History of the Mississippi Nurses' Association Political Action Committee

In the early 1980s, the Mississippi Nurses' Association (MNA) explored the formation of a political action committee that could secure funding to assist legislative candidates who were 'nurse-friendly' and could help with legislation to promote and guard the nursing profession. Under state law, a nonprofit corporation like MNA cannot contribute to a political campaign or a candidate. MNA leadership saw the need to become more politically involved and determined that an active PAC was the answer.

The Board voted to establish the PAC, adopted bylaws and immediately registered the name M-NAPA, Mississippi Nurses Active in Political Activity, with the Secretary of State, a requirement of state law.

Until the late 1990s, M-NAPA remained the name until a group of progressive leaders decided that the name needed to reflect more on the Mississippi Nurses Association. The group developed new bylaws, elected officers and changed the name to MNA-PAC.

Structure of MNA-PAC
The governing body of MNA-Pac shall be the Board of Trustees, composed of nine members of MNA. Four trustees shall be appointed by the MNA Board of Directors and five of the Trustees shall be appointed by the MNA-PAC Board of Trustees. One of the four appointed Trustees appointed by the MNA Board of Directors must be a sitting member of the board. The Executive Director of MNA shall be a member ex-officio of the Board of Trustees. One member of the Mississippi Association shall be a member ex-officio of the Board of Trustees and shall be appointed by the MASN Board and recommended to the MNA-PAC Board of Trustees. MNA-PAC By-Laws

Political Contributions
Prior to statewide elections, members of the Board of Trustees meet and prepare a questionnaire to be mailed to all legislative candidates. Because most laws affecting nursing come through the Mississippi Legislature, funding from the PAC is concentrated on those elections. Following a review of the questionnaire, and through interviews conducted by PAC Trustees, a decision is made whether to support a particular candidate. MNA members also suggest candidates with whom they are familiar or know personally. The PAC makes financial contributions, does mass mailings and makes telephone calls on behalf of the candidates. The PAC is non-partisan and contributes to Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

Contributions to MNA-PAC
All contributions to the PAC are voluntary and can be made by anyone. Any nurse or any non-nurse may contribute to the PAC. Anyone wishing to set up a monthly draft, either through a credit card account, or bank account, may now contact MNA at 601-898-0670 or make arrangements. It's a simple and easy process. Please note that by law, political contributions are not tax deductible.

Possibilities for the MNA-PAC
Nurses must compete with several large healthcare-related PACs in the state. However, with over 42,000 nurses, RNs and LPNs, the numbers alone can be beneficial to a candidate. MNA urges all nurses, members or non-members, to consider contributing to the PAC and to make it an annual affair. MNA is the ONLY professional nursing organization with a full-time lobbyist working with the Mississippi Legislature. Contributions to the PAC help the lobbyist and the Association form a better working relationship with key legislators.

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