InsurPac, the Big “I” political action committee (PAC), raised a total of $899,205.36 during the 2011 calendar year. A total of 3,965 agents came together to support InsurPac with contributions ranging from $5 to $5,000.
A total of 26 states achieved their InsurPac fundraising goal: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
Two states, South Carolina and North Dakota, achieved InsurPac Eagle status by raising more than $100 per member agency. North Dakota established a new record by raising an average of $179.17 per member agency. North Carolina raised the most total dollars ($63,344), as well as the most total dollars ($12,175) from their young agents.
This strong support will allow InsurPac to play a crucial role in the upcoming federal elections. As it did in the last campaign cycle, InsurPac anticipates disbursing close to $2 million and seeks to build on its 93% victory rate in contested campaigns.
InsurPac is credited with making the Big “I” one of the most well-respected business associations in Washington. In disbursing contributions, InsurPac does not look at party affiliation but supports representatives, senators and candidates for federal office who have been advocates and supportive of the independent agency system. Unlike some other producer PACs, the Big “I” and InsurPac distribute 100% of voluntary agent contributions to federal campaigns and, as a result, have an impressive bipartisan track record in Congress and on the campaign trail.
The Big “I” has stressed that while the Election Day victories and fundraising numbers are impressive, the relationships that are developed via InsurPac are even more important. Hundreds of fundraising events happen each week in Washington, D.C., for members of the U.S. Senate and House. Big “I” federal lobbyists attend countless fundraisers, carrying the independent agent banner and establishing relationships with legislators and their staff.
Just as agents value their clients and work with them to develop relationships, the Big “I” Capitol Hill team works to maintain relationships with elected officials. While these relationships obviously don’t guarantee votes, they do provide opportunities to meet with key decision makers at the appropriate time and to provide the independent agent perspective.