BUSTED PEC MYTHS ELECTION YEARS GENERATE BOTH A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. THE NEBRASKA SOCIETY OF CPAS is here to set the facts straight about the NESCPA Political Education Committee (PEC) and bust a few myths in the process. MYTH 1: PEC contributions buy votes and win elections. TRUTH: Buying votes (quid pro quo) is illegal and this is not what the PEC does. The PEC has a transactional aspect, primarily by fostering impactful conversations that can drive legislative change. For example, we make minimal contributions to attend legislative luncheons and fundraisers, which gives us an excellent opportunity to talk to legislators in attendance. Having introduced ourselves to a legislator and previously supported their campaign significantly increases the likelihood of capturing their attention on issues that arise. In the competitive landscape of organizations seeking a legislator’s time, the PEC serves as an effective means to gain access and strengthen our voice in Lincoln. MYTH 2: The PEC supports candidates who do not align with my beliefs. TRUTH: The NESCPA PEC is a bipartisan entity solely focused on the shared interests of CPA members. We do not consider a candidate’s position on issues outside of that scope and support legislators who advocate for issues affecting the CPA profession regardless of party affiliation. As a result, the NESCPA enjoys great working relationships on both sides of the aisle. MYTH 3: A portion of my NESCPA membership dues automatically goes to the NESCPA PEC. TRUTH: NONE of your membership dues are allocated towards the NESCPA PEC, as federal law prohibits the use of membership dues for political activities. The NESCPA PEC is funded solely by the voluntary individual investments of NESCPA members. MYTH 4: The highest-dollar contributors decide where NESPCA PEC funds go. TRUTH: Strict campaign finance rules apply to both the PEC and candidates—with no exceptions. The nonpartisan NESCPA PEC, governed by a board of NESCPA member volunteers, determines the allocation of PEC funds in support of the collective interests of Nebraska CPAs. Various factors influence the decision-making process, such as a legislator’s alignment with our priorities and their involvement on legislative committees. PEC myths busted! Do you have further questions for the NESCPA or want to help us with advocacy in 2025? Visit nescpa.org/advocacy/contribute to make a donation and learn more, or reach out to Joni Sundquist at joni@nescpa.org to get more involved in the legislative process. 27 nescpa.org
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