PharmPAC is the political action committee of Texas Pharmacy Association -- with the single focus of supporting TPA's advocacy efforts on behalf of Texas pharmacy professionals and the patients they serve. PharmPAC helps build and strengthen relationships with officeholders and encourages positive dialogue that leads to sound legislation that protects your profession and enhances your abilities to help patients. The goals of PharmPAC are:
To improve and protect the pharmacy profession by encouraging pharmacists, technicians, students and other individuals – on a non-partisan basis - to become more active and effective in state governmental affairs;
To assist pharmacy professionals and other individuals in understanding the actions of state government regarding important political issues as well as the political and legislative records of state officeholders and candidates for public office;
To educate pharmacy professionals and others about the political/legislative process and encourage their greater involvement in the electoral process and voting;
To promote fair and responsible legislation affecting pharmacies, pharmacy professionals and patients;
To solicit financial contributions from pharmacy professionals and others to be used in assisting state officeholders and candidates for public office;
To assist and support state officeholders and candidates for public office through PharmPAC political endorsements and financial support; and
To uphold the tradition of individual liberty and support the rights guaranteed by the constitutions and laws of the United States and the State of Texas.
The funds you invest in PharmPAC are used to help individuals supportive of pharmacy issues with their political campaigns for public office in Texas. PharmPAC keeps investors informed and educated about the political and legislative processes and public policy issues of importance to the profession. PharmPAC is your election tool to help shape and protect the health of your patients and your practice.
Does one voice really matter? It does - especially when you combine your voice with other pharmacy advocates.
It’s your life… use your political voice to improve it. Whether you like it or not, the political process affects you personally every day. It also has a major impact on your pharmacy career. Government affects so many areas of pharmacy: licensing requirements, relationships with your patients, reimbursements, insurance policies, record-keeping demands and more. Clearly, laws and regulations made in Austin and Washington have a direct impact on everything in your life.
You can let things happen or make them happen. When pharmacy professionals get involved in politics, they help ensure that health policies benefit both the profession and patients.
Becoming an investor in PharmPAC is an important step in doing just that. Protecting your profession and business is critical. It is the reason to support and elect individuals who are accessible and willing to listen to your opinions and to learn how their decisions impact you. Those that are supportive of pharmacy need your financial support. The cost of political campaigns continues to grow and our friends need financial resources to win.
Pharmacy competes with other interests to enact legislation each session – some are opponents to the pharmacy care you want to deliver. Now more than ever, we need legislators who understand and support your profession and your patients. Lawmakers must be educated about pharmacy issues and must be made aware of the full implications of their policy decisions on your profession.
PharmPAC encourages all Pharmacists in Texas to invest at least $100 in 2010 to help us meet our $300,000 goal. The PAC encourages all Pharmacy Technicians to invest at least $25 annually.
Please complete the 2010 Pledge Card and make an investment in your profession. The return on your investment may may surprise you! --Make an investment in your profession. The return on your investment may surprise you!
Frequently Asked Questions About PharmPAC
How do I become a PharmPAC member?
Membership in PharmPAC is available to pharmacy professionals, pharmacy employees, members of their immediate families, and others affiliated with TPA. Such individuals can become members of PharmPAC during the calendar year in which one of the following takes place:
Making a personal financial contribution to the segregated fund used for political disbursements; or
Making a corporate financial contribution to the segregated fund used for operational and educational purposes.
What’s the difference between political endorsements and contributions?
The endorsement of a political candidate allows the PAC to publicly indicate its support without necessarily providing a financial contribution. Often, a candidate seeks an endorsement to use in campaign literature and on a political website. A candidate certainly wants financial assistance too, but an endorsement can often be as important as a contribution.
Who runs PharmPAC?
The PharmPAC Board of Directors oversees all PharmPAC operations and financial decisions. The composition of the Board strives to reflect the ethic, geographic and practice diversity of Texas pharmacy. Though PharmPAC is a separate entity from TPA - with its own board and bylaws – board members must be TPA members as well as PharmPAC investors.
Who decides which candidates receive support?
Endorsements of statewide candidates and other officeholders are determined by the Board, at its sole discretion. The Board considers recommendations for endorsement and/or contributions developed by its staff with input from its Advisory Committee. However, decisions are made through a balanced endorsement process, which considers the following:
TPA membership support;
Support by members on the PharmPAC Board;
Personal positions regarding TPA policy issues;
Voting and/or public support of TPA policy issues;
Candidate or officeholder surveys, as appropriate;
The PharmPAC Board met January 31 at TPA headquarters to discuss endorsements for the 2010 elections. The following candidates were endorsed by PharmPAC:
**Note: Senate members serve six-year terms and only a third stand for re-election every two years. The list of PharmPAC-endorsed Senate candidates reflects only those Senate seats that are up for re-election in 2010.
PharmPAC is the political action committee of the Texas Pharmacy Association, 12007 Research Boulevard, Suite 201, Austin, Texas 78759. According to Texas Government Code 305.027, the material in this section may be considered "legislative advertising." Authorization for its publication is made by Joe A. DaSilva, Executive Director/CEO, Texas Pharmacy Association.
