Dear Colleagues:
HPE needs your help.
2016 was a year of unprecedented change – for the nation, for HPE, and for your political action committee. We find ourselves in the midst of a perfect storm: a looming and significant decrease in the pool of eligible PAC donors (due to the separations of our businesses) combined with a massive increase in the number of public policy issues which threaten our company. In other words, there will be dramatically fewer HPE employees who can contribute to our PAC at a time when the PAC is more important to us than ever.
Let me be more specific. There are a number of troubling ideas coming out of our nation’s capital these days. But one in particular, the “border adjustable tax,” is extremely worrisome. A well-regarded industry analyst recently wrote that, if this tax is enacted, it could profoundly degrade the financial performance of our company. Such a development could threaten HPE’s ability to sustain existing jobs in the US and around the world. We need your help to educate Washington policy makers about reforms that make sense and create an environment for companies like HPE to thrive and produce jobs.
How can you help? In two ways:
First, we need you to make a contribution to HPE PAC at whatever level makes sense for you. I’m giving the maximum amount allowed ($5,000) and many of our most senior leaders are doing the same.100% of our eligible board members and every member of the executive council are supporting the PAC by writing a check or permitting regular payroll deductions.
Make no mistake about it, the ability to contribute to the political campaigns of elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, that support our positions must be a critical part of our ongoing advocacy efforts. This is the reality of our system of government. Without your financial commitment, HPE will struggle to be heard in Washington.
To make a contribution, visit www.HPEPAC.com or contact our Senior PAC Manager, Kelly Eaton, at kelly.eaton@hpe.com. Kelly can arrange for your contribution to be made by regular payroll deduction or a one-time online process.
The second way you can help is with your voice. While HPE management will be meeting with elected officials to express the company’s point of view on critical issues, there is no substitute for the passion of constituents speaking directly to their elected representatives. In the coming months, we are going to ask you to reach out to you your Congressman and Senators about the issues that matter to HPE.
I hope you will agree to contribute to our PAC and that we can count on you to help us take a stand on important issues. In the months to come, the future of HPE may well depend on how well our voices are heard in Washington.
Best,
Meg