Rulemaking Petition: Political Party Rules, 69721-69722 [2016-24310]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 195 / Friday, October 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules 183, 184, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234, 274 (42 U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2201, 2210e, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2237, 2238, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 117(a), 132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 141, 145(g), 148, 218(a) (42 U.S.C. 10137(a), 10152, 10153, 10154, 10155, 10157, 10161, 10165(g), 10168, 10198(a)); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note. 2. In § 72.214, Certificate of Compliance 1031 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 72.214 List of approved spent fuel storage casks. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * * Certificate Number: 1031. Initial Certificate Effective Date: February 4, 2009, superseded by Initial Certificate, Revision 1, on February 1, 2016. Initial Certificate, Revision 1, Effective Date: February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 1 Effective Date: August 30, 2010, superseded by Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, on February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, Effective Date: February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 2 Effective Date: January 30, 2012, superseded by Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, on February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, Effective Date: February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 3 Effective Date: July 25, 2013, superseded by Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, on February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, Effective Date: February 1, 2016. Amendment Number 4 Effective Date: April 14, 2015. Amendment Number 5 Effective Date: June 29, 2015. Amendment Number 6 Effective Date: December 21, 2016. SAR Submitted by: NAC International, Inc. SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis Report for the MAGNASTOR® System. Docket Number: 72–1031. Certificate Expiration Date: February 4, 2029. Model Number: MAGNASTOR®. * * * * * Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of September, 2016. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Glenn M. Tracy, Acting Executive Director for Operations. [FR Doc. 2016–24316 Filed 10–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Oct 06, 2016 Jkt 241001 FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 11 CFR Parts 100, 106, and 109 [Notice 2016–11] Rulemaking Petition: Political Party Rules Federal Election Commission. Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: On June 15, 2016, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Commission to revise existing rules regarding the use of federal funds to pay for certain activities of state, district, or local committees of a political party. The Commission seeks comments on this petition. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2016–03, or by email to PoliticalPartyRules@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463. Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission’s Web site and in the Commission’s Public Records room. Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, or driver’s license number, or any information that is restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, or Mr. Joseph P. Wenzinger, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694–1650 or (800) 424– 9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 15, 2016, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from the Minnesota SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 69721 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and its Chair, Ken Martin, requesting that the Commission amend several regulations applicable to political parties. First, the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101–46 (the ‘‘Act’’), as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (‘‘BCRA’’), and Commission regulations provide that a state, district, or local committee of a political party must pay for ‘‘Federal election activity’’ with either entirely federal funds or, in other instances, a mix of federal funds and ‘‘Levin funds.’’ See 52 U.S.C. 30125(b); 11 CFR 300.32. Under Commission regulations, ‘‘Federal election activity’’ includes certain activities that urge, encourage, or assist people to register to vote or to vote. See 11 CFR 100.24; Definition of Federal Election Activity, 75 FR 55257, 55260 (Sept. 10, 2010). The petitioners request that the Commission narrow this definition. Second, Commission regulations provide that political parties must use a federal account to pay the salary, wages, and fringe benefits of an employee who spends more than 25 percent of that individual’s time on ‘‘Federal election activities’’ or on conduct ‘‘in connection with a Federal election.’’ See 11 CFR 106.7(d)(1)(i)–(ii). The petitioners ask the Commission to amend this rule to omit ‘‘Federal election activities’’ from the calculation, covering only activities ‘‘in connection with a Federal election.’’ Finally, the petitioners ask the Commission to consider additional regulatory modifications listed in Commission Agenda Document No. 15– 54–A, a proposed resolution that recommended amending several rules to (1) allow political parties ‘‘to discuss issue advertisements with candidates,’’ ‘‘republish parts of candidate materials in party materials,’’ and ‘‘distribute volunteer campaign materials without triggering coordination limits,’’ see 11 CFR 109.37; (2) ‘‘[e]xpand political party freedom to engage in volunteer activities such as volunteer mail drives, phone banks, and literature distribution,’’ see id. 100.87, 100.147; and (3) modify the definition of ‘‘Federal election activity’’ to permit ‘‘political parties to register voters and urge citizens to vote on behalf of state and local candidates free from FEC regulation’’ and to ‘‘employ people to engage in state and local get-out-thevote activities with state funds,’’ see id. 100.24. The Commission seeks comments on the petition. The public may inspect the Petition for Rulemaking on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, or in the Commission’s Public Records Office, E:\FR\FM\07OCP1.SGM 07OCP1 69722 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 195 / Friday, October 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the petition by dialing the Commission’s Faxline service at (202) 501–3413 and following its instructions. Request document #283. The Commission will not consider the petition’s merits until after the comment period closes. If the Commission decides that the petition has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. The Commission will announce any action that it takes in the Federal Register. On behalf of the Commission, Dated: September 29, 2016. Matthew S. Petersen, Chairman, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2016–24310 Filed 10–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 11 CFR Parts 102, 104, 106, 109, 110, 9008, and 9012 [Notice 2016–10] Rulemaking Petition: Implementing the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 Federal Election Commission. Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: The Federal Election Commission has received a Petition for Rulemaking that asks the Commission to amend its regulations to implement amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act made by the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, which established certain new accounts for national party committees. The petition also asks the Commission to amend its regulations regarding convention committees. The Commission seeks comments on this petition. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2014–10, or by email to NationalPartyAccounts@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Oct 06, 2016 Jkt 241001 Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission’s Web site and in the Commission’s Public Records room. Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, or driver’s license number, or any information that is restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, or Mr. Tony Buckley or Ms. Esther D. Gyory, Attorneys, Office of General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694– 1650 or (800) 424–9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 8, 2016, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from the Perkins Coie LLP Political Law Group. The petition asks the Commission to adopt new regulations, and to revise its current regulations, to implement amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101–46 (‘‘FECA’’), made by the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Pub. L. 113–235, 128 Stat. 2130, 2772 (2014) (the ‘‘Appropriations Act’’). The petition also asks the Commission to adopt new regulations, and to amend its current regulations, regarding convention committees. The Appropriations Act amended FECA by establishing separate limits on contributions to three types of segregated accounts of national party committees (collectively ‘‘party segregated accounts’’). The party segregated accounts are for expenses incurred with respect to (1) presidential nominating conventions; (2) party headquarters buildings; and (3) election recounts or contests and other legal proceedings. 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(9). The Appropriations Act permits a national party committee to maintain the party segregated accounts in addition to any other federal accounts that the committee may lawfully maintain. Under the Appropriations Act, a national party committee may use its presidential nominating convention account ‘‘solely to defray expenses incurred with respect to a presidential PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 nominating convention (including the payment of deposits) or to repay loans the proceeds of which were used to defray such expenses, except that the aggregate amount of expenditures the national committee of a political party may make from such account may not exceed $20,000,000 with respect to any single convention.’’ 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(9)(A). A committee may use its party headquarters building account ‘‘solely to defray expenses incurred with respect to the construction, purchase, renovation, operation, and furnishing of one or more headquarters buildings of the party or to repay loans the proceeds of which were used to defray such expenses, or otherwise to restore funds used to defray such expenses.’’ 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(9)(B). Finally, a national party committee may use its election recounts or contests and other legal proceedings account to ‘‘defray expenses incurred with respect to the preparation for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings.’’ 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(9)(C). The petition asks the Commission to adopt a ‘‘new regulatory framework’’ for each type of party segregated account and to amend current regulations, or adopt new regulations, that would apply to all such accounts. The petition also addresses convention committees. Until recently, national party committees were entitled to receive public funds to defray the costs of their presidential nominating conventions. See 26 U.S.C. 9001–9013 (2012); 11 CFR part 9008. Commission regulations therefore established convention committees ‘‘as a necessary requirement in order to enable the Commission to know who has initial responsibility for handling public funds and incurring expenditures.’’ Presidential Election Campaign Fund and Federal Financing of Presidential Nominating Conventions, 44 FR 63036, 63038 (Nov. 1, 1979). In 2014, however, Congress terminated the public funding of presidential nominating conventions, while leaving in place most of the statutory framework that had implemented that funding system. See Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, Pub. L. 113–94, 128 Stat. 1085 (2014) (the ‘‘Research Act’’). Shortly after the Research Act was passed, in response to a request filed by two national party committees, the Commission issued an advisory opinion concluding that the requestors could establish convention committees to ‘‘us[e] privately-raised funds solely to pay for the same types of convention expenses for which public funds were previously used.’’ E:\FR\FM\07OCP1.SGM 07OCP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69721-69722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24310]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Parts 100, 106, and 109

