Chiropractic PAC formed to raise money for
lobbying, funding chiropractic-friendly political
nominees
The
Chiropractors for Wellness Care Political Action Fund has been formed with
the specific purpose of raising money for lobbying efforts and for electing
pro chiropractic political office seekers.
“Just
because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't
take an interest in you." Pericles (430 B.C.)
Through the years,
numerous members of the U.S. Congress have been part of the medical
profession. Legislators like Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee and Rep. Dave
Weldon of Florida have tremendous influence over laws that regulate not only
the medical doctors but chiropractors as well. They openly declare their
allegiance to and support of the medical agenda.
Frist, for instance,
states: "While I continue to treat patients on an individual basis, I now
have the privilege of being able to treat the collective health of the
nation." He has done so by voting for numerous medical bills, including
support for tax funded vaccine programs.
In addition, many non
M.D. members of Congress have a decidedly pro medical viewpoint which can
lead them to view chiropractic with suspicion and hostility.
What the chiropractic
profession needs are more representatives in the Senate and House who are
either chiropractors themselves or chiropractic supporters. One of the
Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC's goals will be to seek out such
politicians and political aspirants and provide financial backing for their
election or re election campaigns.
The Chiropractors for
Wellness Care PAC won't restrict its activities to funding political
campaigns, however. This is an era of special interests, and
chiropractic is an interest that must not be ignored in Congress.
PACs have increased
significantly in influence and numbers in recent years. in 1976, there were
608 PACs, and in 2003, there were more than 4,000. More importantly, they
have grown more influential as well, particularly since the enactment of the
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, and the ban on so called
"soft money."
Although often
criticized for "buying votes," PACs play an important role in American
democracy. One argument is that PACs are an easy and direct way for citizens
to voice their support of issues.
"In a representative
democracy, citizens have access to their elected officials; however, for
most citizens, it often takes tremendous effort and time to make that
connection because of the time pressures and schedules of politicians.
Political action committees offer another way of connecting with elected
officials by bringing the power of like minded people together." ("Further
debating the issue of political action committees," by Frederick P. Franko,
AORN Journal, August, 2001.)
Another important role
of PACs today is to focus national attention on issues of importance to the
PAC's membership.
"While business PACs
remain devoted to helping candidates who help their sponsoring corporations,
some of the newer ideological committees have a different goal: to have
their issues injected into the national political debate," explained Derek
Willis in an article for Campaigns & Elections magazine ("PAC plays:
how political action committees, large and small, are coping with shifts in
the electoral environment," April 4, 1999).
The Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC wants both to help candidates and
drive health care issues on the national level.
To have an impact
doesn't take millions of dollars, as recent progress with chiropractic
legislation has shown. But it does take thousands of chiropractors making
donations that will be wisely spent on their behalf. It takes chiropractors
who care as much about the future of their profession as medical doctors,
dentists, and surgeons do about theirs (all of whom are represented by
numerous PACs).
The organizers for one
PAC for Texas CPAs correctly noted that the efficacy of a PAC is
directly proportional to the number of members who are involved: "The
greater the numbers, the more influence the profession will have," they
wrote. "A donation from a PAC with 27,000 members carries much more weight
than an identical donation from a 10,000 member PAC, or even an identical
donation from an individual. This dynamic goes to the very heart of
grassroots political advocacy."
The
more chiropractors who support the Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC with
their donations, the more effective the PAC will be.
To learn more about the PAC, or to
make a contribution, visit the
Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC donation website.
Paid for
and authorized by Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC. Federal law
prohibits corporate and foreign national contributions. Contributions to
Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC are voluntary and will be used for
political purposes. Contributions are not deductible for federal income tax
purposes.
