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The
object of the Indiana Professional Fire Fighters Political Action Committee
is to develop good government on the local and state level, and to promote
the good and welfare of the Indiana Professional Fire Fighters through active
participation in the political process.
Why does the PFFUI need
a PAC?
Indiana campaign
finance laws severely limit labor organizations expenditures for political
purposes.
During any calendar
year, no labor organization may make total political contributions in excess
of:
- $2,000 aggregate limit to
all State Senate Candidates.
- $2,000 aggregate limit all
State House of Representatives Candidates.
- $5,000 aggregate limit to
all Statewide Candidates.
- $5,000 aggregate limit to
all State Political Parties.
- $2,000 aggregate limit to
all Legislative Caucus Committees of the State Senate.
- $2,000 aggregate limit to
all Legislative Caucus Committees of the House of Representatives.
Without a PAC the PFFUI would only be able to
contribute:
- Approximately $40.00 to
each State Senate Candidate
- Approximately $20.00 to
each State Representative Candidate
Realistically, the PFFUI would only be able to make
reasonable contributions to an extremely small number of candidates thus
severely limiting our ability to be influential and effective players in the
political arena. The successes we achieve in the Indiana General Assembly
protecting and enhancing our pensions and other benefits could not be realized
without participation in the political process. Elected officials have the
ultimate ‘say-so’ in the statutes governing virtually every aspect of our
careers. The state officials we lobby with cross all party lines and we are
totally bipartisan in our support of those elected representatives who
support professional Fire Fighters.
What legislative benefits have Fire Fighters realized
through the political efforts of the PFFUI?
- Deferred Retirement Option
Plan (DROP)
- Presumptive occupational
disease line of duty benefits
- Reduction in retirement age
for 1977 Fund members from age 55 to age 52
- Line of Duty Death Memorial
- Improved residency
requirements
- Felony law for battery to a
fire fighters
- Increased pension death
benefit to $9,000
- Increased line of duty
death benefit to $150,000
- Federal income tax free
line of duty disability and death benefits
- Tuition free education at
state institutions for line of duty death surviving children
- Fire Fighters can run for
elected offices and serve if elected
- Cities or towns responsible
for all medical costs for line of duty injuries
- Pension relief funds for
unfunded liabilities of old pension acts
- Model merit system
- Countless other efforts
enabling benefiting legislation and defeating undesirable legislation
How can you help the PFFUI continue to benefit Fire
Fighters in the legislative arena?
- Contribute $1.00 per
paycheck to the Indiana Fire Fighters PAC
The Indiana Fire Fighters PAC relies solely upon
voluntary contributions. The limitations detailed above do not apply to PAC’s
using voluntarily contributed funds. The PFFUI is requesting each member
dedicate a minimum of $1.00 per paycheck to build an effective political
action committee. These contributions are not deductible for income tax
purposes.
Are the benefits we have achieved and those we hope to
achieve worth a mere $1.00 per paycheck? There is strength in numbers. If
every member meets this challenge the Indiana Fire Fighters PAC would have
over $100,000 a year to effectively promote the good and welfare of Indiana
Professional Fire Fighters.
Please send your contribution today by personal check
payable to:
Indiana Fire Fighters PAC
P.O. Box 15735
Fort Wayne, IN 46885-5735
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