GSCPA-PAC: Working for You

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM

The personal and professional relationships that CPAs, accounting professionals and accounting students develop with their legislators provide an essential foundation for the advocacy efforts of The Georgia Society. Legislators’ gain their expertise in regards to the issues that face CPAs and their clients in two important ways:

1. listening to their constituents, neighbors, friends and local CPAs; and

2. their experiences with their very own CPAs and accounting professionals.

By utilizing these two vehicles, CPAs need to make sure that key legislators understand the vital role that today’s CPA plays in protecting the citizens of Georgia and Georgia’s business community.

The Georgia Society’s commitment to legislative involvement is critical to the future of your profession. CPAs working with their legislators and keeping them aware of key issues remain a significant cornerstone of this involvement. As GSCPA works to educate Georgia’s representatives and senators, GSCPA members can build on the understanding of the important topics and concerns facing the CPA profession today.

WHAT IS GSCPA-PAC?

Political Focus on the CPA Profession Georgia is home to over 21,000 licensed CPAs. CPAs are charged with protecting and promoting the public interest, most notably concerning financial reporting, tax and audit. These services have a tremendous impact on Georgia’s commerce, economic health and citizens in terms of Georgia’s GDP and a state’s tax collections. Additionally, the attest services provided by CPAs are an integral part of creating public trust in the financial system. Therefore the collective voice of CPAs throughout the state is vital to lawmakers who work with and make decisions around these issues daily.

To make sure the voice of the CPA profession is not only heard but included in these decisions, The Georgia Society of CPAs established a political action committee (PAC) called The GSCPA-PAC.

ABOUT THE GSCPA-PAC

The GSCPA-PAC is a voluntary political action committee that allows GSCPA members to unite their financial resources to support elected officials who understand and appreciate the value of the CPA profession and its importance to the business environment and the public when drafting and passing legislation and regulation. The GSCPA-PAC is a legal, ethical and effective way to involve The Georgia Society in the political process.

The GSCPA-PAC plays an essential role in enhancing GSCPA’s ability to remain visible and actively interact with key legislators.

SUPPORTING THE BEST CANDIDATES

The GSCPA-PAC is non-partisan, using its funds carefully and wisely to provide support to legislators and candidates who are supportive of the CPA profession. Its goal is to back lawmakers who will best represent the values of Georgia’s CPAs and the thousands of clients and businesses they serve. Among the criteria considered by The GSCPA-PAC in making donations:

  • The candidate’s leadership position or membership on key legislative committees
  • The candidate’s support of positions that encourage the value of the CPA profession and its importance to the business environment
  • The candidate’s potential for leadership
  • The candidate’s financial need and the likelihood of being elected
  • The presence of GSCPA members in the candidate’s district or state

WHY SHOULD YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE GSCPA-PAC?

Contributing to the GSCPA-PAC is one of the easiest and most effective ways for CPAs to get involved in the political process and have an impact on the CPA profession. With contributions from GSCPA members, The GSCPA-PAC can work effectively to continue to protect and promote the CPA profession both locally and nationally as well. Lawmakers and elected officials can only represent the interests of your profession if you let them know what is important.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE CPA PROFESSION

Investing in The GSCPA-PAC means helping to protect and promote the reputation of CPAs as respected advisors with whom policymakers can collaborate to better the profession and strengthen business in the state of Georgia.