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AOA Advocacy Group
"The Day After" Report on the 2010 Midterm
Elections
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AOA
Member Elected to U.S. Senate
Dr. Boozman Topples Two-Term Incumbent With Optometry's Help
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Little Rock, Arkansas (Nov. 2, 2010) – With a sweeping
and historic election victory tonight, Rep. John Boozman, O.D. (R-Ark.),
highly regarded five-term member of the House of Representatives and
long-time AOA member, has become the first Doctor of Optometry (OD) ever
elected to the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Boozman will take the oath of office in the Senate
chamber in early January when the 112th Congress convenes in Washington,
DC. Many optometrists are already planning to travel to the nation's
capital to attend the ceremony.
Optometry was a powerful force in this closely watched race.
AOA-PAC, hundreds of optometrists from across Arkansas and thousands more
from across the country actively backed Dr. Boozman's bid against incumbent
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).
Starting in September, AOA-PAC sponsored a well-received ad
in support of Dr. Boozman that was broadcast on radio stations across
Arkansas. To listen to this ad, please click
here.
In a failed attempt to draw a line in the sand against an OD
in the Senate, organized medicine and ophthalmology backed the now-defeated
Senator Lincoln through massive PAC and individual campaign contributions
and even a direct mail effort.
In a statement released shortly after the votes were tallied
and media outlets had declared the winner, Joe Ellis, O.D., AOA President,
said, "Dr. John Boozman, our friend, colleague and fellow AOA member,
has added a new chapter to the history of our profession's service to the
American people. I'm very proud of Senator-elect Boozman and of every
optometrist who worked to help him achieve this victory."
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Dear Colleague:
Well done, doctor! That’s the first thing I said to the first
Doctor of Optometry ever elected to the U.S. Senate when I called him
last night.
Today is an historic day for our profession. For the first time, a
Doctor of Optometry – a proud and passionate one at that –
and a long-time member of our AOA will serve in the United States Senate.
Dr. John Boozman, is now U.S. Senator-elect John Boozman, O.D.
(R-Ark.).
I’m always proud of being an optometrist. But today,
I’ll hold my head a little bit higher as I think of how far
we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished. In recent
years, we have achieved important victories in Washington, DC, and in
state capitals, based on expanded patient access and the full recognition
we’ve earned. We have successfully fought back against
repeated attacks by organized medicine, the insurance industry and
others, and stand ready to do more. Now, we’re privileged to
see one from our own ranks, after a career in private practice, a
distinguished tenure in the U.S. House and a skillfully run statewide
campaign, which had the enthusiastic support of optometrists from coast
to coast, ready to take his place in “the world’s
greatest deliberative body.”
Optometrists, both individually and through AOA-PAC, did a great deal to
support Dr. Boozman’s campaign in 2010. Back in September, we even
launched an ad campaign on radio stations across the state Arkansas. The
straightforward and positive message helped counter massive political
spending and misinformation by organized medicine in a failed effort to
prop up a flagging incumbent.
Click
Here to Listen to AOA's Pro-Boozman, Pro-Optometry Message Heard on Radio
Stations across Arkansas
In traveling to Arkansas to lend a hand, I witnessed first-hand the
passion and excitement Dr. Boozman roused in voters. He proudly showcased
his experience as a doctor of optometry and made the case that his
background and profession made him the ideal candidate. I couldn't
have agreed more. More importantly though, the voters agreed too.
In other areas of the country, optometry had an equally powerful impact
on Election Day 2010. Concerned ODs and optometry students from across
the country actively supported other pro-optometry candidates for the
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as for governorships
and state legislatures.
Optometry's nationwide grassroots efforts are bolstered by AOA-PAC,
the only federal political action committee working to elect and re-elect
optometry's friends and supporters to Congress. For this election, AOA
members like you invested more than ever before in AOA-PAC -- nearly $2.0
million dollars -- to back the campaigns of 329 winning candidates out of
363 endorsed for Congress. (Producing a 90% success rate)
With health care remaining a top priority in the nation's capital and
health care overhaul implementation activities shifting to the states,
there is a great deal of work still ahead. To be listened to and heeded
at this critical moment, optometry must continue to take its pro-active,
pro-access, pro-patient message directly to our newly elected and
re-elected leaders.
After you review this "Day After" report, please consider
joining AOA Advocacy's efforts to fight for optometry as a Federal
Keyperson or AOA-PAC
supporter. Also, please make plans now to participate in next year's
critical Congressional Advocacy Conference in support of optometry and
the care ODs provide to patients.
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AOA Provides Briefing to NRCC Chairman at Republican
HQ
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As part of his role as an AOA-PAC Board Member, Steve Ngyuen, O.D.,
traveled to Republican headquarters in Washington, DC, to brief Rep.
Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Chairman of the National Republican
Congressional Campaign Committee, on AOA-backed legislation before
Congress and priorities in the 2010 midterm elections. Dr. Ngyuen was
accompanied by staff from the AOA Washington Office. AOA-PAC is the
only federal political action committee backing the election of
pro-optometry candidates to Congress. Although it has grown in recent
years, AOA-PAC must still compete with far larger PACs representing
anti-optometry special interests, including organized medicine and
ophthalmology and the insurance and managed care industries. For more
information on how to invest in AOA-PAC, please click here or visit www.aoapac.com.
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VICTORY:
U.S. SENATOR-ELECT JOHN BOOZMAN, O.D, (R-Ark.) –SUPPORTED BY
AOA-PAC, ARKANSAS ODs and AOA MEMBERS NATIONWIDE
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Audie
Teague (right), O.D., and U.S. Senator-elect John Boozman, O.D.
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VICTORY: US SENATOR-ELECT KELLY AYOTTE (R-NH)
- SUPPORTED BY AOA PAC AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ODS
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Senator-Elect
Kelly Ayotte, Mr. Barry Wigger, Dorothy Hitchmoth, O.D. and U.S.
Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)
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VICTORY:
U.S. SENATOR JIM DEMINT (R-SC) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
SOUTH CAROLINA ODs
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AOA-PAC
Treasurer Tom Nye, O.D. and Sen. Jim DeMint
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VICTORY:
U.S. SENATOR-ELECT RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT) – SUPPORTED BY
AOA-PAC AND CONNECTICUT ODs
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Linda
Kowalski, Brian Lynch, O.D., Chris Argo, O.D. and U.S.
Senator-Elect Richard Blumenthal
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VICTORY:
U.S. SENATOR-ELECT JOHN HOEVEN (R-ND) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC
AND NORTH DAKOTA ODs
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Jon
Hymes (right), AOA Washington Office Director and U.S.
Senator–Elect John Hoeven
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VICTORY:
U.S. SENATOR-ELECT JOE MANCHIN (D-WV) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC
AND WEST VIRGINIA ODs
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AOA-PAC
Director Julie Trute and U.S. Senator-elect Joe Manchin
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U.S.House of Representatives Results
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER (R-Ohio) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC
AND OHIO ODs
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Ohio
ODs and students join former AOA President Kevin Alexander, O.D.,
Ph.D., in honoring Republican Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio)
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE ED WHITFIELD (R-KY) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
KENTUCKY ODs
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Kentucky
students and ODs, including AOA President Joe Ellis, O.D. with Rep.
Ed Whitfield
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS (R-WASH) – SUPPORTED BY
AOA-PAC AND WASHINGTON ODs
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James
Devleming, O.D., and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE BRALEY (D-IA) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
IOWA ODs
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Ron
Roelfs, O.D., Abie Chadderdon, O.D., and Rep. Bruce Braley
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE RALPH HALL (R-TX) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
TEXAS ODs
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John
Coble, O.D. (right) and Rep. Ralph Hall, champion of full
recognition of optometry in Medicaid
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VICTORY:
REP. DOUG LAMBORN (R-CO) – SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND COLORADO
ODs
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Colorado
Optometric Association Director Gwenne Hume, Tom Wilson, O.D. and
Rep. Doug Lamborn
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ROSS (D-AR) –SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
ARKANSAS ODs
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Arkansas
ODs and students honor Rep. Mike Ross, champion of AOA-backed
patient access safeguards.
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VICTORY:
REPRESENTATIVE STENY HOYER (D-MD) –SUPPORTED BY AOA-PAC AND
MARYLAND ODs
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AOA
Washington Office Director, Jon Hymes and Rep. Steny Hoyer, House
Democratic Leader
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Newly elected
U.S. Senators and House members don’t take office until
January when the 112th Congress will be officially sworn
in. However, the outgoing 111th Congress has a
lot of unfinished business and is expected to meet in the U.S.
Capitol during the week of November 15th for a post-election
“lame duck” session. While focusing on the
mid-term elections, the AOA Washington Office team and AOA Federal
Keypersons have also been actively urging Congress and the
President to take action to again avert potentially massive
Medicare physician payment cuts.
Unless Congress
approves corrective legislation in November, payments to ODs and
other doctors for treating Medicare patients will be cut by 23% on
Dec. 1 and another 6.5% on Jan. 1. Right now, the AOA is
helping to lead a broad coalition of national physician and patient
organizations in supporting – at a minimum – a
short-term physician payment patch (the third one to be needed in
2010) until real reform can be agreed on in the nation’s
capital. According to the Congressional Budget Office,
a 13-month plan to block the cuts (until January 2012) would cost
about $15 billion. A long-term fix, through 2020, would
cost about $276 billion.
The AOA will
provide regular updates on the Medicare physician payment crisis as
Congress’s lame duck session approaches. If you have
any questions or need further information, please contact the AOA
Washington Office at ImpactWashingtonDC@aoa.org
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Optometrists Maintain
Presence in the State Legislatures — Will Hold Thirteen Seats
in 2011
Optometrist
legislators in nine of the 14 states where they currently hold
office were up for re-election yesterday. All eight won their
races. Rep.
