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Want to know what's going on with the ASHA-PAC? News and Notes is your news source for the ASHA-PAC as well as PACs in general. From convention activities to legislation regarding political action committees, News and Notes provides the most up-to-date information on political advocacy.
PAC Activity Increase and Contribution Trends for 2004 Election Cycle
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) reported an increase in PAC activity during the 2004 election cycle. For the period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004, PACs raised $915.7 million and spent $842.9 million. This marks an increase of 34% and 21% respectively over the 2002 election cycle. Incumbents, House candidates, and Republicans continue to get the lion's share of PAC contributions. For the 2004 election cycle, Incumbents received 79% of all PAC contributions, up from 76% during the 2002 cycle. House candidates received $76 million, 9% more than during the 2002 cycle. Republicans received $176 million, up 21% from the previous cycle. Information is based on financial reports filed by PACs, such as the ASHA-PAC. For more information, please contact Stefanie Reeves, ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy, via email at sreeves@asha.org or 202-624-5961.
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House Committee Approves Campaign Finance Bill
The House Administration Committee has approved H.R. 1316, the 527 Fairness Act of 2005 sponsored by Reps. Mike Pense (R-IN) and Al Wynn (D-MD). H.R. 1316 contains a number of provisions affecting political action committees (PACs), such as the ASHA-PAC. Along with increasing the amount PACs can receive and contribute, the bill also allows individuals to contribute to more than one trade association PAC per calendar year. The Senate version of this bill was passed out of committee in late April. Floor action on both bills has not been scheduled. For more information, please contact Stefanie Reeves, ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy, via email at sreeves@asha.org or 202-624-5961.
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Senate Committee Approves Campaign Finance Bill
On April 27, 2005, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved S. 271, the 527 Reform Act of 2005. The bill seeks to require advocacy groups operating under the Internal Revenue Service code 527, which includes the Swift Boats Vets and POWs for Truth and the Media Fund, to register as political organizations. As a political organization, such groups would be restricted in their fundraising activities. Currently 527s are regulated by the Internal Revenue Service.
S. 271 would also increase the amount political action committees (PACs) can receive, contribute, and index for inflation. Currently, PACs can receive contributions up to $5,000 per calendar year; donate $5,000 per election to candidates and $15,000 per election to political parties. The bill would increase those amounts to $7,500, $7,500 and $25,000 respectively.
The bill is slated to go to the Senate next month. For further information, please contact Stefanie Reeves, ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy, at sreeves@asha.org or by phone at 202-624-5961.
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An evening of fun, wine and… Senator John Kerry?
Over 100 Legislative Council and Executive Board members participated in what's becoming the social event of the Spring LC meeting. The third annual ASHA-PAC wine tasting/silent auction was held April 1, 2005. New for this year, ASHA members sampled wine from individual stations as opposed to a lecture format. Wines from the United States, Italy, and Spain were featured.
Rob Stewart, renowned wine connoisseur from the Smithsonian was on hand to answer questions about the wines available. During the wine tasting, members had the opportunity to bid on items ranging from African jewelry and hand knit scarves to a hotel suite during Convention and a cardboard cut-out of Senator John Kerry. The PAC raised over $6,000 from both events.
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