W-TON exists in order to protect and ensure that the Wisconsin trucking industry can make an impact on political campaigns and who takes office in our state. Our team is constantly working with elected officials and regulators to promote and protect our industry’s interest on the state and national level.
We simply cannot have the political voice that we need without an effective vehicle to financially assist those politicians who share the views of the trucking industry.
PAC and CONDUIT Q&A
Q. What is the Truckers for Wisconsin Fund?
The Fund is the WMCA’s conduit fund. The conduit supports state-wide and local candidates in Wisconsin.
Q. What is a Conduit?
A Conduit is a political account sponsored by an association that can contribute to candidates for public office. When a member contributes to the conduit, the money is put into that individual’s account and cannot be contributed without authorization from that person. When the candidate receives a conduit contribution, the name of the person making the contribution is listed along with the specific dollar amount.
Q. What is a Political Action Committee?
A Political Action Committee (Political Support Program) is a group of people with common interests who pool their financial resources to help elect candidates for public office. Contributions from the PAC are contributed based on recommendations from the PAC Committee and the contributors remain anonymous. The WMCA’s PAC is called the Wisconsin Truck Operators Non-Partisan Committee (W-TON).
Q. What are the legal requirements to making a political contribution?
All contributions must be personal. No corporate money may be used to finance a campaign in Wisconsin. Also, the maximum contribution by an individual may not exceed $10,000 in a calendar year to any combination of candidates in Wisconsin.
Q. Why make contributions to candidates?
Candidates need to fundraise in order to finance campaigns. TV commercials, mailers, polling and signage all costs money. In order to make sure small business supporters are successful in their election bids, it is imperative that we help out financially.
Q. Who decides which candidates receive contributions?
The WMCA President – with the advice and consent of the Board – decides which candidates receive PAC money. However, with a conduit contribution, the contributor decides which candidate their money will go to.
Q. Are my contributions tax deductible?
No.
Q. Is my contribution confidential?
If you contribute more than $100 annually, the WMCA must provide the State Elections Board with your name, home address, occupation and amount of contribution.