Presidents Message: Building Our Legislative Front

I hope everyone's summer is going great.  Mine has seemed to fly by.  My son's wedding  consumed a great deal of our time, but now it's over and I can seem to relax and enjoy what is left.  I wanted to take a few moments to talk to everyone about our UPhA PAC fund.  What exactly is a PAC anyway?  It is a Political Action Committee fund that is used to increase our access and exposure on the legislative front.  As an association this year, we contributed to Senator Evan Vickers re-election efforts in which Evan narrowly escapes the convention and faced his opponent in a primary election in which he won and now is running un-opposed in the general election in November.  This was a hard fought battle on Evan's part and we wish him congratulations.  Evan is not only a good representative to the citizens in his district, but he is also valuable to pharmacy issues.  For those of you that may not know, Evan is a pharmacist and has played a huge role in resolving pharmacy issues, namely the physician's dispensing bill which is now law.  Without Evan's input, and expertise on such issues, our battles would be more difficult.  Evan is a respected and valuable member of the Utah Senate. 

While it is important to have Evan, we simply cannot go to him to fight our battles.  We have made connections and friends in the legislature.  This is where our PAC funding comes in.  It provides assess and allows us to fight the important battles.  Careful consideration is given when we need to access funds and Wayne Jones and been instrumental in guiding us thorough the "jungle" as he is very familiar with the process.  Through his efforts, he has provided us with introductions and "in-roads".  We now have legislators willing to listen to us now. 

It has often been said that interim committee meetings are the "rehearsal" and the legislative session is the "play or performance".  Much of our work is done out of session.  What I'm challenging all members of UPhA is to donate the wages of 1 hour of your salary.  It we all do this, we would have a PAC-Fund that we never have had before.  It will allow us to continue to fight the good fight.  "Many hands make a light load" and this is equally true in this case.  Together we all can make a difference!