Please consider helping us protect and promote the practice of physical therapy in Wisconsin by participating in our online drive! DID YOU REALIZE: if every member gave $10 each, we could raise $25,000 in political action committee (PAC) funds to support candidates for office that support physical therapy, our patients, and our mission?
The link below includes the first in a series of five PAC Podcasts as part of our online drive. Meet lobbyists Annie Early and Jeremey Shepherd who discuss the importance of WPTA member participation in the PAC https://wpta.org/?8ej11t
Will you consider a contribution of $100, $250, or $500 today? Why is your support SO important?
These funds allow us to:
- Support candidates for public office that support our profession and our priorities.
- Block legislation that threatens our scope of practice.
- Advance legislation that continues to be on the forefront of the profession.
- Secure a voice for us, and therefore a seat at the “policy table”.
- Advocate for the future of physical therapy, while protecting all we have accomplished to date.
- Assure money and funds are allocated for legal/policy issues in the promotion of physical therapy.
- Be leaders in regards to policy and healthcare reforms, and have the resources to execute them.
- Effectively counteract opposing causes and groups attempting to suppress our purpose.
The WPT-PAC empowers PTs and PTAs to be more involved in the process of shaping physical therapy practice laws and rules. WPTA created this mechanism to allow the physical therapy profession to channel its financial and grassroots support to help ensure that Wisconsin’s political leaders are aware of, and responsive to, the physical therapy profession's goals and viewpoints. WPT-PAC disburses funds according to the needs of the profession at a given time, not according to a political ideology. Contributions are deposited into a single bank account for disbursement consideration to state candidates.
WPT-PAC uses personal contributions for campaign contributions, and campaign fundraisers, that put our members and our lobbyists face-to-face with key members of legislative leadership, members of the Senate and Assembly Health Committee, the Governor, and many more relevant lawmakers.
WPT-PAC represents the profession with Wisconsin Legislators by providing opportunities for WPTA members and staff to voice support or opposition to proposed state legislation. WPTA members can recommend to WPT-PAC a candidate for which it should support, however the WPT-PAC committee, upon recommendations from our lobbyists, decides who will receive WPT-PAC contributions.
WPTA dues cannot be used for political contributions; it is illegal to use Association dues for PAC contributions. All contributions must be separate and voluntary to the WPT-PAC.
Although WPT-PAC can accept business/corporate contributions, those can only be used to pay WPT-PAC administrative costs (i.e. staff expenses, fundraising event costs, etc.); it is illegal to use business/corporate contributions for state political campaigns. Political contributions are not tax deductible for state income purposes.
ALL PT/PTAs benefit from legislation that is passed, not solely those who are WPTA members. Members, as well as non-members, can contribute to WPT-PAC.
Help us protect and promote the practice of physical therapy in Wisconsin with your personal contribution today. There is no minimum contribution level; all contributions are welcomed and appreciated! Our online drive goal is $25,000 by the end of 2020. This goal could be reached if all 2500 WPTA members donated only $10 each.
Donations can be made online at https://wpta.org/political-action-committee/donations/
