State of the HUnion
Legislative News for Supporters of HUPAC
April-June 2011
Upcoming Events
State and Local HUPAC Chair Introductory Webinar
August 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
NAHU will be hosting an introductory training webinar for incoming state and local HUPAC chairs on August 3 to help aid the transition process for incoming chairs and ensure that all chairs have access to all of our available resources to better serve in their positions. If you are an incoming state or local HUPAC Chair, please don’t forget to register for the webinar by visiting the link below. The webinar will highlight a number of important topics such as how you can request a contribution for candidates you chapter supports, how the HUPAC board determines how HUPAC money is dispersed, fundraising strategies, donor contribution levels, FEC compliance information and more. Participating will provide you with all the tools necessary to provide accurate up-to-date HUPAC reports at your chapter meetings.
Total HUPAC Contributions by Region: January 1, 2011 – June 30, 2011
As we close out the second quarter of 2011, we are excited to announce another impressive three months of HUPAC fundraising due to your generous support! Thanks to you we have been able to utilize more funds than ever in our efforts to garner supporters for the Rogers-Barrow legislation, H.R. 1206, that removes agent and broker compensation from the new health reform law’s medical loss ratio requirement as well as other important policy initiatives. Your continued support is vital to helping HUPAC and NAHU’s influence grow and getting crucial face time with lawmakers!
So far this year, the contribution totals by region through the second quarter (January 1, 2011-June 30, 2011) are as follows:
Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT) – $14,302.52
Region 2 (DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) – $40,920.52
Region 3 (IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WV) – $41,105.68
Region 4 (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI) – $34,082.00
Region 5 (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC) – $66,670.26
Region 6 (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX) – $54,280.00
Region 7 (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT) – $22,116.00
Region 8 (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) – $91,559.72
Total – $365,036.70
NAHU Annual Convention HUPAC Wrap-Up and Naming of Michael D. Gray, RHU Award
HUPAC made another extremely strong showing at this year’s annual convention in San Antonio, Texas raising over $54,000 in contributions and annual pledges! Playing off the southwest theme during convention, the HUPAC Board joined the festivities adorned with cowboy hats, bandanas, sheriff badge stickers and ribbons to distinguish PAC contributors. HUPAC also sold raffle tickets for an iPad 2 and two bottles of Dom Perignon champagne enjoyed at the Gordon Dinner.
During the convention awards ceremony, HUPAC Chairman John Nelson and Vice-Chair Johnny Dawkins unveiled the Michael D. Gray, RHU Award which will be given each year to the individual donor who contributes the most annually to HUPAC during the past calendar year. The HUPAC Board voted this spring to create this award to recognize our top donor and call it the Michael D. Gray, RHU award to commemorate the service and dedication to HUPAC by longtime board member Mike Gray.
For those of you who don’t know him, Mike Gray has been a member of the Lincoln Association of Health Underwriters since 1992 and has served as program chair, legislative chair, HUPAC chair and president. He has also been a member of the Nebraska Association of Health Underwriters Board of Directors since 1999 and served as the NAHU Region IV Vice President from 2004-2008. Mike served on the HUPAC Board in a variety of capacities for seven years, including as Chairman from 2008-2010. This award honors Mike for his time, talent and unwavering dedication to the success of HUPAC.
Chairman John Nelson and Vice-Chair Johnny Dawkins were honored to unveil the award and invite Mike to the convention stage in order to present the Michael D. Gray, RHU Award for 2010 to Christopher Harrison. Congratulations to Chris who donated a total of $9,920.00 to HUPAC in 2010 to become the first recipient of Michael D. Gray award!!
Regional Contest Results Unveiled at NAHU’s National Convention!
After a year of suspense and a race that heated up considerably in the eleventh hour, the HUPAC Board excitedly unveiled the winners of their regional contest which ran from June 1, 2010 through May 30, 2011 at NAHU’s Annual Convention in San Antonio. A warm congratulations is extended to each region as they all increased their total contribution amounts significantly compared to prior years and did an incredible job mobilizing funds! The HUPAC Board is thrilled to announce record funds raised during the contest period by the combined regions totaling $638,919.60! This represents an increase of $84,989.06 this year compared to the same time period just one year ago. Your contributions and increased commitment this year have helped HUPAC effectively respond to NAHU’s public policy objectives and cannot be overlooked.
