FEC approves $16.3M for conventions

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

One piece of the money puzzle:

The Federal Election Commission today announced that each of the two major political parties’ convention committees will receive initial payments of $16,356,000 from the U.S. Treasury for planning and conducting their respective 2008 Presidential nominating conventions.
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The FEC has certified that the two convention committees have met all eligibility requirements and the Commission today sent letters to the Secretary of the Treasury, requesting that the payments be made.

In exchange for public funding of the conventions, committees agree to certain requirements, including spending limits, the filing of periodic disclosure reports, and detailed audits.

You wonder what it would take for a 3rd party to meet the requirements to get this money.