ADVOCATING FOR THE INDUSTRY
With the goal to increase AGC of California’s presence in the political arena, the AGC of California PAC aims to raise $1 million in political funds during the 2023-24 legislative cycle to support leaders and ballot measures that promote infrastructure and the construction industry.
On the Road to $1 Million for the AGC of California PAC
BY FELIPE FUENTES
of politics.” For better or worse, political giving feeds campaigns by which our ser- vant leaders are elected to political office. Additionally, ballot measures have become the preferred mechanism by which to pass politically difficult policy measures – both of which necessitate those interested in the outcome of these elections to participate financially and politically. So, it remains that money is indeed the sustenance that serves politics and policy in our democracy. AGC of California’s Political Action Committee has consistently been the top in industry association political giv- ing, with an average of over $300,000 a year during the past 10 years. Primarily composed of contractor member con- tributions, the PAC has been effective in creating and sustaining political relation- ships with state officeholders. However, the campaign game changed
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with the passage of Proposition 28 in 2012. Tis measure changed legislative term limits to allow those elected after June 5, 2012 to serve a maximum of 12 years in either the Assembly or Senate. As
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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
esse Unruh, speaker of the California Assembly from 1961-1968, coined the phrase, “Money is the mother’s milk
a result, the cohort of legislators elected in November of 2012 are on the verge of terming out of office, and those replac- ing them may be eligible to serve in the legislature until 2036! With the unexpected exodus of legisla- tors in 2022, a full third of the legislature will be new by the conclusion of the 2024 election cycle.
Increasing Our Presence in Political Arena Terefore, the AGC of California Board of Directors and PAC committee have set out to increase AGC of California’s presence in the political arena. Te goal has been set to raise $1 million in political funds during the 2023-24 legislative cycle to support leaders and ballot measures that promote infrastructure and the con- struction industry. To date, the AGC of California PAC
increased fundraising efforts have raised over $500,000 dollars this year and is expected to be on track to reach the $1 million goal by the end of the 2024 election cycle. Tat is a 66% increase in available PAC funds! Tese funds will continue to support and sustain legislative candidates with
campaign contributions. Tese funds will also allow AGC of California to participate in political committees – be it a ballot measure or independent ex- penditure – to better shape the outcome of elections. Working with the business and em-
ployer community, AGC of California’s PAC will have a seat at the table where campaigns can make a difference in prioritizing leaders and initiatives that favor good public policy over politics.
Ballot Measures to Watch In addition to a slew of new legislators, the 2024 election promises to offer voters many state and local ballot measures to decide upon. While it is not clear the entirety of all citizen-led initiatives that may qualify, there are a couple ballot measures that have been placed on the 2024 November ballot by the Legislature. The simplest of these would lower the vote threshold from 66.67% to 55% to pass local special taxes to fund hous- ing projects and public infrastructure. If passed, self-help local tax measures would be much easier to pass in areas where campaigns have gotten close but missed clearing the two-thirds threshold.
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