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Coating Makers Gobble Up Election Wins

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

More items for Program/Project Management

U.S. coating manufacturers have much to be thankful for this season: They racked up an overwhelmingly winning record in the 2012 elections.

Thirty-seven of 40 candidates supported by the American Coatings Association’s political action committee, known as PaintPAC, notched victories in this month's elections, the association reports.

The PAC was "incredibly active" in the run-up to the November elections, ACA said.

"PaintPAC had an historic year,” ACA said in announcing the victories. The paint and coatings advocacy group, which represents manufacturers, made 52 contributions to individuals and four contributions to Leadership PACs.

The Reaction

Scott Brown basked in his 2010 victory to fill the seat of Sen. Edward Kennedy, but Massachusetts' Republican junior senator was one of three unsuccessful PaintPAC-backed candidates this year.

Two of the association's three losses were in the U.S. Senate, where both PaintPAC-backed candidates—Republicans George Allen of Virginia and Scott Brown of Massachusetts—were defeated. However, the nine Republicans and one Democrat backed by the PAC for the U.S. House of Representatives won their races.

ACA did not disclose total amounts contributed, but it noted that 16 elected officials who received funds were not up for re-election in 2012.

About PaintPAC

Campaign finance laws prohibit ACA, as a non-profit organization, from directly contributing to political candidates and to political parties.

Contributions from a non-profit organization can be made, however, through the establishment of a political action committee (PAC). As such, PaintPAC enables ACA member representatives and ACA staff to contribute to "qualified political candidates and parties at the federal, state, and local levels who share our concerns and are pro-business."

PaintPAC was established in 2002, July when ACA was still known as the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA).

Recycling Fuels New Support

Traditionally, PaintPAC has supported candidates who fit a “pro-business” profile and would advance a “pro-business” agenda, according to the ACA.

However, in 2012, the association also supported legislators and public interest groups that have historically opposed the coatings industry on certain environmental issues.

Many of the new relationships developed due to ACA’s post-consumer paint stewardship program, PaintCare. The non-profit organization's sole purpose is to ensure effective operation and efficient administration of paint stewardship programs on behalf of all architectural paint manufacturers in the United States.

PaintCare.org

PaintPAC made a number of contributions to legislators in jurisdictions the PaintCare program is being considered or where ACA hopes to bring the program.

Oregon, California, Connecticut and Rhode Island have already developed legislation modeled after ACA’s program. PaintPAC made a number of contributions to legislators in jurisdictions where the PaintCare program is being considered, or where ACA hopes to bring the program.

ACA said it hoped to establish a working relationship with those legislators who support PaintCare, in order to benefit the industry in all issue areas. 

2012 Election Results

Below are the election results as reported by ACA. W indicates a win; L indicates a loss; and O indicates that the candidate supported was not up for re-election this year.

PaintPAC winners of 2012 included (from left) U.S. Reps. Gene Green (D-TX); Peter Roskum (R-IL); and Sam Graves (R-MO).

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

Governorships

State Legislatures

Leadership PACs Supported

• Senate Republican Caucus PAC (Maine)
• Senate Democratic Caucus PAC (Maine
• House Republican Caucus PAC (Maine)
• House Democratic Caucus PAC (Maine)

Connections and Issues

PaintPAC’s philosophy is to establish connections with decision-makers and nurture those relationships so that “we can count on an opportunity to provide some advice and education on those issues that impact our industry,” ACA says.

An essential aspect of ACA’s role as an advocate for the industry is to educate decision-makers with regard to important industry issues as it continues to face heightened challenges in both the political and legal arenas.

PaintPAC, ACA says, "has provided ACA and our members another very effective avenue to educate decision-makers at all levels of government."

ACA notes these priority issues:

• Air and water quality;
• Product liability;
• Product stewardship;
• Waste management;
• Labor and safety in the workplace;
• Facility security;
• Corporate tax; and
• International trade.

All of these issues "contain potential threats to and opportunities for the industry," says ACA. "All of these issues have political components and are directly affected by elected officials."