Robert S Labrant

Pac Man: a Memoir: a Personal Political History of the Campaign Finance, Redistricting, Ballot Question, Recall and Judicial El Robert S Labrant

Publisher Marketing: Bob LaBrant's 40 year career in business political affairs has paralleled the era of the political action committee (PAC). LaBrant was a pioneer in organizing business politically by building a political infrastructure of PACs within corporations, associations and chambers of commerce. Much of his career was at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce where he served as Senior Vice President, Political Affairs and General Counsel for nearly 35 years. He tells the story how the Michigan Chamber using this new PAC tool made itself a power at the state capitol through aggressive lobbying and political action. The Michigan Chamber relentlessly pursued campaign finance litigation, administrative action and legislation. One of its cases Austin v Michigan Chamber of Commerce reached the U. S. Supreme Court twice in 1989-1990 and again in 2009-2010. Austin laid the foundation for the high court's 2010 Citizens United decision and the creation of today's Super PACs. In addition to political action, the Michigan Chamber created a role for itself in the redistricting of legislative districts. The Michigan Chamber by the early 2000's became a leader in state supreme court elections and issue advocacy advertising. The Michigan Chamber during this period was an active participant in ballot question campaigns in Michigan. The memoir highlights how the Michigan Chamber kept several proposals off the ballot by legal and administrative challenges. Legislative recall elections in 1983 changed partisan control of the Michigan senate. That Republican majority is still in place 30 years later. Legislation was enacted over this period to ban political bingo, ban PAC payroll deduction administered by public bodies and ban the use of union dues for political contributions. Michigan once perceived as a bastion of organized labor is now a right-to-work state. LaBrant incorporates into this memoir his personal story. He sketches portraits of family, close friends and political figures he has encountered over the years.