Colorado and Wyoming Boards of Trustees have determined that petroleum marketers must be engaged and active in the political arena in order to have the strongest voice available while promoting legislation or attempting to defeat. The realities of the political "game" is that politics is truly NOT a spectator sport. Today's legislator is, by and large, no longer the true statesman and representative of the people that they once were. Legislators that truly listen to constituents and vote their districts, not their own personal beliefs or that of their political party, are unfortunately a rarity. Political parties control far too many legislators when it comes to difficult votes. Traditional notions of having a relationship with your legislator, while still being most effective, must have addition support systems in place to enhance our political voice.
One such enhancement is the presence of a strong Political Action Committee. PACs are generally used to support or oppose legislators during elections. Only private donations can be utilized for direct contributions. PACs can also be electioneering committees for the purpose of supporting or opposing legislators, ballot initiatives, polling or for educational communications that help the public better understand your business and the industry. Whether participating in elections or simply building a "war chest" for future emergencies, every legislator and both political parties take notice of PACs and their balances. Why? Several reasons come to mind.