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 What is FIREPAC?
FIREPAC is the IAFF’s
federal political action committee (PAC) and an integral part of the IAFF's
efforts to promote the legislative and political interests of all professional
fire fighters and paramedics at the federal level. FIREPAC’s mission is to
educate Members of Congress about issues important to fire fighters and
emergency medical personnel and to help elect candidates to office who support
those issues.
Since its creation over three decades ago, FIREPAC has
raised and contributed more than $16 million to federal
candidates and their campaigns either through direct
contributions or through independent expenditures efforts in
support of pro-IAFF candidates.
During the 2009-2010
election cycle, FIREPAC hit a number of impressive milestones:
· Raised over $5.1 million, an all time high
for a two-year election cycle;
· Placed in the top 2% of the more than 4,600
federal PACs in the country in total dollars raised;
· Was the 7th largest PAC in terms of
contributions to federal candidates (368 total candidates);
· Ranked 2nd in terms of all labor union
contributions to federal candidates; and
· Ranked 1st among all unions in terms of
contributions to Republican candidates, making FIREPAC the most bi-partisan PAC
within the labor movement (this is among both AFL-CIO and Change-to-Win unions).
Although not every
candidate who receives a FIREPAC contribution wins their election, every
FIREPAC-supported candidate stands strongly in support of issues important to
fire fighters and emergency medical personnel.
FIREPAC’s philosophy is
simple: if an incumbent or candidate supports the IAFF on its legislative
priorities, FIREPAC will support him or her – regardless of political
affiliation. The only label that matters is whether or not they are pro-fire
fighter.
As a federally registered PAC, FIREPAC must
rely solely on personal, voluntary contributions from IAFF members, spouses and
immediate family members. Federal election law also prohibits the use of union
dues money for the purposes of making contributions to federal candidates or
attempting to influence the general public in a federal race.
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