NASHVILLE – Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Bo Watson has become the latest state legislator to set up his own political action committee, naming the new entity BowPAC and declaring it will help provide the “fuel of funding” for future Republican political successes in Tennessee.
About 30 of Tennessee’s 132 legislators – most of them Republicans – now have their own PACs, kept separate from their re-election campaign accounts, in accord with a trend that has slowly grown since Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey set up RAAMPAC in 2003.
The Legislature’s senior member, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, finally joined the PAC trend late last year by creating McPAC. In an April disclosure, McPAC reported a cash-on-hand balance of $36,356 after initial fundraising efforts – most of the money coming in contributions from 26 special interest PACs.
Watson chipped in $500 to McPAC through a personal check, Registry of Election Finance records show. He gave $1,000 to RAAMPAC last year. Now that he has set up BowPAC, of course, he can have the PAC make such donations instead of himself. The PAC name, by the way, ties into both Foy “Bo” Watson’s nickname and the Hixson lawmaker’s penchant for wearing bow neckties.
“As an elected body, the Tennessee Senate has proved its leadership in effective policy for our state that has honored the trust of Tennesseans,” Watson said in announcing the PAC’s formation Friday. “Elections require the fuel of funding and BowPAC will be part of our successes ahead. Electing leaders who remain focused and committed to our overall goal of effectively serving Tennesseans through a limited, accountable government framework is our task at hand.”