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December 2001
Volume 65 |
Number 12
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| Member Generosity
Places ASAPAC on Political Map |
Manuel E. Bonilla
Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs (Federal)
The ASA Political Action Committee (ASAPAC) recently completed
its second most successful year in history. With receipts from
ASA members totaling $947,862 and disbursements to candidates
and political committees totaling $563,994, ASAPAC currently ranks
among the 50 largest federal political action committees (PACs)
in the country. Among medical specialty PACs, recent Federal Election
Commission data reveal that ASAPAC is the largest in both receipts
and disbursements.
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State Components
The credit for the fundraising success of ASAPAC lies with
the thousands of ASA members who have directly supported
ASAPAC as well as the state component societies and their
leadership who have encouraged support for the ASAPAC. Though
all components played a significant role in helping to build
ASAPAC this past year, some component memberships were particularly
supportive in assuring a successful year for ASAPAC. In
particular, special acknowledgement is due for the top performing
components from South Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Kansas.
These components had 2001 ASAPAC support participation rates
in excess of 30 percent of their component membership. For
the third year, the South Dakota Society repeats as the
top performing state with 43 percent of its members supporting
ASAPAC. The Montana Society also deserves recognition for
nearly doubling its 2000 ASAPAC participation level by securing
support from 31 percent of its members.
With regard to total component contributions in 2001, the
Georgia, California and Illinois component memberships led
all states. Each society’s membership raised over $50,000
for ASAPAC. Georgia’s achievement in raising $59,060
is particularly remarkable considering its membership is
less than half of other larger component societies.
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American Society of Anesthesiologists Political
Action Committee
ASAPAC
Members of the 2002 ASAPAC
Executive Board
Chair
Danial O. Laird, M.D.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Secretary-Treasurer
Bruce R. Brookens, M.D.
Englewood, Colorado
Board Members
Arthur M. Boudreaux, M.D.
Birmingham, Alabama
Patricia J. Davidson, M.D.
Columbus, Ohio
Scott B. Groudine, M.D.
Latham, New York
William D. Hetrick, M.D.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tripti C. Kataria, M.D.
Brookline, Massachusetts
Norman Levin, M.D.
Los Angeles, California
Randall P. Maydew, M.D.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
John M. Zerwas, M.D.
Houston, Texas
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The Kentucky, Alabama and Alaska societies achieved the highest
average ASAPAC contributions from their members — all in
excess of $350. With an average contribution of $499, the Kentucky
Society membership more than doubled their 2000 average contribution.
And for the second year, the Alabama and Alaska society members
contributed at higher average amounts than their colleagues in
other states.
For ASA and its member anesthesiologists, this level of success
in raising funds for ASAPAC has significant implications. Thanks
to the funds made available through the fundraising campaign during
the past year, ASAPAC was able to participate directly in numerous
federal election campaigns while also providing resources to help
ASA and member anesthesiologists build important political relationships
with key federal policymakers. ASAPAC also played a significant
role in enhancing the stature of ASA and the medical profession
of anesthesiology on Capitol Hill.
Direct Support
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From left are: Health and Human Services
Secretary Tommy Thompson with Minnesota Society of
Anesthesiologists President Joel W. Arney, M.D.; Robert
E. Wells, Jr., M.D.; Keith H. Berge, M.D.; David P.
Martin, M.D.; and Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN).
Drs. Arney, Wells, Berge and Martin attended a fundraiser
for Congressman Gutknecht on behalf of ASAPAC earlier
this year in Minnesota.
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During 2001, ASAPAC participated in the off-year election and
re-election campaigns of many key pro-medicine, pro-anesthesiology
incumbents and candidates for federal office. ASAPAC contributions
enabled the anesthesiology community to provide direct, tangible
support to those members of Congress and the Senate who worked
in support of the interests of the profession on issues including
physician supervision, Medicare reimbursement, Medicare regulatory
reform and Patients’ Bill of Rights.
