posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:32 AM
by
klehan
NBFAA Forms Political Action Committee
Taking the "next logical step" to build its government relations program, the
National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association announced March 18 that it's launching its own
political action committee, called the NBFAA PAC.
"An industry's strength in Congress, and access in Washington, is many times determined
by associations having legitimate PACS for members to contribute to senators and
congressmen," said John Chwat, NBFAA's director of government relations.
"As the NBFAA government relations program becomes more proactive and much more involved,
starting a PAC is the normal course of events," he said.
The Federal Elections Commission has very stringent rules governing the establishment and
administration of a PAC, with which the NBFAA has complied.
The NBFAA will begin soliciting "individual company officers" in line with FEC
regulations. It will continue raising funds during the NBFAA's Day on Capitol Hill at the
end of April and at ESX (the Electronic Security Expo, June 25-27).
This being an election year, the NBFAA has a short time to build up it PAC war chest, so
that it can begin participating in fundraising events and "making contributions to our
friends on Capitol Hill who support our position," he said.
It is possible that the NBFAA would support candidates for open seats as well as current
members of Congress.
The next election cycle will be in 2010, Chwat noted, but fundraising activities continue
unabated. "[Candidates are] always in the mode for accepting contributions," Chwat said.