Political Action Committees (PAC's)

The Kansas Electric Cooperatives support two Political Action Committees -- ACRE and KCRE.

ACRE is the Federal Committee for Rural Electrification

and KCRE is the Kansas Committee for Rural Electrification.

What Is A Political Action Committee?

A political action committee, or PAC, is an organization of people with common goals

who collect money to contribute to candidates for political office.

ACRE & KCRE Need You!

        The rural electrification program in Kansas is very important. We have all benefited and continue to benefit whether we are a consumer-member of an REC or work for one.

        Rural electrification was born in politics and continues to be a part of the political process. We need to be concerned about what happens at the Statehouse in Topeka and the U. S. Capital in Washington, D.C.

        If you are one of the electric leaders in Kansas who make personal contributions to the Kansas Committee for Rural Electrification (KCRE) and the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE), you know the importance of your financial support.

        KCRE is administered through a state committee elected annually. It supports those candidates on the state level who support our programs and goals. ACRE is administered through NRECA and focuses upon helping our friends at the national level. Working through ACRE, NRECA's lobbying efforts are widely recognized and the grassroots lobbying efforts of the rural electrification family are legendary.

        We're entering a period which will be the most competitive, demanding era since the beginning of our program in the 1930s. The future will hold change for our program. Among our challenges include: the battle to keep electric rates from skyrocketing through improper transmission expansion and cost recovery; maintaining an affordable and accessible source of loan funds from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS); protection from regulatory excesses; protection of service territory; the threats posed by deregulation; and a myriad of other issues.

        A voluntary contribution in any amount really does help. Just as your membership and support for your local cooperative helps make a difference, your membership and support of ACRE and KCRE will do the same.

        To join ACRE/KCRE, contact:

Kirk Thompson at CMS Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Phone: 620-873-2184 or 800-794-2353

E-mail: kthompson@cmselectric.com

        ACRE/KCRE Committee:

• Chairman -- Doug Jackson, Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative

• Vice Chairman -- Harlow Haney, DS&O Rural Electric Cooperative Assn., Inc.

• Secretary-Treasurer -- Kirk Thompson, CMS Electric Cooperative, Inc.

• KEC President -- Max Lowrey, Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative Assn., Inc.

• Kansas NRECA Director -- Perry Rubart, Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc.

• KEC Legislative Committee Chairman -- Dale Coomes, Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

• KEC Executive Vice President/General Counsel -- Stuart Lowry

• KEC Staff Liaison -- Dave Holthaus