The Fraternity and Sorority Good Government Needs
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ΩΑΒ the Fraternity and Sorority Ψ ΓΔ Χ Ε POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Φ Ζ Υ Η Summer 2011 Τ Θ Σ Ι Κ Ρ Λ Π Μ Ο Ξ Ν Good Government Needs Greek Leadership Your Support Is Still Needed to Help Reach $500,000 Cycle Goal wo years ago, my wife, Jennifer and I secured Chairman Ryan is the original drafter of CHIA National fraternity and sorority leaders were Tthe largest gift of our lives when we adopted and Chairman Camp is the first Ways and Means amongst the waves of non-profit organizations our beautiful daughter, Emily. I could never have Chairman who is a prior CHIA sponsor. The that lobbied Congress to repeal this requirement imagined the joy I felt the first time they placed PAC’s long-standing relationships with these and we made contact with all 535 Congressional her in my arms. It is remarkable to think that in 16 offices and other people now in leadership posi - offices as part of the successful campaign. years, she will hopefully be heading off to college tions in both chambers of Congress help Greeks and moving into a chapter house that she considers advocate more effectively for their policy agenda. As the summer begins, the first half of the year a home away from home. But will she have the has been good to the Collegiate Housing and opportunity that we all have experienced and will Infrastructure Act. The bill was reintroduced in the chapter house she lives in be ready for Emily? both chambers of Congress in April (H.R.1327/ S.705) and is the same legislation as introduced in Good government needs Greek leadership and that prior Congresses. The new lead sponsors are is why I agreed to accept the honor of serving as Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-PA/ ΣΧ ), Congress- the president of the Fraternity and Sorority Political woman Shelley Berkley (D-NV/ ΔΖ ), Senator Action Committee. The FSPAC is a bipartisan Tom Carper (D-DE/ ΔΤΔ ), and Senator Mike Enzi organization that supports the election of federal (R-WY/ ΣΧ ). As of June 15, the bills had 55 co- candidates interested in preserving the fraternity sponsors in the House and 18 in the Senate. and sorority experience for future generations of student leaders. It advocates for public policy Congress is in the opening stages of discussions objectives that will allow students and alumni to about comprehensive tax reform at the same benefit from the academic, community and lead - time they are discussing how to address the fun - ership development opportunities made available damental problems of the budget deficit and through the fraternity and sorority community. anticipated shortfalls in meeting the obligations Patrick, Emily, and Jennifer Alderdice of entitlement programs in the future. We have At a time when we need leaders that exhibit been told there will likely not be any major tax- strong ethics and values, the fraternity and Currently, there are 140 fraternity and sorority related legislation moving through Congress this sorority experience is guided by founding prin - members of Congress. There was near-record summer as both the House and the Senate con - ciples and values that serve as a moral beacon turnover in both chambers as a result of the tinue hearings on comprehensive reform, so in for its members. Fraternities and sororities are Republican gains in the 2010 elections. Twenty- the short-term, we are focused on securing more the largest, most visible and active values-based seven percent of the House has been in office sponsors for CHIA. You can help us by writing organizations on college campuses. Our emphasis three years or less and the inexperience is magni - your representative and senators and asking on values helps college students form the moral fied within the majority party. Thirty-three per - them to support the bill. foundation for their future actions. Financial man - cent of House Republicans are in their first term agement, conflict resolution, interpersonal skills in Congress, and many of those are serving in At night, I have been reading Emily stories before and basic democratic principles are lessons our their first elected office at any level. The same she goes to bed. She always says, “More, more.” members experience every day and are what our transition to a new generation of members is Fraternities and sororities have a great story to country needs more than ever. occurring in the Senate; 28% of the Senate has tell. We need more and more of our members been in office three years or less, and 23% of all to continue telling our story to their own rep - Your financial support of the FSPAC is helping Republican Senators are in their first five months resentatives, asking them to support the us have success on Capitol Hill. We have raised serving in the chamber. Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act. We more than $320,000 for the 2011-12 election also need more and more of our members to cycle and have already collected $221,000 in the The PAC has been very active so far in 2011 and give to the FSPAC so that we may hit our first five months of 2011. The PAC is very has some success to show for it. For example, in $500,000 goal for the 2011-12 election cycle. If proud that the new Congressional leadership early spring, Congress repealed the onerous 1099 you have not made your gift or pledge, please teams include House Budget Committee requirement that was part of healthcare reform go to www.fspac.org and make your gift today. Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI/ ΔΤΔ ) and Ways and legislation in 2010. The 1099 requirement would Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI). have forced all small businesses, including frater - Patrick Alderdice, ΔΧ nity/sorority chapters and national organizations, President, Fraternity and Sorority PAC to fill out hundreds of forms each year document - www.fspac.org ing their spending on everyday expenses. Preserving the Greek experience for future generations of student leaders the Fraternity and Sorority ΩΑΒ Ψ ΓΔ Χ Ε Φ Ζ Υ Η Τ Θ Σ Ι Κ Ρ Λ Π Μ Ο Ξ Ν Politicians Rushing for Fraternity and Sorority PAC Money By Zachary Newkirk on May 19, 2011 12:47 PM eing a member of a collegiate Greek letter society may literally pay HELPING GREEKS ON BOTH SIDES Boff if you run for political office. OF THE POLITICAL AISLE Of late, the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee has become a financial force for candidates who “champion Greek issues.” According to its website, the Fraternity and Sorority PAC’s primary During the past three election cycles, the Fraternity and Sorority PAC objective is to “support the election of fraternity/sorority members to has raised more than $1 million and donated $611,000 to candidates federal office so long as those members are supportive of the fraternal running for federal political offices, according to research by the Center experience.” for Responsive Politics. And that mission runs across both sides of the political aisle. The vast majority of recipients of this money were members of Greek letter “The PAC takes its bipartisan mission organizations during their collegiate years. very seriously and uses a number of But their experiences in fraternity houses criteria in making decisions about which and sororities have not turned them into to candidates to fund,” Kevin O’Neill, ideological clones. These beneficiaries dis - the PAC’s executive director, told play political views that vary from Alpha to OpenSecrets Blog in an email. Omega. “Our spending each cycle has been fairly During the 2010 cycle, for example, Rep. balanced given the needs of candidates up Pete Sessions (R-Texas), a member of the for election at that time,” O’Neill contin - Tea Party Caucus, received a $5,000 contri - ued. “Most of the PAC’s donations to bution from the Fraternity and Sorority incumbent candidates go to alumnae/ PAC. Meanwhile, the group also gave alumni of fraternities and sororities. Right $1,500 to Rep. Lynne Woolsey (D-Calif.), now, about 60 percent of the fraternity former co-chairwoman of the Congressional and sorority members in Congress are Progressive Caucus. Republicans.” Overall, about 59 percent—or $362,000— Many donors to the Fraternity and of the PAC’s total contributions since the 2006 election cycle have gone to Sorority PAC are in leadership positions of various national fraternities Republican candidates for federal political office. and sororities. And people associated with the law firm Patton Boggs — where O’Neill works as an attorney — have contributed $50,000 to the But the actual split between Republican and Democratic beneficiaries can group, including $3,500 from the firm’s senior partner, Thomas Boggs. swing from cycle-to-cycle (see chart). Despite the impending, high-profile presidential election, the Fraternity During the 2006 election cycle, for instance, 74 percent of the money the and Sorority PAC says it is unlikely to get involved. PAC doled out aided Republicans. That figure was split 51-49 during the 2008 election cycle, with Democrats holding the slight advantage. And “We don’t anticipate being involved in the primary stages of presidential during the 2010 election cycle, 55 percent of contributions went to campaigns,” O’Neill told OpenSecrets Blog. Republican political candidates. “The PAC would most likely be involved in a presidential race if one of the nominees was an alumnae/alumnus of a fraternity or sorority,” he con - tinued. “But it is less inclined to spend its funds on he race for the White House if there is no such candidate.” 2 Preserving the Greek experience for Political Action Committee ΩΑΒ Ψ ΓΔ Χ Ε Φ Ζ Υ Η Τ Θ Σ Ι Κ Ρ Λ Π Μ Ο Ξ Ν On its website, the K APP AC gives a nod to the role of money in politics, saying that “Remember the Golden Rule: He who has the gold rules!” Rush says the group’s membership isn’t naïve to the truth that money talks, and he says that access is key for political success.