Richard J. Ball, O.D. from Michigan District 85
(R), one of 15 states with term limits, will reach the end of his
final term in office on Dec. 31.
Below is a
summary of the optometrists who represent their communities and
their profession in our state Capitals.
Optometrists
winning re-election yesterday:
·
Rep. James McClendon, Jr, O.D. from
Alabama District 50 (R)
(ran unopposed)
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Rep. Edward P. Hernandez, O.D. from
California District 57 (D), one of 15 states with term limits, did
not run for his last term as a Representative, opting to run for
Senate District 24 (ran
unopposed)
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Rep. J. David Crum, O.D. from
Kansas District 77 (R) (ran
unopposed)
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Rep. James F. Morrison, O.D. from
Kansas District 121 (R) (ran
unopposed)
·
Rep. Terrence M. Swinger, O.D. from
Missouri District 162 (D) (ran
unopposed)
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Rep. Steven D. Tilley, O.D. from
Missouri District 106 (R) serves as House Majority Leader and will become Speaker
of the House in 2011 (ran unopposed)
·
Rep. Steven Cunningham, O.D. from New
Hampshire (Sullivan) House District 2 (R)
·
Rep. Arthur J. Corvese, O.D. from
Rhode Island District 55 (D) (ran
unopposed)
·
Deborah A. Long, O.D. from
South Carolina House District 45 (R)
The
following optometrists serving in their state legislatures were not
up for re-election yesterday and continue to serve:
·
Senator Pete Brungardt, O.D. from
Kansas District 24 (R) (next
election Nov 2012)
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Senator David R. Heitmeier, O.D. from
Louisiana District 7 (D) (next
election Oct 2011)
·
Senator, Robert L. Hawks, O.D. from
Montana District 33 (D) (in
last term as a Senator ending Dec. 2012)
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Rep. Roxann L. Robinson, O.D. from
Virginia District 27 (R) (next
election Nov 2011)
Optometry
family members won re-election in the following state races:
·
Rep. Stephanie Malone from
Arkansas District 64 (R) is the niece of U.S. Congressman John
Boozman (ran
unopposed)
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Senator Bette Lasky from New
Hampshire District 13 (D) is the wife of Dr. Elliot Lasky, an
optometrist practicing in Nashua
·
Rep. Gary Odom from
Tennessee District 55 (D) serves as House Majority Leader and is
the Executive Director of the Tennessee Optometric Association
The
following optometry family member serving in his state legislature was
not up for re-election yesterday and continues to serve:
·
Rep. Andy Anders from
Louisiana District 21 (D) is the father of Dr. Bridget Anders
Milliken, an optometrist practicing in Ferriday, LA (next election Oct 2011)
And in
other state-wide elected offices:
·
Mike Kreidler, O.D., former
Democratic U.S. Congressman from Washington state, is serving in
his third term as Washington State Insurance Commissioner (next election Nov 2012)
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Iowa ODs and AOA Leaders Host Harkin
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Throughout 2009 and 2010, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) made the
"Harkin Amendment," inclusion of optometry and patient
access safeguards top priorities in the debate over health care
legislation, in spite of opposition from the AMA, ophthalmology and
the insurance industry. With backing from other pro-patient access
leaders in Congress, Sen. Harkin prevailed and his amendment
– the first-ever federal standard of provider
non-discrimination – is law. Now, with federal agencies and
states moving ahead with the implementation phase of the health
care overhaul in a process that will run through 2014, Sen. Harkin
wants to work with the AOA to ensure that the Harkin Amendment is
put in force exactly as Congress intended. On October 19, Joe
Ellis, O.D., AOA president; Steven A. Loomis, O.D., AOA trustee;
Dr. Richard Skotowski, Iowa Optometric Association president and
more than 50 ODs from communities across Iowa traveled to Des
Moines to meet with Sen. Harkin and discuss the upcoming
post-election "lame duck" session of the 111th Congress
and the issues that will confront the new 112th Congress when it
convenes in January.
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Be There When Optometry Takes Capitol Hill!
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AOA's
Congressional Advocacy Conference:
Advocacy for Optometry's Future
April 3-6, 2011
Be there as hundreds of ODs and optometry students from around the
country storm the nation's capital and fight for patient access to
the care ODs provide. Fight alongside your OD and student
colleagues and help ensure that AOA's proactive, pro-access and
pro-patient message is heard loud and clear in the halls of
Congress and throughout Washington, D.C. Click
here to read about the successes of the 2010 AOA Congressional
Advocacy Conference. For more information about
the 2011 AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference, contact:
AOA Washington Office
Julie Trute
(800) 365-2219 x 1376
Jltrute@aoa.org
For
continuing election information, visit NewsFromAOA.org.
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