Co-op Owners for Political Action (COPA)
Today’s legislation will greatly affect your electric bill tomorrow.
The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) Co-op Owners for Political Action® is a nonpartisan political action committee designed to direct financial contributions from co-op members to those legislators who actively support issues of importance to electric cooperatives. Co-op Owners is a part of the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE), a political action committee founded by members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) that has collected contributions from co-op members across the nation since 1966.
ACRE Co-op Owners supports candidates for state and federal office who will speak for and protect the interests of electric co-ops and their members. ACRE provides a voice for electric cooperatives on all levels of government.
With the exception of a small federal tax payment of less than 1 percent, all contributions to ACRE Co-op Owners go directly to the campaigns of candidates for political office. About half of all contributions go to support candidates for state office, the other half for federal office. ACRE follows established procedures for making contributions to candidates running for political office. Factors that determine financial support include a candidate’s:
• Position on issues critical to electric co-ops, as well as their votes and public statements on these issues;
• Committee assignments, leadership positions and relative importance to co-op’s.
• Financial need and the strength of an opponent.
• The candidate’s political affiliation is never taken into account.
NOTE: Contributions to the NRECA Action Committee for Rural Electrification® (ACRE® ) are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to ACRE® are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits contributions from foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status. Any contribution guidelines presented are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts, or not at all. NRECA will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute.
This program is part of the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) and is the grassroots action committee for the nation’s electric cooperatives.
A political Action Committee (PAC) is formed to funnel contributions for candidates at the state and federal levels. As a PAC, ACRE provides cooperative members a voice on issues directly impacting electric cooperatives and the surrounding communities.
With the exception of less than one percent federal tax payment, all contributions are used to fund campaigns of candidates for political and state office.
Contributions to candidates running forpolitical office are determined by their:
- Position on issues critical to electric cooperatives, as well as their votes and public statements on these issues
- Committee assignments and leadership positions and their importance to cooperatives
- Financial need and the strength of an opponent
With each generous contribution members will receive the ACRE Action Newsletter along with the most important benefit, having a voice in the election of state and federal officials who support rural electric cooperatives.
ACRE’s strength comes from the members and their commitment to cooperative rural electrification. Each individual contribution helps ACRE remain strong and promote legislative objectives important to electric cooperatives, at both the state and federal levels.
Contributions to federal and state PAC committees are not deductible for tax purposes. Contributions to ACRE are strictly voluntary. You may contribute more or less than the recommended amount. Cooperative members have the right to not contribute without reprisal.
