Political Action and PowerPAC
What is PowerPAC?
PowerPAC (Public Ownership of Electric Resources Political Action Committee) is an organization of public power professionals from across the United States who recognize the importance of supporting Members of Congress who protect the interests of public power. PowerPAC, a political action committee, is an essential part of public power’s effort to increase our effectiveness in government affairs.
Why does APPA have a political action committee?
APPA focuses heavily on direct lobbying to achieve our legislative priorities, providing quality information on current and pending legislation to our members, and cultivating strong relationships with Members of Congress and their staff. However, additional opportunities exist for APPA’s members to express their opinions and ideas with Members of Congress, while building relationships with those who support public power. For that reason in 1982, APPA started its own political action committee - PowerPAC.
PowerPAC enables public power to more effectively communicate our positions, interests and concerns effectively to Capitol Hill. It is crucial that we help elect and re-elect candidates who understand public power and who will make decisions that are in our and your customer’s collective interest. By making the voice of public power louder and stronger, PowerPAC is able to affect the course of public policy debates and have input into the outcomes of important public policy decisions which will affect the future of public power.
Read the Spring 2009 newsletter.
Which candidates does PowerPAC support?
Decisions about who PowerPAC supports are made on the basis of five criteria:
- Does the candidate understand and support the concerns and interests of public power?
- Is the candidate's position and voting record supportive of public power?
- Does he or she serve on a committee considering legislation important to public power?
- Does he or she hold a leadership position within Congress or have the potential to hold a leadership position?
- Is the candidate electable and does he or she need PowerPAC's financial assistance?
Who oversees the operations of PowerPAC?
Voluntary and non-partisan, PowerPAC is governed by a Board of Directors who represents a cross-section of APPA’s membership, including each region of the country. The board reviews and selects candidates to receive support and manages fundraising and communications for the PAC. All administrative and solicitation costs for PowerPAC, as allowed under federal law, are paid for by APPA, thereby enabling all donations to go directly to the support of candidates.
Where can I find out more about PowerPAC and other political action committees?
PowerPAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, DC. It is authorized by the Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended, and is in compliance with all applicable laws.
Consent to Solicit Corporate Members
As a trade association with “corporate” as opposed to individual members, PowerPAC is not allowed by law to directly solicit APPA's members. Title 11, Chapter I, Section 114.8c of the Federal Election Commission’s statutes specifically outlines these guidelines as:
(c) Limitations: A trade association or a separate segregated fund established by a trade association may solicit contributions from the stockholders and executive or administrative personnel of the member corporation of such trade association and the families of such stockholders and personnel if - -
(1)The member corporation involved has separately and specifically approved the solicitations.
For more information about PowerPAC, contact Meghan McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@appanet.org or 202-467-2934.
