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The Florida Ad PAC (Florida Advertising Political Action Committee) is the financial arm of the 4th District AAFs legislative efforts. A branch of the Districts legislative team, the PAC exists to raise funds and distribute them to political candidates who are friendly to our industry.    Remember the ill-fated services tax of 1987? It was the 4th District's legislative efforts that help lead to it's repeal.  Your ever-vigilent legislative team works for you!   The 4th District PAC Fund  

  The PAC Fund, along with your District Legislative Chairs, will be monitoring the State's attempts at taxation and other assaults on your income and profession.  With a combined 50+ years in the political arena, we are prepared to offer guidance, assistance and suggestions for increasing your club's PAC war-chest. 

REMEMBER: Keep Government's hands OUT of YOUR pockets! 

A political action committee is an organization formed by an association, corporation, or labor union that raises money for political activity.  Funds are gathered through voluntary contributions from members.  Organization membership dues cannot be used to the support a PAC.
 
  PAC funds can't be used for any other purpose than political activity such as campaign contributions.  Most PAC's direct their political contributions toward Congressional elections, unless it is a statewide association, and then contributions are directed toward the state House or Senate members and Governor.  The more money contributed by a PAC the more influence it wields over elected candidates.
 
  A PAC can contribute up to $500 to any one candidate per election including primaries, run-offs and general elections.  So the maximum amount any PAC can give an elected official is $1500 (assuming a run-off election is held, otherwise, the limit would be $1000).

How does having a PAC help the Advertising Industry?

Lawmakers tend to listen more - or at least hear more clearly - our requests, when we demonstrate our support in the form of dollars.   Dollars ensure that we get in the door, at least long enough to put them in the lawmakers' pockets.
   
    The more money we have in our PAC, the more access we get to lawmakers due to leverage and influence.  PAC money alone, however, isn't enough to sway a member of the legislature.  Much of a legislator's vote hinges on what your issue has been bundled with and the extent to which a coalition of voters is organized.

Who do we support...and how do we decide?
 
Candidates running for STATE-WIDE office are eligible to receive PAC fund donations to their campaigns.  Obviously, we will only support those candidates whose positions mirror our own. 
Your legislative team depends on your input for suggestions as to who we should support. 
The final decision rests with the Executive Committee, which makes its determination in consultation with the Legislative team.

Florida Campaign Finance at a Glance 

The following is a general list of Florida campaign finance laws of which everyone should be aware.

• The maximum contribution an individual can make to one candidate for one election is $500.
  
  
• The $500 maximum contribution applies to individuals, groups that have a collective capacity including corporations, partnerships, organizations and the like (persons), political committees (PCs), and committees of continuous existence (CCEs).
  
  
• The $500 limit applies to each election.  The first primary, the second primary and the general election are all considered elections for this purpose.
  
  
• Contributions cannot be made to a candidate within five days of an election.  The first primary, the second primary and the general election all are considered elections for this purpose. However, an unopposed candidate in a primary may accept donations for the general election during the five-day period prior to the primary.
  
  
• Campaign financing laws are designed to inform the public of the source of campaign funds.  Therefore, all contributions must be made in the true name of the person making the contribution.  Making contributions through or in the name of another person, directly or indirectly, is strictly prohibited.
  
  
• Earmarking contributions to a PC or CCE with instructions or an understanding that the PC or CCE will forward the contribution to a particular candidate is also prohibited.
  
  
• Persons making contributions are not required to register or file reports with the state.
  
  
• PCs and CCEs must register with the state and file regular reports chronicling their contributions and expenditures.  (This requirement has been restricted by a recent federal court case.)
  
  
• A corporation making contributions must meet two requirements.  First, its political activities must be limited to contributions to candidates, political parties, or PCs, or expenditures in support of or in opposition to an issue from corporate funds.  Second, the corporation may not receive contributions.  If the corporation does not follow these requirements it will be considered a PC and be subject to registration and filing requirements.
  
  
• Federal Political Action Committees (PACs) may not make contributions to state and local elections without first registering as a PC or CCE in Florida.&
  
  Read Lobbyist Jack Hebert's White Paper here: http://www.4aaf.com/pdf/AAF-Tax.pdf