However, there are other ways to get involved that do not require a financial contribution. You can volunteer to speak about ADAPAC, set up or staff an ADAPAC booth at your state or local dietetic association meeting. You can volunteer to attend a fundraiser, sponsored by ADAPAC, for your congressman or senators in your home town. 

Myth #2: ADAPAC funds primarily go to pay a “lobbyist” in Washington, D.C.
Fact: ADAPAC funds do not pay any wages, and ADA does not employ outside lobbyists. The only ADA “lobbyists” are the government relations staff in Washington, D.C. 

ADAPAC funds are for one purpose: to make contributions to candidates for federal office who support ADA’s mission, vision and public policy priorities. However, it costs money to raise money; therefore, ADAPAC funds not contributed to congressional campaigns cover the costs of recruiting ADA members to participate as well as other costs such as supplies, software and special awards.

Myth #3: ADAPAC gives only to liberal/conservative members of Congress
Fact: The ADAPAC Board of Directors does not take into account a member’s party affiliation, ideological stance or extent to which he or she leans “left” or “right.” Criteria used to determine who receives ADAPAC funds include the following:

• The candidate's past or present support for ADA's public policy agenda
• The perceived need for the candidate's support in the future
• The candidate's leadership position or committee assignment
• The nature of the event associated with the contribution, if applicable.

Myth #4: ADAPAC was, and still is, only focused on one issue—Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy.
Fact: ADAPAC is not a single-issue political action committee. ADAPAC has represented you, the members of the American Dietetic Association since 1981. It exists to advance the public policy priorities of ADA. Currently, the top six priority areas are:

• Obesity
• Child nutrition
• Medicare and medical nutrition therapy
• Aging
• Nutrition monitoring
• Nutrition research.

However, this list is not exclusive, and as these issues change over time, so will the issues promoted by ADAPAC.

Myth #5: Part of my annual ADA membership dues goes to ADAPAC automatically.
Fact: Your annual membership dues to ADA do not go to ADAPAC. Under federal campaign finance law, dues cannot be used for political action purposes. However, you may contribute to ADAPAC when renewing your membership each year. You need only to enter the amount you’d like to contribute to the ADAPAC in the appropriate box on the dues renewal form.

Myth #6: ADA does not need a political action committee to be successful in political venues.
Fact: Nutrition is too often outgunned when it comes to political action. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, agribusiness contributed over $36 million in the 2002 election cycle to federal candidates. The largest contributing sector was crop producers and processors, but food processors, livestock, dairy, poultry and eggs held their own. 

The nutritional and dietary supplement industry contributed $2.4 million in the 2002 election cycle. The Metabolife company spent the largest amount at just over $853,000. In addition, dealers of medical products and nutritional and dietary supplements are a growing presence – in the pharmaceutical and health products category 63 PACs contributed $6.8 million to federal candidates in 2001 and 2002.

In the food and beverage industry, the Center for Responsive Politics shows 34 PACs contributing about $3.3 million to federal candidates seeking office in the 2002 cycle.

This does not even tap into the other health-care professional PACs associated with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and others who contributed as much, if not more than ADAPAC in a given election cycle.

The myth is correct in that nutrition advocates generally don't show up on political action lists. ADA with its PAC is an anomaly within the nutrition community. Having a PAC is essential to having our voices heard and our issues kept in front of the policy makers.

Myth #7: Recent campaign finance reform legislation was passed to crack down on political contributions from PACs.  ADAPAC gives lawmakers free gifts and expensive meals
Fact: PACs are considered “hard money,” that is, the most highly acceptable and regulated form of political donations in the United States. Campaign finance reform was aimed rather at “soft money,” or personal donations and money to political parties.

Campaign finance analysts have predicted the new laws may actually increase the power of PACs, since the political parties will not be allowed to donate as much money to campaigns.

Myth #8: ADAPAC buys votes by giving money to legislators
Fact: In politics, there is no such thing as “quid pro quo.” (Latin for “this for that.”)  No political contribution guarantees a vote or even support for an ADA issue. Supporting candidates helps foster relationships with the member of Congress and his or her staff, which in turn creates an increased awareness on their part of ADA’s issues and priorities. This increased awareness often leads to support of a particular issue. It is especially powerful when ADA members who are constituents help raise that awareness level.

Again, there is no quid pro quo – there are no guarantees, however we can guarantee that if we do not reach out to members of Congress, ADA’s policy priorities do not stand as high a chance of being advanced. We support pro-nutrition candidates of any political affiliation and encourage them to bring their own nutrition priorities to political discussion.

Myth #9: My state or local dietetic association can contribute directly to ADAPAC
Fact: Your local or state dietetic association is most likely an incorporated entity, which means it cannot contribute directly to ADAPAC. Your state PAC, however, can make a contribution to ADAPAC and likewise, ADAPAC can work with your state PAC to assist with donations to federal candidates. ADAPAC does not intend to compete with your state PAC, as they should serve distinct purposes.

Myth #10: ADAPAC takes money from corporations I don’t approve of
Fact: Under federal law, ADAPAC is not allowed to take contributions from incorporated entities. This means it can not accept money from any company, large or small, public or private. ADAPAC may only accept contributions from individual ADA members via cash, personal check or personal credit card.