Michigan Infrastructure Transportation Association > Legislative

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for all good men to standby and do nothing” – Sir Edmund Burke

This quote is as relevant now as it was when Burke coined it some 100 plus years ago. When it comes to the legislative arena your survival and ability to make a profit is tied directly to your aggressiveness in financing the campaigns of those who understand the difficulties associated with Michigan’s heavy/highway construction industry. Contrary to what you may think, through the collective power of MITA you can affect the legislative process.

The primary focus of MITA’s legislative agenda will be long-term, adequate and stable funding for Michigan’s supporting infrastructure. It is essential that we convince our elected officials that public works are an investment in our future, improves the quality of life and provide real and meaningful job programs and tax stream. The “no new tax” platform and attitude of many politicians must be changed and this change will require a calculated not emotional approach to this issue. Before we get to this mode, we must have the ear of those who control state government. It is your PAC dollars, and yours alone, that will allow MITA to open the necessary doors in Lansing in our mission to convince lawmakers as to the importance of funding infrastructure improvements. We need your commitment and investment in MITA-PAC today! Those of you who are content with “letting the other guy carry your weight” are only cheating yourself and shortchanging our industry.

Send your personal check or money order now to MITA-PAC and remember that democracy is not a spectator sport.

Darrell Kaltz - Kaltz Excavating Co., Inc. - 2013 MITA President
Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President

What is MITA PAC?

The MITA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE is the legislative voice of Michigan's heavy construction industry. MITA PAC is the most effective tool our industry has to support candidates who will fight for contractors in the Michigan legislature. Your financial support of the MITA PAC gives all of us who care about the future of heavy construction and free enterprise a strong influence in the political process.

Why do we need a PAC and why should I support it?

The underground and transportation construction industry survives on public funding. Without your support, our level of influence to promote adequate public funding is diminished. We must also fight negative public policy. Our industry is constantly under attack in the Michigan legislature. Not a day goes by that some legislators in the Michigan House and Senate aren't proposing legislation that would boost our workers compensation costs, negatively impact our labor force, raise taxes on personal property, increase business liability…the list goes on and on. Our ability to provide jobs and protect our bottom line is profoundly affected by the legislative and regulatory process.

If we do not prevail in the legislative and regulatory process, we will cease to exist in our business as we know it…we will not be able to provide jobs…we may not be in business!

We have full-time lobbyists fighting for us in Lansing and communities around Michigan. We have spent a great deal of time educating the men and women who decide our fate in Lansing. However, term limits have made this task hard and there are still some lawmakers who may not have a grasp of our issues or the impact that their decisions have on our industry....and you. But, the law allows us to band together under MITA PAC. Instead of lobbying elected officials who don't care about our ability to provide jobs, our PAC allows us the opportunity to find and fund candidates who believe in us and our employees. In the past, the MITA PAC was one of the largest buiness PACs in Michigan. Unfortunately, in recent years our numbers have declined. Only 20% of our members provide 100% of the funds raised to support candidates who will fight for us….all of us. If the 80% of our members who don't participate gave just $200, we would be an even more potent force for the heavy construction industry.

Do Candidates Really Need Our Help?

Absolutely! Each State House district has approximately 87,000 people in it. Each State Senate district has approximately 250,000, and Michigan has over 9 million people. Just as we need to advertise our services, every candidate for office must be able to communicate with tens of thousands of voters. This takes money. Lots of it. Money for brochures, TV ads, radio ads, billboards, and other devices. Our PAC can help the candidates we support get their message out… and get elected . These are the elected officials who will listen to us and champion our issues.

What Can I Do?

MITA PAC needs your financial support. We are asking every member to step up and contribute. Don't let others carry your load.

“Those who choose not to be involved in democracy are doomed to be controlled by those who do.” – Abraham Lincoln

MITA PAC Contribution Form