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December 2000
Volume 64 |
Number 12
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| ASAPAC
2000 – An Unprecedented Year |
Manuel E. Bonilla
Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs (Federal)
With a major patient safety issue in the balance, the ASA Political
Action Committee (ASAPAC) enjoyed its most successful year in
history. Thanks to a strong response from members, ASAPAC received
contributions totaling over $1.1 million from 5,604 ASA members
for FY 2000. This brings ASAPAC's participation in the 1999-00
election cycle to a record $1.6 million.
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The 1999-00 election cycle was an unprecedented
period for ASAPAC. Thanks to the involvement of 5,604, the
voice of our profession was louder and stronger than ever.
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Leading the states with top honors for total contributions in
2000 was Texas with a stunning $78,231 an increase in excess of
$50,000 over the 1999 contribution level. Much of Texas's success
can be attributed to its aggressive fundraising for ASAPAC at
its annual meeting and membership support of the Texas Society
of Anesthesiologists leadership for political involvement. California
followed Texas with contributions of $68,840 an increase of some
$35,000 over 1999 giving. ASAPAC stalwarts Illinois and North
Carolina followed in third and fourth positions at $64,280 and
$58,120, respectively. Florida secured the fifth position with
contributions of $53,007.
Alabama takes the sixth position having raised $49,230. This
is a remarkable achievement by the members of the Alabama Society
of Anesthesiologists considering that its membership is approximately
one-quarter the size of the other states in the top contribution
positions. With a contribution level that represents an increase
of more than 600 percent over its total 1999 contributions and
a participation level that represents an increase of more than
300 percent over the previous year, Alabama came very close to
the number-five position. Additionally, Alabama anesthesiologists
contributed an average of $335 to ASAPAC the second highest average
among components. This represents an outstanding effort by the
leadership and members of the Alabama Society of Anesthesiologists.
Members of the 2001 ASAPAC
Executive Board
Rodney C. Osborn, M.D., Chair
Peoria, Illinois
Bruce R. Brookens, M.D., Secretary-Treasurer
Englewood, Colorado
Scott B. Groudine, M.D.
Latham, New York
William D. Hetrick, M.D. Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
Danial O. Laird, M.D.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Norman Levin, M.D.
Los Angeles, California
Randall P. Maydew, M.D. Albuquerque,
New Mexico
Charles H. Nicholson, M.D. Raleigh,
North Carolina
John M. Zerwas, M.D.
Houston, Texas
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A
complete list of ASAPAC contribution recipients is
available from the ASA Washington Office or at the
FECInfo Website www.tray.com/
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With regard to participation percentages, the Maine Society of
Anesthesiologists receives top honors with a remarkable 62 percent
of its members contributing to ASAPAC. As a result of an aggressive
push by the leadership of the Maine society and politically active
Maine anesthesiologists, the Maine component increased its participation
by 214 percent over the 1999 level. Last year's top state, South
Dakota, finishes with second-place honors this year with a participation
level of 59 percent. Regrettably, South Dakota was the only state
in the union that actually experienced a reduction in member ASAPAC
participation. Fortunately, South Dakota members and leadership
made up for the lower membership participation by increasing its
average contribution to $330 the third highest average contribution
among components.
Third-place honors go to the aggressive Alabama component with
a participation rate of 47 percent, as noted before with an increase
of more than 300 percent over the state's 1999 participation level.
Closely trailing Alabama in the fourth position is an energized
South Carolina component with a 45-percent participation rate
an increase of over 350 percent over its 1999 participation level.
Both Alabama and South Carolina are newcomers to such high participation
levels and should serve as models for other states seeking to
move into the 30- and 40-percent participation levels.
Both the Iowa Society and the Idaho Society tied for fifth position.
Both components secured the support of 42 percent of its members
for ASAPAC. While Iowa has been a stalwart component by consistently
securing double-digit participation for ASAPAC, Idaho is a newcomer
to double-digit participation, increasing its 1999 percentage
level of 9 percent by an extraordinary 346 percent.
It is worth noting that virtually every state component increased
its contribution levels by at least a double-digit percentage
and many by triple-digit percentages. In addition, virtually every
state increased its participation by at least 30 percent with
a majority of states doubling its members' participation in ASAPAC.
Such support was critical in assuring ASAPAC the resources necessary
to fully participate in the 1999-00 election cycle. With regard
to the use of these resources, ASAPAC has to date made contributions
to candidates and party committees in excess of $1.4 million.
This level of participation places ASAPAC as the 57th largest
PAC in the United States and the third largest health care PAC
behind the American Medical Association and the American Hospital
Association.
As a bipartisan PAC, ASAPAC contributes significantly to both
Republican and Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives
and the U.S. Senate.* ASAPAC funds also go to Republican and Democratic
Party committees. For the 1999-00 election cycle, ASAPAC disbursed
approximately $850,000 to Republican candidates and committees
and $625,000 to Democratic candidates and committees.
