Page 46 - ATR 2 2014 web

THe lasT worD

strength in Numbers

By Mitchell lowe and trade associations are allowed to The first sentence in the Arkansas
Guest Writer make contributions, subject to statutory Trucking Association’s mission state-
limitations, to state political campaigns ment is “Protect the collective interests
Most Americans have heard of and state PACs. of trucking companies in the political
political action committees, or PACs, Tax-exempt trade and professional and regulatory arenas.” There are many
but couldn’t tell you the first thing organizations, such as the Arkansas factors that ultimately contribute to
about them—except that they’re evil. Trucking Association, often establish doing this successfully, and maintain-
Their malicious image is largely the PACs to educate policymakers, promote ing a strong PAC simply must be among
result of negative press and the wide- advocacy efforts and financially support those factors.
spread demonization of special interest public officials and political candidates The PAC naysayers will always be
groups in the political process. who are likely to be supportive of the there with their often-hysterical charg-
The fact is PACs, in one form or organization’s agenda. es: that PACs buy votes, control elec-
another, have been around since the PACs operated by associations are tions or otherwise corrupt the political
advent of free elections…and they’re funded by voluntary contributions from system. These charges are unfounded
here to stay. Simply put, PACs are the members, eligible employees and their and based in ignorance.
joining together of individuals with families. Those PACs must be main- Virtually all impartial data in this
common interests to achieve a goal. tained and operated completely apart area strongly suggests that the vast
Today PACs should be components of from the organization’s general trea- majority of legislators cast their votes
the overall legislative and political strat- sury. on the basis of ideological orientation,
egy of any entity (company, trade asso- There is most definitely strength political party affiliation and, primarily,
ciation, etc.) that finds itself subject to in numbers. And there is most defi- on the needs and desires of their con-
the whims of a regulatory body. nitely an advantage that comes with stituents back home.
Federal PACs, those regulated by being recognized by elected leaders in In response to the charge that PACs
the federal government and focused on Washington or Little Rock as being a control elections, all one has to do is
objectives and obstacles at the national part of a vibrant and active PAC. remember that PAC money is noth-
level, are particularly necessary because Organizations that establish this ing more than voluntary contributions
the Federal Election Campaign Act sort of recognition often get more and from a group of individuals who have
(FECA) strictly prohibits corporations better access to elected officials. This decided to pool their political contribu-
and trade associations from using gen- doesn’t mean they suddenly possess tions with other like-minded individu-
eral treasury funds to make contribu- the power to force votes one way or als to maximize its voice. PAC money
tions or expenditures in connection another. It simply means their likeli- impacts elections, but it certainly does
with federal elections. hood of being able to shape the debate not control them.
State PACs, those regulated by the and influence the way in which legisla-
various states, are generally less restric- tors think about a particular issue will mitchell Lowe is a political consultant and
tive when it comes to the funds from increase. Organizations without this a partner with Capitol Advisors Group in
Little Rock, Arkansas. He can be reached
corporations. In Arkansas, corporations type of access are often left behind. at mitchelllowe@capitoladvisorsgroup.com

Opinions expressed on this page may not reflect official policies or opinions of the Arkansas Trucking Association
or the American Trucking Associations.

46 aRkaNSaS tRuckiNg RepoRt | issue 2 2014