TEXPAC Activities(2)

REPORT OF TEXPAC

Achievements in 2006 include :

• 2006 membership totaled 4977 members
• Physician membership - 3909 members.
• Alliance membership - 1009 members.
• Resident membership - 31 members.
• Student membership - 72 members.
• 300 Club membership and Capitol Club membership are doing well and growing:

Capitol Club - 88 members.
300 Club - 493 members.

•   Misc. - 30 members (this includes office staff, TMA staff, county medical society staff)

Achievements in 2005 include :

• 2005 membership totaled 5,615.
• Physician membership - 4,546 members.
• Alliance membership - 929 members.
• Resident membership - 59 members.
• Student membership - 49 members.
• 300 Club membership and Capitol Club membership are doing well and growing:

Capitol Club - 79 members.
300 Club - 566 members.

•   Misc. - 30 members (this includes office staff, TMA staff, county medical society staff)

TEXPAC current membership levels include:

• Dual TEXPAC/AMPAC Capitol Club membership (Capitol Club is the only joint membership category; $1,000 per couple per year);
• TEXPAC/AMPAC 300 Club membership ($300 per person per year);
• TEXPAC/AMPAC membership ($125 per physician per year-$75 TEXPAC, $50 AMPAC)

($100 per alliance member per year-$50 TEXPAC, $50 AMPAC);

• Basic Alliance TEXPAC membership ($50 per alliance member per year);
• Resident TEXPAC/AMPAC membership ($40 per year; $20 for resident spouse);
• Student TEXPAC/AMPAC membership ($10 per year; $10 for student spouse).

The TEXPAC board will continue to make membership one of its top priorities. TEXPAC intends to revise and update the current marketing plan to ensure all appropriate and timely efforts are undertaken to enhance membership and revenue. It is important that every delegation to the TMA house have 100 percent membership in TEXPAC. This display of unity is critical.

TEXPAC's Observations on Results Election Night
Storyline : TEXPAC had a great evening and a great election cycle helping our friends to be elected. TEXPAC helped elect six physicians and one alliance member to their respective legislative bodies. TEXPAC kept up its exceptional pace by winning 97 percent of the races it endorsed in the election.

The big picture is the media coined term 'tsunami' that overtook the national Republican party this year. The U.S. Congress became Democrat after a 12 year hiatus, after the D's pick up 27 Congressional seats. As one observer has stated, this reflects a huge shift given the redistricters abilities to draw very tight districts. The control of the U.S. Senate also went to the Democrats.

Statewides : No surprises. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry led the pack of R candidates, including David Dewhurst, Greg Abbott, Susan Combs, Todd Staples for statewide offices. All of TEXPAC's endorsed Supreme Court candidates were victorious.

Storyline : Governor Perry, won a 39 percent plurality, will become the longest serving Texas Governor on record. The Republican Party continues to demonstrate its dominance at the state level.

Congress : In the General election, all incumbents will return, including MichaelBurgess, MD, and Ron Paul, MD. In the five special elections court ordered redistricted seats, four of the five returned.  However, Ciro Rodriguez will return after a 2-year hiatus.  As noted, TEXPAC did elect a physician to the Congress - Shelly Sekula-Gibbs, MD, who served in the lame duck congress last year and was another strong voice for the fix on the SGR. Nick Lampson took over CD 22 in January for the 110th Congress.

Storyline : The partisan split for the Texas Delegation is now 19R/13D. The U.S. Congress will be led by the Democrats in the 110th Congress.  Lloyd Doggett, Gene Green, and Charlie Gonzalez are key members addressing health care issues as they serve on the Ways and Means (Doggett) and Energy and Commerce Committees (Green and Gonzalez). Silvestre Reyes is chair of the House Intelligence Committee. 

Texas  Senate
Sixteen seats were up for election--seven major party races and one close race, SD 29 in El Paso. Dee Margo was expected to give Senator Shapleigh a race, but Shapleigh won handily.

Storyline: TEXPAC reelects Kyle Janek, MD, and Bob Deuell, MD. The 5 Freshman. 1 pick up for R's as Katy farmer and attorney Glen Hegar succeeds Ken Armbrister. Southside San Antonio Attorney Carlos Uresti will be a strong voice for medicine. Austin Attorney Kirk Watson will be an actively engaged and dynamic member. Jacksonvillebusinessman and inventor Robert Nichols will bring his business and hospital background to the table. Houstonradio talk show host Dan Patrick is expected to be the wildcard. The Hegar race changed the partisan numbers in the Senate from 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats to 20 Republicans and 11 Democrats.  Democrats still have the 11 votes they need to block bills from Senate consideration under the 2/3rds rule.

Texas House
One hundred fifty were seats up for election; 69 major party races; 15 races on watch list. There was a 86/64 partisan split going into the election. There were 20 open seats. 10 new chairmanships.

Storyline : TEXPAC elects TMA member John Zerwas, MD, and TMA Alliance member Susan King to the Texas House. Speaker Tom Craddick will retain his position. The two biggest surprises of the evening include Alan Vaught's victory in Dallas and Democrat Joe Heflin fighting to keep HD 85 in West Texasin D column. The Republicans lost no less than four seats. Hot races: D, Juan Garcia, Ellen Cohen beat incumbent Martha Wong in Houston, Tony Goolsby is victorious, Joe Heflin gets over the finish line first to beat a strong challenge as the D's retain Speaker Laney's former seat, Democrat Paula Hightower Pierson beats incumbent Toby Goodman, Democrat Chuck Hopson wins a squeaker, Democrat Hubert Vo overcomes his challenger, Democrat Robby Cook staves off a late run and wins, Democrat Valinda Bolton wins the open HD 47 seat in Austin, Democrat Joe Farias succeeds Senator Uresti for the HD 118 race in San Antonio, and Republican Jim Murphy wins the HD 133 seat in Houston.

Judicials

TEXPAC fairs well in Appellate Court races, losing only one race.

Storyline : In Texarkana, Bailey Mosely whipped Ben Franks for the seat on the 6th Court. Elsa Alcala handily wins reelection to the 1st Court in Houston. Phyllis Speedlin, Karen Angelini and Rebecca Simmons overcome their challengers to retain their seats on the 4th Court in San Antonio. Finally, the toughest fights of the evening were Judges Bob Pemberton, David Puryear, and Alan Waldrop who all overcame strong challenges from the trial bar to retain their seats.

Your involvement as a member of the House of Delegates is critical to TEXPAC. TMA leadership must step up to the plate to ensure victory on issues that matter to them. Here are some ways you can help:

1. Join TEXPAC!
2. Upgrade your TEXPAC membership by calling toll free 1-800-880-1300 ext. 1361.
3. Talk to your patients about medicine's issues.
4. Volunteer to work or assist with a candidate's campaign.
5. Urge your friends and patients to vote for pro-medicine candidates.

If you have information or political intelligence about races in your area or wish to get more involved in the TEXPAC effort, call TEXPAC staff or log onto  www.texpac.org .

TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2007