Final regional contest results are as follows:
Region 1 vs. Region 2 (Paul Smith v. Dave Dixon):
Region 1-$19,830.40, Region 2-$65,675.04
Region 3 vs. Region 7 (Dennis Wright v. Connie Puett)
Region 3-$82,055.92, Region 7-$44,493.00
Region 5 vs. Region 8 (David Johnson v. Alan Katz)
Region 5-$130,124.26, Region 8-$146,437.44
Region 6 vs. Region 4 (Michael Stephens v. Roger Jorgensen)
Region 6-$95,755.00, Region 4-$54,548.90
Total HUPAC Contributions: $638,919.60
2011 Administrative Fund Campaign
Thank you to all the chapters that participated in HUPAC’s annual administrative fund campaign drive this spring. Your contributions helped us raise over $40,800 for HUPAC’s administrative fund, which covers all of our PAC vendor’s expenses as well as HUPAC pins, ribbons and events during Capitol Conference and Annual Convention each year—just to name a few items. Chapter contributions each year serve as the major fundraiser for the administrative fund and help ensure coverage of the PAC’s administrative expenses throughout the remainder of the year.
If your chapter is interested in making a contribution, we are still accepting administrative fund donations. Please contact Kristin Leighty at kleighty@nahu.org or (703) 276-3803 for more information or mail your contribution directly to the address provided below:
Stakeholder, Inc.
P.O. Box 20897
Indianapolis, IN 46220
HUPAC’s Newest Contribution Level: Congressional Club!
At NAHU’s 21st Annual Capitol Conference, HUPAC was excited to unveil a new contribution level: the Congressional Club. This new level sits between the 365 and Capitol Club levels at $42 monthly or $500 annually. Thanks to NAHU Vice President Tom Harte and Indianapolis Chapter President Susan Rider, the idea for a new contribution level to bridge the gap between the 365 Club ($365 annual, $30 monthly) and the Capitol Club ($1,000 annual, $85 monthly) level was introduced and approved by the HUPAC Board.
With just short of 35 members already signed up for the new level since March, HUPAC is excited to formally introduce this new level and would like to encourage those contributing at the 365 Club level to consider making the jump to increase your contribution to the Congressional Club level at this important and ever-changing time for our industry.
It is because of your continued support and generosity that NAHU is able to better achieve our policy objectives and directly advance our legislative goals. If you are interested in increasing your donation to the Congressional Club level or any other contribution amount, you can visit www.hupac.org or contact Kristin Leighty at kleighty@nahu.org or (703) 276-3803 today.
Blue Dog Coalition Barking Up the Wrong Tree in 2012
The month of June ended with yet another conservative “Blue Dog” House Democrat deciding to pack it in. On June 7, Representative Dan Boren from Oklahoma’s 2nd district, who had been a frequent HUPAC beneficiary, announced his plans not to seek reelection in 2012 when his fourth term in Congress draws to a close. On June 24, Representative Boren graciously chose to return previous HUPAC contributions totaling $7,000 to HUPAC so that we can use them for other worthy candidates.
Boren’s retirement is the latest blow to the moderate-conservative wing of the Democratic party and comes on the heels of an election that caused the Blue Dog Coalition to lose more than half of the members occupying their ranks. His departure follows former Representative Jane Harman (CA-36) who resigned in February to take a position as the head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Representative Joe Donnelly (IN-02) who announced his plans to run for Senate even though he barely held on to his House seat during the 2010 election cycle.
At their prime, the Blue Dog Coalition numbered 54 members, but in 2010 it suffered a loss of 28 total members. Six retired from the House instead of facing what would have been extremely tough races, while 22 faced their demise at the ballot box. Boren’s congressional retirement came as quite a shock to many, since from all outward appearances it looked as though he was gearing up to seek a fifth term. He had recently assumed a leadership position within the Blue Dog Coalition and had reportedly set a goal of raising $3 million in preparation for his 2012 race. However, the D.C.-based publication Politico reported there was a private acknowledgement among the Boren team of the growing unpopularity of the Democratic party throughout Oklahoma.
Boren, along with many other conservative Democrats, was a vulnerable target of the Republicans 2012 strategy. The day after the 2010 midterm elections, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) identified Boren as a direct 2012 target and kept steady pressure on him from that day forward. Just hours before announcing his retirement, the NRCC unleashed a series of robocalls in Boren’s district attacking Democrats over Medicare.
Other Blue Dogs atop the NRCC target list include Representative Jim Matheson (UT-02), who occupies what some political pundits call the “most Republican seat currently held by a Democrat.” Others include Representative Mike Ross (AR-02) and Representatives Mike McIntyre and Health Shuler of North Carolina who are predicted to be in their most competitive races yet. Matheson, Ross, McIntyre and Shuler all represent members of Congress who have received HUPAC funds in the recent election cycle and who have been generally supportive of many of NAHU’s policy objectives throughout their tenures in office.
The current challenges facing the Blue Dog breed has left many in the health sector wondering about the fate of a group that has at times served as a crucial Democratic ally in various health policy matters facing Congress. Many around Washington speculate that the Republican target and media campaigns will not be the only challenge threatening the seats of Blue Dog members. Former Tennessee Representative John Tanner, a conservative Democrat who helped found the coalition in 1995, warned in a recent Politico article that the ranks of Blue Dogs could be further affected by the redistricting process which may threaten the likes of Representatives Jason Altmire (PA-04), Heath Shuler (NC-11) and John Barrow (GA-12).
