PPAI LAW: PPAI Asks Members to Increase Political Participation


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PPAI LAW: PPAI Asks Members to Increase Political Participation

Issue: 2010jan

While health care legislation, including the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, is now on a precarious path, the promotional products industry still has many national and state issues this year with which it should stay involved.

Key to that involvement is a relationship with members' local representatives in Congress and state legislators, says Anne Lardner, PPAI senior manager of public affairs.

“Going forward, we have to do more,” says Lardner. “Now more than ever the industry is being scrutinized in ways we haven’t before. We’re asking everybody to step it up a notch.”

If you haven’t sent an e-mail to your congressman, start doing that now, Lardner suggests. If you have sent e-mails, consider making a phone call or a personal visit.

Last year, PPAI sent its first member action alert on January 23, the day after Sens. Grassley and Kohl introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. In total, 8,325 letters were sent in 2009 through this program to lawmakers by 3,377 total activists, a huge increase in participation over the previous year. Phone calls and personal visits to elected officials also were coordinated and supported by PPAI public affairs.

The top five states for legislative activity were Texas, Illinois, California, Florida, Pennsylvania.

Key issues needing industry support now include rollout of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Act and support of passage of the Healthy Workforce Act. The PPAI Law website, www.ppailaw.org, provides an easy-to-use method for contacting and responding to your local officials about timely legislation.

“Nurture your relationship with your legislative officials,” she says. “Make sure they know who you are and how what they do could impact your company and the promotional products industry in the area they represent.”

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