Getting the Answer Right to the Question About Political Fundraising

Today’s New York Daily News includes an article about State Senator Kevin Parker’s campaign, which recently sent out an invitation to his annual dinner-dance gala in which the invitation stating “I help you. You help me. Together we build.”

Good government groups have criticized the apparent “quid pro quo” nature of the invitation.

This article reminded me of another recent article (in the Times Union of Albany) in which the head of the Albany-Colonie Regional chamber of Commerce said that his organization has created and is funding a political action committee (PAC) to gain access to lawmakers.

His actual quote was:  “It’s really about attending events so we have relationships with people.”

If a newspaper reporter calls you to ask – after reviewing publicly available campaign finance records — why your company’s PAC made a donation to a particular candidate, what answer you will give?

Think hard before you give an answer.  Your company’s reputation may be at risk.  And remember that financial support for candidates is definitely not about access or quid pro quos.