[Notice 2016-11]


Rulemaking Petition: Political Party Rules

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On June 15, 2016, the Federal Election Commission received a 
Petition for Rulemaking asking the Commission to revise existing rules 
regarding the use of federal funds to pay for certain activities of 
state, district, or local committees of a political party. The 
Commission seeks comments on this petition.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged 
to submit comments electronically via the Commission's Web site at 
https://www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2016-03, or by email to 
PoliticalPartyRules@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit 
comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, 
Attn.: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 999 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20463.
    Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, 
last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, 
including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the 
Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the 
Commission's Web site and in the Commission's Public Records room. 
Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any 
information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street 
address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social 
security number, or driver's license number, or any information that is 
restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or 
financial information that is privileged or confidential.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting 
Assistant General Counsel, or Mr. Joseph P. Wenzinger, Attorney, Office 
of General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-
1650 or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 15, 2016, the Federal Election 
Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from the Minnesota 
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and its Chair, Ken Martin, requesting 
that the Commission amend several regulations applicable to political 
parties.
    First, the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-46 (the 
``Act''), as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (``BCRA''), 
and Commission regulations provide that a state, district, or local 
committee of a political party must pay for ``Federal election 
activity'' with either entirely federal funds or, in other instances, a 
mix of federal funds and ``Levin funds.'' See 52 U.S.C. 30125(b); 11 
CFR 300.32. Under Commission regulations, ``Federal election activity'' 
includes certain activities that urge, encourage, or assist people to 
register to vote or to vote. See 11 CFR 100.24; Definition of Federal 
Election Activity, 75 FR 55257, 55260 (Sept. 10, 2010). The petitioners 
request that the Commission narrow this definition.
    Second, Commission regulations provide that political parties must 
use a federal account to pay the salary, wages, and fringe benefits of 
an employee who spends more than 25 percent of that individual's time 
on ``Federal election activities'' or on conduct ``in connection with a 
Federal election.'' See 11 CFR 106.7(d)(1)(i)-(ii). The petitioners ask 
the Commission to amend this rule to omit ``Federal election 
activities'' from the calculation, covering only activities ``in 
connection with a Federal election.''
    Finally, the petitioners ask the Commission to consider additional 
regulatory modifications listed in Commission Agenda Document No. 15-
54-A, a proposed resolution that recommended amending several rules to 
(1) allow political parties ``to discuss issue advertisements with 
candidates,'' ``republish parts of candidate materials in party 
materials,'' and ``distribute volunteer campaign materials without 
triggering coordination limits,'' see 11 CFR 109.37; (2) ``[e]xpand 
political party freedom to engage in volunteer activities such as 
volunteer mail drives, phone banks, and literature distribution,'' see 
id. 100.87, 100.147; and (3) modify the definition of ``Federal 
election activity'' to permit ``political parties to register voters 
and urge citizens to vote on behalf of state and local candidates free 
from FEC regulation'' and to ``employ people to engage in state and 
local get-out-the-vote activities with state funds,'' see id. 100.24.
    The Commission seeks comments on the petition. The public may 
inspect the Petition for Rulemaking on the Commission's Web site at 
https://www.fec.gov/fosers, or in the Commission's Public Records 
Office,

[[Page 69722]]

999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday, from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the 
petition by dialing the Commission's Faxline service at (202) 501-3413 
and following its instructions. Request document #283.
    The Commission will not consider the petition's merits until after 
the comment period closes. If the Commission decides that the petition 
has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. The Commission will 
announce any action that it takes in the Federal Register.

    On behalf of the Commission,

    Dated: September 29, 2016.
Matthew S. Petersen,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016-24310 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6715-01-P
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