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Automotive Aftermarket Political Action
Committee (AAPAC)
AAPAC:
A key benefit of AAIA
membership
Government actions have a profound and
lasting effect on every company involved in the
automotive aftermarket. AAIA's Automotive
Aftermarket Political Action Committee (AAPAC)
provides members with an easy, powerful way to get
personally involved in the political process. By
pooling the donations of many members, AAPAC:
- Positions the automotive aftermarket as
a serious player in Washington's game of power
politics.
- Helps elect Congressional candidates who
are committed to a free and competitive
aftermarket.
- Opens doors to Congress so that we may
convince them to support a pro-aftermarket
legislative agenda.
What are AAPAC contributions used
for?
Every penny of every AAPAC contribution is
used to support the election of U.S. senators and
representatives who share the industry's goals:
consumer choice, free trade and reasonable
regulation. By ensuring access to key federal
legislators, AAPAC allows the association to
effectively educate Congress about the automotive
aftermarket. (Click
here for information on AAPAC's purpose and
philosophy)
Who Receives AAPAC
Contributions?
AAPAC's process for selecting candidates
to receive contributions is non-partisan and
unbiased. Our main consideration is the strength
of the candidate's commitment to the automotive
aftermarket and his or her willingness to work
with AAIA in promoting a common agenda. Other
factors include: the candidate's seniority or
congressional power and personal contacts in the
industry. (Click
here for information on AAPAC's candidate
selection criteria)
Who can contribute to AAPAC?
Contributions to political action
committees are tightly controlled by the Federal
Election Commission (FEC). They are strictly
voluntary and not tax deductible. In order for
AAPAC to solicit contributions, the following
conditions must be met. Contributions from any
entities that do not meet these conditions cannot
be accepted and will be returned.
1. Only individuals may contribute to
AAPAC. Corporate contributions cannot be accepted
by AAPAC.
2. Only executives, administrative
personnel and shareholders of AAIA member
companies may be solicited for contributions by
AAPAC. (Click
here for information on AAIA
membership)
3. Contributors must be U.S.
citizens.
4. Member companies must specifically, and
in writing, approve the solicitation of its key
employees by AAPAC. Note that only one national
trade association can be approved for PAC
solicitation in any one calendar year.
Individuals may donate up to $5,000
annually in aggregate to AAPAC. Although $5,000 is
the annual maximum, most donations are much
smaller. Still, many small donations add up to a
well-funded AAPAC.
It is also worth noting that federal rules
allow AAPAC to accept contributions from other
corporate or association PACs, so long as funds
were originally generated from individual U.S.
citizens. This is an effective way for other PACs
to extend their political reach.
* Member companies can support AAIA's
political education initiatives through
contributions to our Political Education Fund or
PEF. Contact Larry Northup at AAIA for
details.
How do I begin making my voice heard
in Congress?
1.
Review the above conditions and make sure nos. 1,
2 and 3 apply to you.
2. Download the attached solicitation
approval form and have it completed by an
authorized company official. Then mail or fax it
to AAIA. (click
here to download a Solicitation Approval Form -
.pdf/16KB)
3. You will be sent a complete package of
information on AAPAC, including forms to use when
making contributions.
As a contributor, you will be kept
up-to-date on AAPAC activities, but most
importantly, you will become an integral part of
AAIA's Government Affairs program and a key player
in our drive to serve, protect and expand the
automotive aftermarket.
AAPAC
Purpose/Philosophy
The purpose of the Automotive Aftermarket
Political Action Committee (AAPAC) is to promote
and facilitate political education pertaining to
the automotive aftermarket and to support the
election of pro-aftermarket candidates to U.S.
Congressional offices. Such candidates shall be
dedicated to a fundamental belief in the free
enterprise system, the maintenance of a strong
automotive aftermarket industry and a limited role
for the government in the regulation of business
activity.
In order to accomplish this purpose, AAPAC
shall solicit from individuals and disburse to
appropriate Congressional candidates voluntary
political contributions in accordance with all
state and federal election laws.
AAPAC Selection
criteria for contributing to Congressional
candidates
- Candidates must be seeking federal
congressional office (House or Senate).
- The candidate's position and/or voting
record on issues of concern to the automotive
aftermarket corresponds to that of AAIA.
- The candidate's past voting record on
general business issues according to criteria
established by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- The individual has officially announced
his/her candidacy for federal office in the
current election cycle.
- The candidate has a reasonable chance to
win the election.
- The candidate holds, or is likely to
hold, leadership or policy-shaping positions in
his/her party, on congressional committees or
subcommittees of particular interest to the
aftermarket.
- The candidate's relative seniority on
congressional committees or
subcommittees.
- The candidate has personal experience as
owner/operator/employee of an aftermarket
company or has other close ties to the
aftermarket.
- The candidate is highly recommended by
an AAIA member or members.
For
more information on AAPAC, please contact:
Automotive Aftermarket Political Action
Committee
c/o Larry Northup
4600 East-West
Highway, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
Voice: (301) 654-6664
Fax: (301) 986-9633
E-mail: Larry.Northup@aftermarket.org
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