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Wisconsin Agents Ensure Big-I’s Efforts
Through InsurPac Donations
By Tom Helbach

As agents, we are the backbone of the Independent Agency system. The success of that system today and in the future is very much dependent upon our ability to be active in the political process and whether or not we can encourage our peers to do the same.

One of the ways we “get active” is through our donations to InsurPac, the Political Action Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA). InsurPac was established in 1975 to complement the legislative program of IIABA and has since become the largest property-casualty insurance industry PAC in the country. It is one of the reasons that the Big “I” is routinely rated among the most successful lobbying groups in Washington, DC.

InsurPac is funded by personal contributions from independent agents like you and me. Our money is bundled together to support “our friends” in Congress – the Senators and Congressmen who support the Independent Agency system.

And support them we did in 2005! Here in Wisconsin we did our part to be influential and supportive by surpassing our goals for 2005 and raising $17,400, a nearly 75% increase over what we raised in 2004, an election year!

Thanks in part to our efforts here, nationally InsurPac had raised roughly $730,000 through November 30 and was on pace to end the year having raised $750,000, an increase of $80,000 over last year’s record-setting year.

Since InsurPac is under the umbrella of IIABA, it does not spend anything on administrative costs; rather, all contributions to InsurPac are turned around and distributed to federal officials. As a result, of the money raised through 11 months in 2005, InsurPac has contributed roughly $710,000 to our federal lawmakers.

InsurPac has leveraged its support for lawmakers by hosting fundraisers, and bundling together other PAC money to make an even greater impression. Most of these events were held at the Big I’s office in Washington, DC, which is the closest private sector office building to Capitol Hill. In 2005 alone, InsurPac has thrown fundraisers for more than 50 members of Congress, totaling more than $1.95 million in donations to them.

InsurPac’s interaction with our representatives on Capitol Hill is crucial to the interests of independent agents. Because of the bond established through these events, elected officials regularly turn to IIABA’s lobbyists when they are seeking information about the independent agency system and insurance knowledge in general. Our Congressmen use that information to frame insurance issues on Capitol Hill and, in doing so, promote what is important to IIABA’s membership.

Since 2006 is an election year, it carries added importance. InsurPac will seek to build on the successes we witnessed in 2004 when the PAC had a 95% victory rate in the 220 races it supported financially.

During those elections, InsurPac threw its support behind more open seat candidates and embattled incumbents than most other PACs, who generally like to “play it safe.” Furthermore, since InsurPac is non-partisan, support was given to both Democrat and Republican candidates as long as they represented the pro-business philosophies of IIABA.

Not only was InsurPac’s financial support of these races critical, but also important was the grassroots effort demonstrated by independent agents and brokers like us. Many of us volunteered our time and the time of our staffs, attended fundraisers and campaign events, and, of course, cast our ballots.

As the owners and beneficiaries of InsurPac, we can be extremely proud of how our money was spent to support candidates who are supportive of our livelihood. The 2006 elections should prove to many of our colleagues that InsurPac is not just a worthy investment, but also a necessary investment.

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Tom Helbach is president of Mosinee Insurance Agency, Inc. in Mosinee, WI. He currently serves as secretary-treasurer of the Independent Insurance Brokers of Wisconsin and was named 2005 Agent of the Year by that organization. A Certified WorkComp Advisor, Helbach can be contacted at 715-693-2100 or tomh@mosineeins.com.
or 715-693-2100.

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