The Council has had a political action committee since 1974 when PACs came into existence with the passage of the Federal Election Committee reforms. It is part of the political process in Washington. Tens of thousands of companies, trade associations and interest groups vie for the attention of 535 members of Congress and CouncilPAC helps us to make our case before key legislators.
CouncilPAC is The Council’s political action committee. Contributions to CouncilPAC enable The Council to support candidates who understand and share our common goals and interests and educate candidates and lawmakers who may be unfamiliar with the intricacies of our business.
Once lawmakers are given the facts they need to better understand our industry, they are better able to enact responsible and thoughtful laws that help our industry grow, be competitive and serve our clients.
Contributions to members of Congress and other political candidates help The Council's lobbyists cultivate relationships on Capitol Hill and those relationships are critical when we seek to advise congress on the consequences of irresponsible legislation and the benefits of legislation that assists the marketplace. CouncilPAC does NOT support lawmakers who do not share our fundamental views - it's as simple as that.
In accordance with the Federal Election Commission Law, Council member companies must first grant prior approval in order for CouncilPAC to solicit contributions from certain eligible individuals. Prior approval is given by completing and signing the Prior Approval Form. This form gives CouncilPAC a contact person for your firm to work with to see that the process runs according to law. After a member company grants prior approval, eligible individuals under federal election laws can be solicited for contributions.
In conclusion, PAC contributions certainly don’t buy legislators' votes, but they do get their attention. By contributing to the campaigns of pro-insurance candidates running for election and re-election to Congress, we can help to ensure our role in the political process. If we choose to remain silent, the price could be very high indeed.
For information and/or questions, please contact our Director of Political Affairs, Webb Milward, at Webb.Milward@ciab.com or by calling 202.783.4400.