 
The hearing will be held on May 17, 2005.

Rulemaking on Definition of ``Agent'' for BCRA Regulations on Non-
Federal Funds or Soft Money and Coordinated and Independent 
Expenditures

    On February 2, 2005, the Commission published an NPRM proposing to 
revise the definition of ``agent'' for its regulations on coordinated 
and independent expenditures, and non-Federal funds, by including 
persons acting with apparent authority in the definition of ``agent.'' 
70 FR 5382 (Feb. 2, 2005). The comment period for this NPRM ended on 
March 4, 2005. The Commission received six comments in response to this 
NPRM. Four commenters who submitted two of the comments requested to 
testify at a public hearing if one is held.
    After considering these requests and the other comments received to 
date in response to this NPRM, the Commission believes a public hearing 
would be helpful in considering the issues raised in the rulemaking. 
The hearing will be held on May 17, 2005.

Rulemaking on Payroll Deductions by Member Corporations for 
Contributions to a Trade Association's Separate Segregated Fund

    On December 22, 2004, the Commission published an NPRM proposing to 
amend its rules regarding contributions to the separate segregated fund 
(``SSF'') of a trade association by employee-stockholders and executive 
and administrative personnel (collectively, ``restricted class 
employees'') of corporations that are members of the trade association. 
The proposed rules would amend 11 CFR 114.8 to allow a corporate member 
of a trade association to provide incidental services to collect and 
forward contributions from its restricted class employees to the SSF of 
the trade association, including a payroll deduction or check-off 
system, upon written request of the trade association. The proposed 
rules would also amend 11 CFR 114.2(f) to require any corporate member 
of a trade association that provides incidental services for 
contributions to the trade association's SSF also to provide the same 
services for contributions to the SSF of any labor organization that 
represents employees of the corporation, upon written request of the 
labor organization and at a cost not to exceed actual expenses 
incurred. 69 FR 76628 (Dec. 22, 2004). The comment period for this NPRM 
ended on January 21, 2005. The Commission received 34 comments in 
response to this NPRM. Two commenters asked to testify at a public 
hearing if one is held.
    After considering these requests and the other comments received to 
date in response to this NPRM, the Commission believes a public hearing 
would be helpful in considering the issues raised in the rulemaking. 
The hearing will be held on May 17, 2005.

    Dated: April 18, 2005.
Scott E. Thomas,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-8109 Filed 4-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P