PRINT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE — NEW LEADERS OF THE PAC

But when you look at other issues confronting printers—rising healthcare costs, the permanent repeal of the death (estate) tax, energy resources and alternatives—they are hot points that generally impact the small business community as opposed to being printing industry specific.

Industry Issues

“Our industry is not the kind that has one particular issue that lights a fire under people to induce PAC giving,” Lyons remarks. “For example, beer wholesalers have been trying to roll back the beer tax for a decade. Industries like telecommunications are passionate about relief from government regulation. Other than postal reform this Congress, printers don’t have one albatross issue that dogs the industry from year to year. However, we do have a set of general policy concerns—health care, tax relief and labor issues—that when added up, impact our industry’s bottom line. It’s critical that we utilize the PAC to build relationships with key lawmakers overseeing these policies.”

One way of renewing interest in PrintPAC is by raising awareness, Frack stresses. Printers need to understand that a PAC is the “cleanest” way to give money to federal candidates running for office, she notes, and PACs are regulated by the Federal Elections Committee (FEC). Contributions are monitored and disclosed. Unfortunately, negative press resulting from shady campaign financing has given the practice of contributing something of a fat lip, if not a black eye.

“We need to educate PIA/GATF members on why they should give and why PACs are important,” Frack says. “Our objective is to support the campaigns of those members of Congress who support a pro-print, pro-business legislative agenda. We’re doing that by taking the collective strength of our members and aggregating that strength. PrintPAC is the only national trade association that represents the printing and graphic communications industries. Basically, it’s an investment in the future of the printing industry.”