Over the past months, ASAPAC contributions were provided to over
150 friendly incumbents and candidates for federal office. Incumbents
receiving ASAPAC contributions included Congressmen Dave Weldon,
M.D. (R-FL) and Gene Green (D-TX), key advocates for maintaining
physician supervision of nurse anesthetists; Congressman Ernest
Lee Fletcher, M.D. (R-KY), author of the House-passed version
of the Patients’ Bill of Rights; and a number of members
of the House Ways and Means Committee, including E. Clay Shaw,
Jr. (R-FL), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Kevin P. Brady (R-TX), Fortney
H. “Pete” Stark (D-CA) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA).
ASAPAC contributions also were provided to a number of nonincumbent
candidates, including State Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL),
State Senator Steven Lynch (D-MA) and State Senator Joe Wilson
(R-SC), all pro-physician state legislators running in off-year
special congressional elections. In addition, ASAPAC contributions
were provided to St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Norm Colemen (R),
a candidate challenging incumbent Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN),
and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), a candidate for the seat held by retiring
Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). ASAPAC was especially pleased to contribute
to the exploratory committee of Maryland State Senator Andrew
Harris, M.D. (R), an ASA member considering running for Congress.
The contributions made by ASAPAC represent anesthesiology’s
direct effort in helping to elect or re-elect those candidates
who understand anesthesiology’s issues and who share our
views on those issues. View the ASAPAC Fundraising Campaign Chart
through this link.
Building and Maintaining Political Relationships
Over the course of 2001, ASAPAC resources also were spent in helping
ASA and individual anesthesiologists throughout the country in
initiating and maintaining important political relationships with
federal legislators. In the past year, staff and physician representatives
of ASAPAC participated in over 300 political events in Washington,
D.C., and elsewhere.
With ASAPAC support, anesthesiologists in various states and
congressional districts organized and participated in a number
of in-district political events. Local anesthesiologists participated
in events for key incumbents such as Senator Max Baucus (D-MT),
Chair of the Senate Finance Committee; Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
(R-IL), Speaker of the House; Congressman Jerry Weller (R-IL),
member of the House Ways and Means Committee; and Congressman
Bobby Rush (D-IL), member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Others participated in local events for Congresswoman Sue Myrick
(R-NC) and Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN). Both events featured
Tommy Thompson, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
The involvement of ASAPAC and local anesthesiologists in these
events demonstrates to candidates the involvement of the anesthesiology
community in the political system and a level of engagement frequently
lacking within the broader medical community. Political events
serve an important role in building and maintaining relationships
with members of Congress and with Senators. Such events frequently
are a first step in educating candidates about the medical profession
of anesthesiology, which in turn is a first step in securing the
support of the candidate for issues of importance to the profession.
Enhanced Stature of ASA and Anesthesiology
Like other organizations in the top 50 federal PACs in 2001 (the
American Bankers Association, the National Federation of Independent
Businesses, the American Hospital Association, etc.), ASA has
enjoyed increased prominence on Capitol Hill as a result of its
PAC and PAC-related involvement of its members in political activities.
As political campaigns have become more expensive, PACs have played
an ever-increasing role in the campaign finance system. With significant
resources, ASAPAC has been able to participate extensively in
the political process and, as a result, has become well-known
to legislators. The familiarity of legislators with ASAPAC has
translated readily into political credibility, which has bolstered
the stature of ASA and anesthesiology. Indeed, as a top-50 PAC
and the top medical specialty PAC in the nation, the support of
ASAPAC and the anesthesiology community is widely sought by House
and Senate incumbents, challengers and candidates in open-seat
races.
The past year was a remarkably successful year for ASAPAC. ASA
members and state components continued to support ASAPAC at significant
levels. This support enabled ASAPAC to continue to work to support
anesthesiology-friendly candidates for federal office while facilitating
the building of important political relationships between ASA
and member-anesthesiologists and key policymakers. By virtue of
this work, ASAPAC helped enhance the credibility and stature of
ASA and of anesthesiology. The value of these efforts and the
increased stature of the ASA have already been demonstrated in
the favorable disposition of the Medicare/Medicaid physician supervision
issue. The continued growth and strength of ASAPAC will continue
to play a key role in assuring a favorable disposition of other
key issues facing anesthesiology in 2002.
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Manuel
E. Bonilla works on federal issues of importance to the membership,
including pending legislation and lobbying activities. He
also assists the ASAPAC Executive Board. |
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