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Care PAC
What is a PAC?
Under the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act, if an organization makes annual contributions in excess of $5,000 to Nebraska candidates for political office or in support or opposition to ballot questions, then the organization must establish a separate fund for making contributions. Such a fund is known as a “Political Action Committee” or “PAC”.
NHCA/NALA created “Care PAC” for this purpose. Pursuant to the Care PAC bylaws, the committee consists of the President and Treasurer of the NHCA Board of Directors, the Chair of the Government Relations Committee, and nine additional NHCA/NALA members to be appointed by the President of the Board of the Nebraska Health Care Association. Under the bylaws, the chairperson of Care PAC is the NHCA Treasurer. Contributions from Care PAC to candidates for Nebraska elected offices are made upon a majority vote of the committee. Contributions cannot be made from Care PAC to candidates for federal offices.
What are the sources of Care PAC revenue?
The primary sources of Care PAC revenue are the annual $1 per bed assessment and the Care PAC Club Memberships. The $1 per bed assessment is only requested from proprietary facilities due to Internal Revenue Service restrictions which prohibit nonproprietary facilities from making political contributions. Club membership levels include the following:
- President's Circle: $1,000+
- Capitol Club: $500-$999
- Advocate Club: $200-$499
- Leadership Club: $50-$199
- Contributor Club: $10-$49
Please note the revised club levels for 2012. Click the Donate button to make your needed $1 per bed or Membership contribution.
President's
Circle
$1,000+
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Why should I contribute to Care PAC?
Long-term care is considered one of the two most heavily-regulated industries in the United States (the other being nuclear power). Long-term care provider rates are among the largest percentage of State expenditures. The other primary recipients of State funds have particularly well-financed PACs. Decisions at the State Capitol have a direct effect on your funding for employee salaries and benefits, equipment, training and continuing education, facility maintenance and renovations, staffing levels, and more. Survey, licensure, admissions, workers compensation, employee safety, fire safety, and numerous other bodies of law make or break facilities.
NHCA/NALA represents over 20,000 employees through Care PAC. If each front-line employee could contribute a mere $1 and supervisors and management participated in one of the three Club levels, Care PAC could begin to contribute to candidates at amounts similar to competing Nebraska interest groups. We need this prominence now more than ever.
How can Care PAC have an effect on all of these statutes and regulations?
Consider that tens of thousands of issues are floated before policy-makers by thousands of advocates. No one can listen to everyone and take hold of every issue. Also consider that legislators earn $12,000 per year while a legislative campaign costs $100,000.A gubernatorial campaign can cost well over $1 million. Human nature dictates that with thousands of issues before a policy-maker, the issues pertaining to the people that dearly supported him or her will stand out from those who did not. Long term care in Nebraska needs a strong voice among the other thousands of voices seeking access to policy-makers. Access allows us to present our solid arguments.
Contribute to AHCA/NCAL-PAC
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