WASHINGTON, DC — The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) is hoping to boost the rubber industry’s participation in the upcoming presidential election.

RMA has added a link to the Business Industry Political Action Committee’s (BIPAC) Prosperity Project on its web site — www.rma.org. The Prosperity Project is an online tool dedicated to increasing public awareness on political issues and voting. Through its participation in the project, visitors to the RMA web site can register to vote, contact elected officials or find information on the 2004 presidential election, legislation and policies.

“Government laws and regulation have a direct effect on job growth and business expansion,” said Donald Shea, RMA president and CEO. “Our goal is to provide the tools by which eligible voters among RMA members and the whole tire and rubber manufacturing community can ensure their participation in the political process. A failure to participate is giving a free pass to policymakers.”

A poll conducted by BIPAC showed that the more employees hear from their companies about political subjects, the more inclined they are to participate in the election process. The poll also found that nearly 80 percent want to hear from their employer about political issues, while less than 20 percent do not trust their employer as a source for this information. The poll found that key groups, such as women, believe the employer is the most credible source of information, beating political parties by nearly 10 percent and unions by a two to one ratio.

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