Federal law and Federal Election Commission rules and regulations govern the use of funds collected for a PAC. Your contributions are used to support candidates and elected officials who understand and support our profession's issues and concerns.
Contributions are disbursed to candidates who advocate issues of importance to ASHI and the home inspection profession. They are used to build relationships with candidates and to voice support or opposition to initiatives that affect our profession and your business. The contributions InspectPAC receives are vitally important in making ASHI an effective and productive force on Capitol Hill.
InspectPAC is overseen by ASHI's Executive Director who serves as its Treasurer along with our federal lobbyist in Washington. All decisions to allocate PAC money however, are made by ASHI's Rapid Response Team which consists of the President, Legislative Committee Co-Chairs, Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, and others knowledgeable individuals as necessary.
The following set of criteria is used to determine which candidates InspectPAC will contribute to:
Ethics and investigations. Contributions are not recommended for any candidate known to be under an ethical cloud. This criterion supercedes all others.
Committee membership. Membership on key committees is a favorable factor. Seniority positions are strongly favorable. Lack of key committee memberships is neutral to negative.
Leadership posts. A position of party leadership (on or off the Hill), or participation in a key caucus or other Congress-related organization that is not opposed to client interests is a favorable factor. Participation in groups opposed to client interests is a strongly negative factor unless extraordinary circumstances exist.
Seniority and re-election status. Seniority is favorable. An expectation of success in the next re-election cycle is a requirement.
Track record of support for the profession. A very strong favorable.
Special relationship with an association member. A very strong favorable. A recommendation from an association member. A favorable but may be overruled by other considerations listed herein.
Special legislative skill. A favorable if the candidate is inclined to be sympathetic and supportive of client positions. A lack of legislative skill is a mild to moderate negative.
Public position on PACs. Statements by candidates criticizing business involvement in campaigns are a negative.
Some relationship to the inspection profession. A strong favorable.
Pro-business/anti-business tendencies. A pro-business record in either party is favorable. An anti-business record in either party is negative.
View and/or purchase photos from the January 11, 2006 InspectPAC fundraiser.
Federal Elections Committee Records on InspectPAC
ASHI's Legislative
Action Center