IMPACT - Tennessee :: News and Events

NEWS

EVENTS

IMPACT CONTRIBUTIONS

NEWS

In Summer 2008, the IMPACT Board authorized contributions to a number of lawmakers who have been friends to organized medicine. The list of State Legislators who have received or been authorized to receive contributions by clicking here.

EVENTS

IMPACT hosts a number of political events throughout the year. A brief listing of the 2008 events and news items are outlined below and will be updated as needed.

Capitol Hill Club Event: This year’s Capitol Hill Club (CHC) event was a reception with House Majority Leader Gary Odom (D – Nashville ) and House Minority Whip Beth Harwell (R – Nashville ) held during the 2008 Annual Meeting. All Capitol Hill Club members in attendance had the opportunity to have their pictures made with both lawmakers.

IMPACT Member Local Appreciation Events: This year, IMPACT will be hosting a series of appreciation receptions for IMPACT members. Local beneficiaries of IMPACT contributions will be invited to pay tribute to those physicians who make IMPACT a leader on Capitol Hill. It is also an opportunity to honor IMPACT’s Capitol Hill Club members amongst their colleagues. Dates for these events are in the process of being finalized.

PITCH: IMPACT, TMA and the Metro Medical Societies joined forces to rally doctors from across the state for Physicians Involved in Tennessee ’s Capitol Hill (PITCH). Rather than a single day on the hill, physicians from assigned grand divisions showed up in white coats on selected Tuesdays from mid-February to early April to make their PITCH for medical liability reform, insurance reform and public health policies. The physicians (as well as spouses and office staff) met at the state legislature for a briefing on political issues, attended Judiciary, Commerce and Health Committee meetings, and scheduled one-on-one meetings with legislators. In 2009, we anticipate each grand division of the State being assigned one day for physicians to attend PITCH. The schedule is yet to be determined.

As we get closer to the 2009 session, all physicians, spouses and practice managers are encouraged to sign up to attend PITCH on their assigned day.

Doctor of the Day: One program that is very popular with physicians and legislators alike is the Doctor of the Day program. TMA is asked to provide physicians for the legislative session. The physicians attend hearings, have access to the House and Senate floor and may meet individually with legislators on important issues. In return, legislators have access to medical services for minor health concerns. This program is of great benefit in our legislative activities because it reminds legislators on a weekly basis that physicians are participating in the legislative process. If you are interested in participating in the Doctor of the Day program and can work one day during the legislative session, please call TMA at 1 (800) 659-1862. TMA will be assigned Wednesdays for the 2009 legislative session.

AMPAC CONTRIBUTIONS

IMPACT works with AMA’s PAC, AMPAC, to secure significant campaign contributions for Tennessee ’s Congressional candidates who support organized medicine. Since 2008 is an election year for all nine Congressional seats and one Senate seat, we will see a significant financial involvement by AMPAC through contributions and other support to candidates running for federal office. In particular, AMPAC and IMPACT have both worked hard in support of the election of Dr. Phil Roe, who is attempting to unseat freshman Congressman, David Davis, in the 1^st Congressional District. As a strong Republican district, the August Republican primary will determine who will be the next Congressman from the district.

IMPACT CONTRIBUTIONS

CALENDAR YEAR 2008

The following individuals have received or been authorized to receive contributions as of July 14, 2008. Please note that even numbered Senate seats and all seats for the State House are up for election in 2008.

Senate

District	Candidate	Party	District	Candidate	Party
1	Steve Southerland	R	17	Mae Beavers	R
2	Ron Ramsey	R	18	Diane Black	R
3	Rusty Crowe	R	21	Doug Henry	D
5	Randy McNally	R	22	Rosalind Kurita	D
6	Jamie Woodson	R	24	Roy Herron	D
7	Tim Burchett	R	25	Jack Johnson	R
8	Raymond Finney	R	26	Tim Linder	R
8	Doug Overbey	R	28	Jim Kyle	D
9	Dwayne Bunch	R	29	Ophelia Ford	D
10	Andy Berke	D	31	Paul Stanley	R
11	Bo Watson	R	32	Mark Norris	R
12	Ken Yager	R	33	Reginald Tate	D
16	Jim Tracy	R

House

District	Candidate	Party	District	Candidate	Party
1	Jon Lundberg	R	47	Judd Matheny	R
2	Nathan Vaughn	D	49	Kent Coleman	D
3	Jason Mumpower	R	50	Gary Moore	D
4	Jerome Cochran	R	51	Mike Turner	D
4	Kent Williams	R	53	Janis Sontany	D
5	David Hawk	R	55	Gary Odom	D
8	Joe McCord	R	56	Beth Harwell	R
9	Mike Harrison	R	57	Susan Lynn	R
11	Eddie Yokley	D	58	Mary Pruitt	D
12	Richard Montgomery	R	59	Sherry Jones	D
13	Harry Tindell	D	61	Charles Sargent	R
15	Joe Armstrong	D	62	Curt Cobb	D
16	Bill Dunn	R	62	Barbara Blanton	R
17	Frank Nicely	R	63	Glen Casada	R
20	Robert Ramsey	R	64	Tom DuBois	R
22	Eric Watson	R	65	Eddie Bass	D
24	Kevin Brooks	R	69	David Shepard	D
26	Gerald McCormick	R	70	Joey Hensley	R
28	Tommy Brown	D	72	Steve McDaniel	R
29	Joanne Favors	D	73	Jimmy Eldridge	R
31	Jim Cobb	R	74	John Tidwell	D
32	Dennis Ferguson	D	76	Mark Maddox	D
33	Jim Hackworth	D	81	Jimmy Naifeh	D
34	Donna Rowland	R	82	Craig Fitzhugh	D
34	Rishi Saxena	D	83	Brian Kelsey	R
35	Dennis Roach	R	89	Jeanne Richardson	D
37	Bill Harmon	D	90	John DeBerry	D
39	George Fraley	D	91	Lois DeBerry	D
41	John Mark Windle	D	95	Curry Todd	R
43	Charles Curtiss	D	95	Steve McManus	R
44	Mike McDonald	D	98	Ulysses Jones	D
45	Debra Maggart	R	99	Ron Lollar	R
46	Stratton Bone	D

NOTE: The IMPACT Board as yet to make a determination on donations to other candidates/legislators. IMPACT supports incumbents and candidates from both sides of the aisle who back issues of importance to organized medicine and/or are in a position to either effect change or prevent passage of harmful legislation. The realities of politics also require that a political action committee consider which parties are or are likely to be in positions of authority when choosing which candidates and causes to support. As such, contributions are often earmarked toward those in leadership positions since they play a critical role in the legislative process.