With regard to the candidate contributions, the ASAPAC Executive
Board and staff approve contributions for members of Congress,
U.S. Senators and candidates who are supportive of the physician
community in general and the anesthesiology community in particular.
Included for consideration are positions on issues such as patient
safety, antitrust reform and Medicare payment reform and managed
care reform. Contributions are also made to those legislators
who maintain strong working relationships with their local physicians
and anesthesiology community.
During the 1999-00 election cycle, ASAPAC made contributions
to more than 100 Democratic candidates. Key incumbents receiving
PAC support included: Senator Edward M. Kennedy (MA), Senior Democrat
on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee;
Rep. David E. Bonior (MI), House Democratic Whip; Rep. Charles
B. Rangel (NY), Senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee;
Rep. Fortney Pete Stark (CA), Senior Democrat on the House Ways
and Means Health Subcommittee and author of anesthesia patient
safety legislation; Rep. John D. Dingell (MI), Senior Democrat
on the House Commerce Committee; and Rep. Gene Green (TX), co-author
of the Weldon-Green Safe Seniors Assurance Study Act.
ASAPAC also supported a number of prominent Democratic nonincumbents
for the House and Senate including: Paul Perry, M.D. (IN), a physician
challenging a House Republican incumbent; Terry Van Horne (PA),
a pro-physician state legislator running to fill an open House
seat; Jody Wagner (VA), the wife of a physician running to fill
an open House seat; Dan Flaherty (WI), son and brother of physicians
who challenged a House Republican incumbent; and Brian Schweitzer
(MO), brother of an anesthesiologist running against an incumbent
Republican Senator.
On the Republican side, ASAPAC supported more than 130 Republican
candidates. Key incumbents receiving ASAPAC support included:
Rep. David Weldon, M.D. (FL), author of the House version of the
Safe Seniors Assurance Study Act; Senator Mike DeWine (OH), author
of the Senate version of the Safe Seniors Assurance Study Act;
Senator John Ashcroft (MO) and Senator Spencer Abraham (MI), cosponsors
of the Safe Seniors Assurance Study Act; Rep. Ernest Lee Fletcher,
M.D. (KY); Rep. Charles Norwood, D.D.S. (GA), author of the Norwood-Dingell
managed care reform plan; and Rep. Pete Sessions (TX), a member
of the powerful House Rules Committee. ASAPAC also supported a
number of Republican non-incumbents for the House and Senate including:
Mark Kirk (IL), Rep. John Edward Porter's Chief of Staff, running
to fill the open seat left by the retirement of Rep. Porter; Todd
Akin (MO), a pro-physician state legislator running to fill an
open House seat; Dan MacDonald (WA), a pro-physician state legislator
challenging a pro-nurse anesthetist Democratic incumbent; and
John Ensign (NV), a pro-physician former Member of Congress running
to fill an open Senate seat.
As is true each year, many of ASAPAC contributions were made
as part of in-district fundraisers hosted or attended by ASAPAC
members. In Missouri, ASAPAC members participated in a successful
fundraiser for Steve Danner (MO), a pro-physician state legislator
and brother of an ASA member. Nebraska anesthesiologists hosted
a very successful fundraiser for Republican Rep. Greg Ganske,
M.D. (IA), a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Commerce
Committee. Weeks later, Iowa anesthesiologists hosted an equally
successful event for Dr. Gankse. With bipartisan fervor, North
Carolina anesthesiologists hosted successful events during the
spring and summer of 2000 for both Republican Rep. Sue Myrick
(NC), a member of the House Rules Committee and Democratic Rep.
Mel Watt (NC), a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
In addition, New Jersey anesthesiologists hosted a tremendously
successful fundraiser for Democratic Rep. Rush Holt (NJ), a strong
pro-physician/pro-patient safety legislator. Other major events
hosted locally by anesthesiologists included: a joint ASAPAC/California
Society of Anesthesiologists event in San Diego for Republican
Rep. William M. Thomas, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health
Subcommittee, and a historic, first-of-its-kind joint ASAPAC/Illinois
Society of Anesthesiologists event for Rep. David Weldon (R-FL)
at the ASA Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology. Both events
were extremely successful and allowed local anesthesiologists
to visit with two of Congress's health care policy giants.
The 1999-00 election cycle was an unprecedented period for ASAPAC.
Historic levels of political involvement allowed anesthesiologists
to be heard on Capitol Hill and in congressional districts throughout
the United States. Thanks to the involvement of 5,604, the voice
of our profession was louder and stronger than ever. As this article
goes to press, the final legislative disposition of many issues
of importance to anesthesiologists has yet to occur.
However, we remain cautiously optimistic that the results of
our political involvement will be policies that are in the best
interest of anesthesiologists and the patients we serve. We must
continue to participate. The 2001 ASAPAC fiscal year will be of
no less importance to our membership. There is no off year in
the efforts of mid-level practitioners to obtain changes in their
scope of practice through legislative efforts.
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Manuel
E. Bonilla is Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs (Federal).
He joined the ASA Washington Office in August 1997 as Federal
Affairs Coordinator. |
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