Definitely not, but PAC contributions are one of the most important ways that ATPE can influence education policymaking at the state or local level. Before any elected official can make the important decisions affecting public education, they must first win an election. Texas has very few restrictions on campaign finance, and people who choose to run for office are generally forced to spend huge amounts in order to operate successful campaigns. Pro-public education candidates often face well-financed opponents, and they rely on support from PACs like ours to help them cover campaign expenses for outreach to potential voters.
A PAC such as ATPE-PAC enables individuals with limited resources to combine their financial contributions with others’ in order to achieve greater impact. By investing in ATPE-PAC, educators can help ensure that their contributions will be used in a targeted, effective manner to support the officeholders/candidates who share ATPE’s philosophies and values. In turn, officeholders/candidates appreciate and rely on the financial assistance of ATPE-PAC and are more likely to give ATPE members access and the opportunity to share input with them.