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WAMPAC E-newsletterAugust 2005
Contributions pay off in legislative session In the 2004 elections WAMPAC undertook a strategy to support candidates that support tort reform. Although there were some tense moments, the legislative session was, as a whole, very successful.
With this good news came some disappointments. Prominent among those was the personal injury lawyers successful attempt to defeat WSMA-supported patient safety legislation which included funding of a patient safety fund from license surcharges and 1% of malpractice awards.
What's Next? It is crucial that we continue to help physician-friendly candidates be elected to the legislature and lend support to incumbent legislators seeking reelection! Today there is only one physician in the legislature. Compare that to 8 nurses, 9 lawyers, etc.
Preparing to help legislators that help physicians. WAMPAC is charged with responsibility of finding and supporting those legislative and state office candidates who will best support the legislative priorities of medicine, as determined by the WSMA. Some years those candidates may come predominantly from one political party. Another year, they may come more often from the other party. The members of WAMPAC always carefully consider whom to support, based on medicine's priorities, interviews with candidates, and their legislative track records. As is always the case, some legislators who have supported physicians will be targeted by their foes. An example of this was 2004 WSMA Legislator Of The Year Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (D) of Eatonville. WAMPAC puts special emphasis on supporting legislators like Senator Rasmussen who look out for physicians in the legislature.
Continue Your Support of WAMPAC To effectively support physician issues in the legislature, WAMPAC must raise sufficient resources in non-elections years. That is why it is important that all physicians and their spouses contribute to WAMPAC even in off years like 2005. WAMPAC is your Political Action Committee. It cannot act in medicine's best interests or for patients' needs without your dollars and support. If you have not done so already, please take a moment and renew your membership today. You can renew your membership online at www.wsma.org or call 206.441.9762/1.800.552.0612.
Support legislators that support you! Legislators want to hear from physicians in their communities. They want your input on healthcare issues. Call your legislator and set a meeting and get to know them and the tough issues they face. 2005 is an "off year" for elections but legislators are still thinking about their next campaigns so this is the time to become involved by holding events in support of your physician-supporting legislators. Talk to legislators, get to know them, meet with them and discuss issues facing physicians with them. For more information on holding fundraisers see the attached WAMPAC Guide to Physicians Hosted Fundraisers. This is also the time to talk with potential candidates, particularly physicians, about their interest in running for the legislature in 2006. Please let Carl Nelson in the Olympia office know about these by calling 360.352.4848.
There has never been a more necessary time for the medical community to take a stand. Now is the time to contribute to the organization that was founded to protect your practice. Washington Medical Political Action
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