PAC Payroll Deduction Authorization Form

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By comparison, the APFA PAC has only been able to contribute just over $25,000 during this same period. The APFA PAC is funded through voluntary donations from the membership and ARE NOT union dues.

Guess who got more ears on Capitol Hill?

The APFA PAC plays a very important role in getting our voice heard. Representatives and Senators must be kept informed if they are to get involved at any point. By attending campaign fundraising events, APFA has an opportunity to speak directly to members of Congress, not just to their staff, in order to explain APFA’s position on important issues. It’s a very simple situation. We must support our friends to ensure that they are re-elected and can continue to help us. I bring your attention to the dollar amounts at the top of this page. American has a PAC that is more than 10 times the size of APFA’s. You might think, “Well, they have more money than we do.” But that doesn’t have to be the case. If each APFA member contributed just $1.00 per month, APFA would have a very impressive PAC Fund.

Following are some questions that Flight Attendants frequently ask about our PAC:

Q: What is a PAC?

A: Short for Political Action Committee, a PAC is essentially a separate bank account to collect money that can be contributed to congressional and presidential campaigns. The amount that can be contributed to each campaign is strictly regulated by law and the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Q: How much do I have to contribute?

A: There is no minimum amount, but by contributing as little as $.50 or $1.00 per paycheck, you can help support APFA’s efforts to obtain congressional support. The money contributed to the PAC is placed in a separate bank account and segregated from Union dues. The PAC depends on your contribution.

Q: Why is it important for Flight Attendants to contribute to the APFA PAC?

A: Corporations and their executives have the ability to give big dollars to candidates in elections. For example, Gerard Arpey gives over $400 per month and Lauri Curtis gives over 200 a month to AA’s PAC. You can bet that companies giving high-dollar contributions can meet with members of Congress anytime they have an issue of concern. Most of us don’t have the money, individually, to donate as a large corporation can. By joining together it can add up to a voice that will be heard at election time.

Q: Are dues monies ever used to contribute to a candidate?

A: No, the federal laws prevent dues monies from being contributed to a candidate.

Q: How do you determine which candidates will receive PAC contributions?

A: The decisions for PAC contributions are made based on issues that affect American Airlines Flight Attendants. Our focus is the workplace. For example, members who have supported our efforts to get smoking banned from the aircraft or who support Flight Attendants obtaining OSHA coverage are the members to whom we contribute.

Q: How can Flight Attendants contribute to PAC?

A: Send in the PAC deductions card in the middle of this Skyword, or click here to print out the PAC Payroll Deduction Authorization Form. The completed form should be sent to the address below.

Q: How does PAC give APFA a stronger voice in Washington?

A: APFA representatives can attend fundraising events using PAC dollars. At these events, APFA has an equal opportunity to talk with candidates and members of Congress, alerting them to APFA’s concerns. The larger the PAC, the more direct contact APFA can have with Congress. APFA’s PAC gives Flight Attendants a voice – a bigger PAC gives Flight Attendants a stronger voice. The APFA has faced and will continue to face many issues that will require a stronger presence and larger voice in Washington, D.C. Your donations to PAC will help to ensure APFA has the funds to make this happen.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FACTS AND FIGURES

As of February 29, 2004, the American Airlines/AMR PACs had total receipts of just over $217,000 for the 2004 election period, which is defined as years 2003-2004.

The APFA PAC had a balance of $10,015 as of March 26, 2004.

For more information on Political Action Committees, contributors, recipients, balances in PAC accounts, and more, visit WWW.OPENSECRETS.ORG. The Center for Responsive Politics maintains the information on this site.