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Washington Watch

American Journal of Nursing - January, 2002 - Volume 102, Issue 1

The Political Action Committee
A force for legislative success that nurses can use.

By Shari Dexter and
Sheila M. Roit, MPP, RN

A political action committee (PAC) is a group organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor, or ideological interests. Federal PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate’s election committee per election (primary, general, or special). They also can give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. Federal PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC, or party.

Prior to the 1970s there was no limit on how much an individual or business could give to a candidate. In 1971 Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), a consolidation of previous reform efforts that attempted to limit the influence of wealthy individuals and special interests on federal elections; it also regulated campaign spending and mandated public disclosure of campaign finances by candidates and parties. Congress amended the FECA in 1974 to set limits on contributions by individuals, political parties, and PACs.

THE ROLE OF PACs

Many individuals and groups contribute to the democratic process—either at the federal or state level—with the hope that their contributions will pay off in a policy decision or a bill endorsement at some later date. An effective PAC program can give an organization visibility, credibility, and influence on Capitol Hill.

PACs are important for three other reasons:

• PAC members can participate as a collective voice for action. PAC contributions offer an organization’s members access to the political arena by giving them a collective voice in which to state positions on legislative proposals.

• PACs provide opportunities to educate candidates. PACs can often secure access to a candidate or legislator, which opens the door to educating public officials personally and presenting an organization’s positions directly.

• PACs hold candidates accountable. If a PAC supports a candidate, there is an expectation that the candidate’s voice will represent the PAC’s legislative agenda.

DOES the ANA HAVE A PAC?

In 1974 the ANA established its PAC and since then has given millions of dollars to support hundreds of candidates for office. In the 1999–2000 election cycle alone, 85% of the candidates endorsed by ANA–PAC were elected to the 107th Congress. By contributing to candidates, nursing PACs are able to educate them and garner their support for legislation that addresses nursing’s concerns. For example, the work of ANA–PAC laid a crucial foundation for securing needlestick protections and Medicare reimbursement for advanced practice registered nurses.

“ANA–PAC is truly an ideal PAC,” states Mary Behrens, MSN, FNP-C, chairperson of ANA–PAC. “We have many nurses helping our voice to be heard in Congress. ANA–PAC allows nurses to be a strong player in the health care policy arena.”

With legislation needed to address the current staffing crisis, the emerging nursing shortage, and other threats to patient care and nurses’ health and safety, the ANA–PAC board of trustees is incorporating the use of new communication technologies, fundraising techniques, membership recruitment tools, and candidate selection procedures to ensure that the ANA helps to elect supporters of nursing’s agenda in the halls of Congress.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

This will be a pivotal election and legislative year. Redistricting is forcing states to change legislative boundaries. These newly shaped districts will provide opportunities to elect nurse-friendly legislators and defeat those not supportive of nursing’s priorities. The 2002 election will ultimately determine the make-up of Congress and legislatures across the country, which will dictate what legislation is put forth for debate in the coming years.

“PACs will only help to improve the visibility, clout, and credibility that nursing needs to carry its legislative agenda forward,” Behrens says. “With 43 states redrawing districts, nursing PACs can tilt the composition of legislatures, including Congress, in support of an agenda that will positively impact the profession of nursing for years to come.”

Shari Dexter is the ANA–PAC coordinator and Sheila M. Roit is the senior political action specialist at the American Nurses Association. .

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