MRA PAC:
Invest in your industry

by Larry Meyer
MRA Chairman and CEO

Political action does not appeal to some people. In fact, the stereotype of the industry lobbyist in today’s media is often ugly and greedy.

It may be fashionable to adopt the cynical view that political action has a corrupting influence on government, but it’s really quite the opposite.

An active political action committee, or PAC, gives clarity and strength to the voice of the Main Street retailer. Our legislators need and expect to hear that voice as they consider regulations and laws that will impact our businesses and Michigan’s economy as a whole.

Twenty-two new legislators came to Lansing a few months ago. There’s also a new House Speaker and the chairs of many committees have changed. Because of term limits, the Michigan Legislature changes and shifts much more regularly and frequently than in the past.

With a new crop of freshman legislators every two years, and no legislators with the decades-long experience they might have had before term limits, there’s a lot of education to be done to bring legislators up to speed on our issues.

These new legislators might know how things have been, or what their vocal constituents tell them, but they may not be aware of the complexities of issues that we have been dealing with for decades, issues like item-pricing reform or sales taxes on services.

How do they learn? Through the many PACs whose representatives meet with legislators, present issues and advocate for positions.

The PAC’s function is one of advocacy. As retailers, we do have special interests, just as all industries and professions do. Our businesses are affected—directly or indirectly—by the decisions made in Lansing.

If you want retail to survive and thrive in Michigan, contributing to the PAC is one way to show where your interests stand. If you care about government but don’t know which candidates to support in state elections, contributing to your industry’s PAC is a safe and responsible alternative to contributions to a particular candidate.

MRA’s PAC is pro business and specifically pro retail. If a bill—for example the one to control SUTA-dumping—affects your taxes or your regulatory requirements or your employee relations, the MRA PAC is working on it whether or not you choose to bother with the legislative minutiae.

You may belong to MRA mostly for our services. But many of our services depend on favorable legislation—bankcard rates, utility rates, health care insurance regulations are all affected by decisions made in the Michigan Legislature.

MRA dues have remained modest over the years. For a relatively small investment, you’re getting an excellent value.

Many of our members make a modest PAC contribution as well. The combined force of those contributions helps keep our governmental affairs department hard at work on issues that affect your business.

On page 6 of this issue you’ll see a list of PAC contributors. Can we add your name to the list? I sincerely hope so. We’re as close as your phone.

For more information or to contribute, contact Eric Rule, director of governmental affairs, at 800.366.3699 or erule@retailers.com.