Marc Hanna, William McKinley’s chief fundraiser in the presidential elections of 1896 and 1900, famously said, “There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.”
Hanna’s statement still rings true 125 years later. This is why CAI’s political action committees (PAC) are increasingly important to achieving our advocacy agenda on behalf of community associations.
Many CAI members are more familiar with the work of CAI’s legislative action committees (LAC) than with CAI PACs. Both are equally important.
Legislative action committees are the advocacy arm of CAI. CAI’s state and federal LACs review legislation, adopt positions on bills that could impact community associations, and lobby elected and appointed officials to support public policies that have a positive impact on community associations. LACs are prohibited by law from donating to political campaigns. That’s where the CAI PACs step in.
CAI’s political action committees are a critical component of advancing sound public policy. The PACs exist specifically to provide financial support to candidates and campaigns. They help CAI gain access to key policymakers during election season. CAI maintains a federal PAC that supports the campaigns of key members of Congress. PACs in Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia support candidates for state legislative offices.
Elected officials make important public policy decisions that impact every community association. Contributions are not just about financial support – they are about building relationships with decision makers in the halls of the Capitol to ensure that CAI is included in important conversations impacting our communities. Donations demonstrate that our organization is invested in the legislative process by fostering relationships even before CAI has a public policy request. CAI’s PACs help elevate CAI’s voice during the public policy process.
Sitting on the sidelines of the nation’s political process is simply not an option. Organizations that often oppose CAI’s public policies make political contributions to key policy makers. CAI must remain equally engaged by using all the advocacy tools available, including political contributions.
Decisions by legislators can have a big impact on the 77.1 million Americans who live and work in community associations. The CAI PACs allow us to support candidates for office that advocate for well-reasoned legislation and oppose proposals that create unnecessary burdens on the governance and operation of community associations.
Support for the PACs is an essential piece of CAI’s advocacy efforts.
How can you help? Make a contribution to the CAI federal PAC or to any one of the eight CAI state PACs. Any amount is helpful to advance CAI’s advocacy agenda.
