www.apapopac.org
WHAT IS A PAC?
• The term “PAC” stands for Political Action Committee.
• PACs are special organizations for the purpose of
collecting contributions to support a particular cause
or campaign.
• A PAC provides an organized way for an association to
support political candidates, legislation, regulations
or initiatives, for example, a profession like
psychology.
PAC History
1947 – To curb the growing political clout of organized
labor and business the United States Congress passed the
Taft–Hartley Act.
This law banned labor unions and corporations from
spending money to sway federal elections.
1947 – To counter these developments the Congress of
Industrial Organizations (CIO) established a distinct
political fund known as the Political Action Committee.
This was the first PAC in American History and the name
has since stuck.
PAC Development
1971 - Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) to require
greater financial disclosure of federal campaign contributions.
1974 – FECA is amended to allow Congress to set financial limits for personal
campaign contributions.
These limits on personal giving cause campaigns to pivot their fundraising
strategies, spurring a boom in the creation of PACs
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is established to enforce campaign
finance laws. PAC regulation falls under its jurisdiction.
PAC Growth
1974: 608 Political Action Committees were registered.
1995: 4,000 PACs .
2013-2014 Election Cycle: 7,388 Federal PACs, a 37%
growth since 2011.
Rise of the Super PAC
2010: Two court cases over a span of two months turned
campaign finance regulation on its head.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The Supreme
Court struck down limits on the amount individuals could give to
PAC’s, ruling that it violated the first amendment.
It also overturned provisions of the Taft–Hartley Act and allowed
corporations and Unions to make unlimited donations.
SpeechNow v. Federal Election Commission. This ruling paved
the way for the creation of independent expenditure-only
groups, or Super PAC’s.
Super PAC Operations
Super PAC’s are expenditure-only groups, which means they can
spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they are not
coordinating with candidates or campaigns.
However many of these Super PAC’s are run by former staffers
and aides of the candidates these Super PAC’s support.
As of February 26, 2015, there are 1,323 registered Super PAC’s.
PAC’s in the 2014 election cycle raised a total of $1.7 billion;
Super PAC’s account for $695,504,310 of these funds.
APA Political Giving
Psychologists have had a political giving
presence since the 1971.
Originally the PAC was known as the
Psychologists for Legislative Action Now (PLAN).
In the last ten years of its existence PLAN raised
approximately $2.25 million for candidates.
The Creation of
APAPO-PAC
January 2001: In order to better advocate on behalf of
professional psychology APA created a companion
organization known as the American Psychological Practice
Organization.
APA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, which puts
limitations on lobbying activities. APAPO was conceived as a
501(c)(6) organization, meaning it does not have the same
constraints as APA.
This distinction is one of the many reasons why APAPO-PAC
was created and brought under the APAPO banner.
APAPO-PAC was established in 2012.
WHY APAPO-PAC
Matters?
PACs are a way to support candidates who are or may become
champions for professional psychology’s legislative agenda in
Congress.
The APAPO-PAC allows for greater integration between political
giving and APAPO’s legislative strategy.
APAPO-PAC provides the financial means by which successful
relationships with members of Congress are built and how
legislation is influenced.
The Political Pyramid
Member of Congress
Friend
Political
Friend
Campaign
Volunteers
Campaign/PAC
Contributors
½ of Voters Vote for Opponents
Voters
(45% of Registered Voters Don’t Vote)
Registered Voters
Eligible Voters
(25% Can’t Legally Vote – age, non-citizens, etc)
Constituents
APAPO-PAC
•
It Costs a lot of money to run for National office
Average Cost of a Successful Campaign in 2008
(Obama $715,677,692 in 2014)
APAPO-PAC is Growing
Among Health Professional PAC’s, APAPO-PAC
ranked:
61st:
46th:
39th:
In 2012
In Early 2014
Currently
We Are Just One
Among Many…
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
14
17
29
35
39
American Medical Assn
American Assn of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Dental Assn
American College of Radiology
American College of Emergency Physicians
American Optometric Assn
American Physical Therapy Assn
American Assn of Nurse Anesthetists
American Academy of Dermatology Assn
American Podiatric Medical Assn
American Osteopathic Assn
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association Practice Organizations
PAC Receipts
Comparison
PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
American Medical Assn
$1,679,800
American Physical Therapy Assn
$1,028,840
American Assn of Nurse Anesthetists
$853,750
National Community Pharmacists Assn
$669,875
American College of Cardiology
$585,000
American Academy of Family Physicians
$545,500
American Nurses Assn
$350,100
American Assn of Orthodontists
$303,450
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
$275,500
American Psychiatric Assn
$239,000
American
PracticeOrganization
Organization
AmericanPsychological
PsychologicalAssociationn
Association Practice
$213,967
American Assn for Vascular Surgery
$151,500
American Pharmacists Assn
$100,000
$0
$500,000
$1,000,000
PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
2014 PAC Contributions to
Federal Candidates
from Health Professionals
Total Amount:
$26,149,968
Total to Republicans:
$10,707,708
(41%)
Total to Democrats:
$15,433,760
(59%)
Number of PACs making
contributions:
123
STATE
Contributions
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
8.02%
13.25%
8.96%
Hawaii
11.68%
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
8.85%
5.86%
2.50%
8.34%
6.36%
9.43%
5.19%
2014 APAPO-PAC Percentage of Giving by State
6.13%
7.06%
6.01%
6.54%
8.47%
6.42%
7.55%
9.52%
7.43%
8.47%
4.65%
5.71%
6.57%
6.99%
9.88%
5.46% 6.92%
7.24%
7.80%
10.05%
10.86%
7.52%
9.41%
9.43%
7.84%
5.65%
6.04%
6.57%
8.33%
4.88%
11.11%
10.41%
6.44%
2.04%
7.83%
6.11%
14.39%
5.26%
7.40%
6.37%
APAPO-PAC
Disbursements 2014
• APAPO-PAC contributed over $213,967 to
federal candidates.
• APAPO GR Staff attended more than 200
fundraising events in the 113th Congress.
• By the end of 2014 APAPO-PAC had given to
59% to Democrats, 41% to Republicans.
Now Imagine…
.
if every eligible psychologist:
gave only
$25
APAO-PAC will have raised over
$3.25 Million
and be one of the top health care PACs
in the nation.
To get more election updates
follow @APAPractice on twitter
or
go to www.apapopac.org to get
more information about
APAPO-PAC
Doug Walter, J.D.
Associate Executive Director
Government Relations
Practice Organization
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Tel: (202) 336-5889
email: dwalter@apa.org