NCBA-PAC and Cattlemen:  Making a Difference in Election 2008

NCBA Staff Contact: 
Lindsay Bowman
202-347-0228

lbowman@beef.org

Election years give industry groups an opportunity to flex their political muscle in campaigns and at Washington fundraisers.  With Election 2008 in full swing, cattlemen need to be engaged.  Control of the White House – as well as key Congressional control – is up for grabs.

Thanks to the support of concerned NCBA members and cattle producers across the country, NCBA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) has proven to be a valuable tool in helping to promote the legislative priorities of cattlemen in Washington, D.C. 

While NCBA-PAC may not have the deepest pockets in town, we are a vocal and enthusiastic participant in the political process, and the cattlemen are highly respected in Washington.  NCBA-PAC is funded solely by your individual contributions, and the candidates we support know they’re working for real people – the cattlemen and women that work with the sweat of their brow to feed America and the world.

What is a political action committee (PAC)?

A political action committee is a group of individuals with common values and goals who combine their resources to financially support candidates running for public office.  A PAC supports candidates that represent the interests and views of its members, in our case, cattlemen and women nationwide.

Why was NCBA-PAC organized?

Cattlemen need pro-business, pro-agriculture, representatives in Congress.  NCBA-PAC was organized to support candidates running for Congress that will speak for and protect the interests of the cattle and beef industry on Capitol Hill.  Few people have the resources to make large contributions to several candidates for Congress.  NCBA-PAC allows cattlemen to maximize their resources and speak with one voice in support of their industry.

If I Make a Contribution to NCBA-PAC where does it go?

Individual contributions to NCBA-PAC go directly to the campaigns of candidates who are supportive of issues that are important to cattlemen such as international trade, food safety and nutrition, animal health, drought and disaster relief, environmental regulations, property rights, federal lands, tax and credit and marketing issues.  NCBA-PAC follows established procedures for making contributions to candidates for federal office.  Each candidate’s record of support, bill sponsorship, key votes, financial need, and agreement of the state affiliate organization are some of the criteria that are used. 

Does NCBA-PAC only support republicans or only democrats?

NCBA-PAC doesn’t support candidates based on their political affiliation but on their record of support for the cattle and beef industry.  A candidate’s positions on issues that are unrelated to the well-being of the cattle industry are never taken into account. 

How do I really make a difference?

NCBA-PAC’s strength comes from you and your commitment to your industry.  Each individual NCBA-PAC supporter helps us stand together and promote the legislative objectives of our organization. Your political involvement makes a bold statement.  It tells your elected officials that you are committed to electing representatives and senators that will speak for and protect the best interests of our organization.