Why PADPAC Matters
By: John Basial, Esq., Government Relations Coordinator
Welcome to the PADPAC feature in the
Pennsylvania Dental Journal. I’d like to take this
opportunity to introduce myself. I’m John
Basial, the newest member of PDA’s
government relations team. I spent 13 years
as a Senate staffer. I worked for two Majority
Leaders and two non-leadership members.
I have many friends on both sides of the aisle
and both sides of the building. I will utilize
my experience and contacts to help you
individually and the PDA team achieve your
legislative and regulatory goals. Please don’t
hesitate to contact me or the government
relations team if you want to know how the
process works, what makes for effective
lobbying or how to best utilize your expertise
to be a resource for the members of the
General Assembly. We are here to help you
personally and the dental profession be in the
best possible position to achieve dentistry’s
legislative and regulatory goals.
As we head into fall, people’s
thoughts turn to certain upcoming
events: children returning to
school, the start of football season,
pools closing, baseball playoffs
and the General Assembly
returning to Harrisburg. contribution is magnified,
playing a pivotal role in elected
state government and ensuring
the practice of dentistry is
represented by legislators who
will fight for the profession and
for high quality dental care.
It is an unwritten rule of politics
that you are at the table or on
the menu. Your contributions
enable PDA to be legislative issue
leaders rather than an appetizer.
The insurance lobby knows this
and wants an uneven playing
field, tipped in their favor. Their
political action committee (PAC)
is always well funded. Dentists
are invariably rated among the
most ethical professionals. We
need to showcase that hard
earned respect to tell your side
of the story. Why are your issues
important to the people of
Pennsylvania and the General
Assembly? PDA and PADPAC can
help you tell your story and pass
the laws we need to make dentistry
more rewarding and less onerous. PADPAC is a voluntary, non-profit
group run by and for dentists.
As a bipartisan PAC, PADPAC
is made up of dentists, their
spouses and people from all
over Pennsylvania dedicated
to supporting legislators who
value the profession of dentistry.
PADPAC, operating under strict
state and federal laws and
regulations, is always watching
the voting record of every
member of the House and
Senate. Working with the
American Dental Political Action
Committee (ADPAC), PADPAC
promotes the highest quality
dental health of Pennsylvania
and our nation, while shaping
the future of dentistry.
A PAC is an entity that combines
contributions from members and
donates the funds to candidates
who share their interests and
help advance their legislative
agenda. By joining the
Pennsylvania Dental Association
Political Action Committee
(PADPAC), your personal financial
Candidates from all parties can
obtain the support of our PAC
based on their voting record
and position on oral health
issues. The PADPAC board,
in consultation with PDA’s
lobbyists and staff,
determines which
candidates receive
PADPAC contributions.
(Continues on pg. 32)
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NOV E M B E R/DE CE M BER 2017 | P EN N S YLVA N IA D EN TA L J O UR NAL