As the election looms closer and the attacks on these targeted districts grow stronger, all eyes will rest on the Blue Dog Coalition to see whether they will be able to withstand the mounting challenges upon them. To sum up the Republican approach, Representative Pete Sessions (TX-32), chairman of the NRCC, was recently quoted as saying “Republicans and Democrats are, in their own ways, telling Blue Dogs: If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.”
4/6 – Tim Murphy for Congress (Representative Tim Murphy, R-PA-18)
4/12 – Whitfield for Congress (Representative Ed Whitfield, R-KY-01)
4/12 – Walden for Congress (Representative Greg Walden, R-OR-02)
4/13 – Mary Bono Mack Committee (Representative Mary Bono Mack, R-CA-45)
4/13 – Vern Buchanan for Congress (Representative Vern Buchanan, R-FL-13)
4/14 – Heath Shuler for Congress (Representative Health Shuler, D-NC-11)
4/14 – Roskam for Congress Committee (Representative Peter Roskam, R-IL-06)
4/15 – Guthrie for Congress (Representative Brett Guthrie, R-KY-02)
4/16 – Loebsack for Congress (Representative Dave Loebsack, D-IA-02)
4/29 – Friends of Jeb Hensarling (Representative Jeb Hensarling, R-TX-05) In-District Event
5/3 – Diane Black for Congress (Representative Diane Black, R-TN-06)
5/3 – Tiberi for Congress (Representative Pat Tiberi, R-OH-12)
5/4 – Dold for Congress (Representative Bob Dold, R-IL-10)
5/4 – Friends of John Barrow (Representative John Barrow, D-GA-12)
5/11 – Mike McIntyre for Congress (Representative Mike McIntyre, D-NC-07)
5/12 – Geoff Davis for Congress (Representative Geoff Davis, R-KY-04)
5/20 – Nelson 2012 (Senator Ben Nelson, D-NE) In-District Event
5/23 – Friends of Joe Pitts (Representative Joe Pitts, R-PA-16)
5/23 – Friends of Erik Paulsen (Representative Erik Paulsen, R-MN-03)
5/25 – Lee Terry for Congress (Representative Lee Terry, R-NE-02)
5/25 – Duncan D. Hunter for Congress (Representative Duncan Hunter, R-CA-52)
5/25 – Alaskans for Begich (Senator Mark Begich, D-AK)
5/26 – Scalise for Congress (Representative Steve Scalise, R-LA-01)
5/31 – Lummis for Congress (Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-WY-01)
June 2011
6/1 – Boren for Congress (Representative Dan Boren, D-OK-02)
6/1 – Friends of John Boehner (Representative John Boehner, R-OH-08)
6/2 – Graves for Congress (Representative Sam Graves, R-MO-06)
6/3 – John Campbell for Congress (Representative John Campbell, R-CA-48)
6/3 – Matheson for Congress (Representative Jim Matheson, D-UT-02)
6/6 – Kelly PAC (Senator Kelly Ayotte Leadership PAC, R-NH)
6/8 – Friends of John Barrow (Representative John Barrow, D-GA-12) In District Event
6/10 – Majority Committee PAC (Representative Kevin McCarthy Leadership PAC, R-CA-22) In-District Event
6/13 – Marsha Blackburn for Congress Committee (Representative Marsha Blackburn, R-TN-07)
6/15 – Sue Myrick for Congress (Representative Sue Myrick, R-NC-09)
6/16 – Nelson 2012 (Senator Ben Nelson, D-NE)
6/16 – John Sullivan for Congress (Representative John Sullivan, R-OK-01)
6/20 – Ken Calvert for Congress Committee (Representative Ken Calvert, R-CA-44) In-District Event
6/20 – Gingrey for Congress (Representative Phil Gingrey, R-GA-11) In-District Event
6/22 – Dutch Ruppersberger for Congress (Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD-02)
6/23 – Michigan Republican Party
6/23 – Schweikert for Congress (Representative David Schweikert, R-AZ-05)
6/23 – Duffy for Congress (Representative Sean Duffy, R-WI-07)
6/23 – Hoyer for Congress (Representative Steny Hoyer, D-MD-05)
6/28 – Friends of John Barrasso (Senator John Barrasso, R-WY)
6/30 – Scott Brown for US Senate (Senator Scott Brown, R-MA)
6/30 – Hatch Election Committee Inc. (Senator Orrin Hatch, R-UT)
6/30 – Friends of Frank Guinta (Representative Frank Guinta, R-NH-01) In-District Event
To all our generous contributors, we thank you for your continued support!
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National Association of Health Underwriters |
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