ACC
PAC Political Newswire
June 2003
Check
Your Mail… The ACC PAC’s fundraising
cycle runs from March to March of each year—beginning
and ending during the Annual Scientific Session. Since ACC
’03, the ACC PAC has raised $18,750 and currently has
55 members. The PAC’s goal for this cycle is to double
its first year revenue—$101,000 - to $200,000. If you
haven’t yet renewed your PAC membership, please contact
Shana Myers at smyers@acc.org.
The
next ACC PAC solicitation will role out to the leadership
in the next couple of weeks. The PAC is also developing a
fundraising campaign that will include mobilizing ACC Chapters
and their members. Please look for information on how you
can get your local Chapter involved in the ACC PAC.
Fundraising
Efforts… On May 8, the ACC participated in
a fundraiser for Sen. Don Nickles. Sen. Nickles spoke on the
topic of the Medicare update issue. He used the problem with
the payment formula to highlight the need for major reform
of the Medicare program. He alluded to the fact that they
are looking at allowing balance billing and means testing
as two offsets for their Medicare reform bill.
On
May 20, ACC participated in a fundraiser for House Ways &
Means Committee Chairman, Rep. Bill Thomas. Rep. Thomas recognized
the help specialty medicine groups provided Republicans a
couple of years ago on the patient’s bill of rights
and said we were a “counter weight” to the AMA
when it was needed.
With
respect to the Medicare payment update, Rep. Thomas said that
he is dedicated to getting rid of phony numbers, and thus
the $54 billion earlier this year. He made the point of our
needing to get a handle of volume. “You just can’t
jigger the numbers,” he said. Rep. Thomas also mentioned
his continued push to get prescription drugs pulled out of
the sustainable growth rate (SGR).
On
the subject of liability, Rep. Thomas said that he is “disappointed”
there haven’t been more walk-outs by emergency room
doctors. He believes that unless something dramatic happens,
the Senate will not act on liability.
Alliance
Fly-In… On June 3 and 4, The Alliance of Specialty
Medicine, of which ACC is a member, held a legislative fly-in
that included Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN, and
Senate Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-IA. The ACC PAC
was able to participate in both events. To learn more about
Sen. Frist’s views on medical liability reform and Sen.
Grassley’s position on the Senate Medicare Reform Bill,
click
here.
Quarterly Fundraising Report… In the
first April quarterly reports, six Senators raised better
than $1 million. The reports covered contributions and disbursements
from Jan. 1 to March 1. Democrat Senator Charles Schumer,
NY, led all candidates, bringing in more than $1.5 million
and banking $15 million. Sen. Schumer is currently unopposed.
Other Senators who raised over $1 million were Sen. Shelby,
AL, Sen. Specter, PA, Sen. McCain, AZ, Sen. Boxer, CA, and
Sen. Reid, NV. The ACC PAC contributed to the campaign of
Sen. Specter.
On
the Campaign Trail… National Journal has
issued its rankings of vulnerable Senate contests for the
month of May. The Illinois open seat is listed as the most
vulnerable seat for the 2004 cycle. With Sen. Peter Fitzgerald
retiring and former Gov. Jim Edgar’s decision not to
run, the state GOP is now looking at a primary battle among
second tier candidates. The Democrats, with a primary battle
of their own, believe that the state’s demographics
will push them over the edge. The seat of retiring Sen. Zell
Miller, GA, ranks second on the list. The seats of Sen. Fritz
Hollings, SC, Sen. John Edwards, NC, and Sen. Bob Graham,
FL, round out the top five vulnerable seats.
Thompson’s
Uncertain Future… Health and Human Services
Secretary Tommy Thompson, R, announced his resignation this
week, effective at the end of his term in 2004. Roll Call
writes about Thompson’s plans to run for office again
in Wisconsin some day, where he was elected to four terms
as governor. Thompson was quoted as saying there was a “slim
to none” chance he will challenge Sen. Russ Feingold,
D, in 2004.
Texas
Special Election… The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
reported on former Lubbock City Councilman Randy Neugebauer’s
narrow defeat of fellow Republican Mike Conaway in the special
election for the seat of retired Rep. Larry Combest, R. The
new congressman for the 19th district was elected on June
3 by a vote of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent. Rep. Neugebauer
was given the oath of office on June 5.
Capitol
Rumor… Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-LA, tried to squash
rumors of his imminent retirement by declaring that he intends
to remain chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee,
at least through the end of this session. Rep. Tauzin refused
to confirm a run for re-election in 2004, but was quoted by
Roll Call saying, “I have every intention of
serving out my term and every intention of running for re-election.”
In the event Tauzin does not run in 2004, names being floated
for the chairmanship are Rep. Joe Barton, R-TX, and Rep. Michael
Oxley, R-OH.
George
W. Bushism… “I’m also not very
analytical. You know I don’t spend a lot of time thinking
about myself, about why I do things.”—President
Bush aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003 |
