- Email: [email protected]
A review of the 2004 US Senate race
OCTOBER 2004, VOL 80, NO 4
Health Policy Issues
HEALTH
P O L I C Y
I S S U E S
A review of t h e 2004 US Senate race
T
uesday, Nov 2, is Election Day in the United States. In addition to the race for US President, candidates are running for all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the US Senate. Newly elected members will take office as the 109th Congress in January 2005. The Republican party currently controls the White House and, by narrow margins, both branches of Congress. Given the philosophical differences of the two major political parties, the election results will determine strategies and approaches used by organizations to lobby Congress and initiate grassroots activities in support of legislative priorities during the coming year. AORN’s Legislative Committee is considering several advocacy issues, such as medical liability and patient safety proposals, for possible action in 2005. Current legislative priorities include 0 keeping the RN in the OR, 0 protecting the RN scope of practice with regard to unlicensed assistive personnel, 0 supporting activities to address the national nursing shortage, and 0 seeking insurance reimbursement for certified RN first assistants. Advocacy opportunities will depend on which party controls the decisionmaking processes. As voters, perioperative nurses can have a significant effect on outreach efforts next year by being informed citizens right now. Of the 34 seats up for election in the Senate, Democratic incumbents hold 14; Republican incumbents hold 12 (Table 1). Eight states have open senatorial seats because the incumbent has either retired or decided not to run. Incumbent candidates usually have an advantage because their positions
Burke Beu
generate publicity and name recognition. Additionally, their routine contact with interest groups in Washington, DC, makes campaign fundraising easier and, often, more lucrative. Sixteen states will not have a senatorial race in 2004. These are 0 Maine, 0 Massachusetts, 0 Michigan, 0 Minnesota, 0 Mississippi, 0 Montana, 0 Nebraska, 0 New Jersey, 0 New Mexico, 0 Rhode Island, 0 Tennessee, 0 Texas, 0 Virginia, 0 West Virginia, and 0 Wyoming. If Sen John Kerry (D-Mass) is elected President, however, there may be a special election in 2005 to fill his seat. At the state level, the following 11 states have gubernatorial elections in November: 0 Delaware, 0 Indiana, 0 Missouri, 0 Montana, 0 New Hampshire, 0 North Carolina, 0 North Dakota, 0 Utah, 0 Vermont, 0 Washington, and 0 West Virginia. Additionally, all 50 states have numerous races for their legislatures and local public offices.*:* BURKE BEU FEDERALLEGISLATIVE SPECIALIST GOVERNMENTAFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AORN JOURNAL
751
Health Policy Issues
OCTOBER 2004, VOL 80, NO 4
TABLE1
2004 US Senate Races with incambents running State Democratic candidate Wayne Sowell Alabama Tony Knowles Alaska Sen Blanche Lincoln Arkansas Arizona Stu Starky California Sen Barbara Boxer Sen Chris Dodd Connecticut Hawaii Sen Daniel Inouye Idaho Scott McClure Indiana Sen Evan Bayh Art small Iowa Kansas Robert Conroy Kentucky Dan Mongiardo Sen Barbara Mikdski Maryland Nancy Farmer Missouri Sen Harry Reid Nevada To be decided !&pt 14 New Hampshire New York Sen Charles Schumer Sen Byron Dorgan North Dakota Eric Fingerhut Ohio Sen Ron Wyden Oregon JoeHoeffel Pennsylvania Sen Tom Daschle South Dakota Paul Van Dam Utah Sen Patrick Leahy Vermont Sen Patty Murray Washington Wisconsin Sen Russ Feingold open races State Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Louisiana North Caroliia Oklahoma South Carolina
Democratic candidate Ken %lazar Betty Castor Denjse Majette Barack Obama Several, state uses a run-offsystem Erskine Bowles Brad Carson Inez Tenenbaum
Web site http:/h.waynmell2OO4.org http:/b.tonyknmles.com http:/m.blancheM.org h t t p : / m .starkyf o r t e . c o m ht t p : / h . b o x e r 2004.org http:/h.chrisdodd.com http:/h.dan2004.m http:/fuww.mcclur+rsenate.com http:/hw.evanbayh.com ht tp:/h.artsmallfirsenate.com None http:/h.drdan20.com http:/m.senatorbarb.com http:/m.nancyfarm@orussena te.com http:/huww.fimdsforharyreid.com http:/m..chuckschumer.org http:/W.dorgan04.com http:/m$ingtrhu tforsenate.com http:/m.wyden.net http:/b..ho4felfmsenate.com http:/h.tomdaschle.com http:/h.uandamussenate.com http://www.leahyfomt.com http://www.pattymurray.com http:/m.rus$eingold.org Web site http://wwro.salazarjbrcolorado.com http:/,ettycastorforsenate.com http:/[email protected] http:/h.obamaforillinois.com
http:/h.lademo.org (party web site) http://www..bowIes20.com http:/h.bradcarson.com http:/~.inez2004.com
*Many of these races include minor party candidates, mostfrom the Green and Libertarian parties. Their national web sites are http:/ /www.gp.org and http://www.lp.org, respectively.
752
AORN JOURNAL
TABLE1
2004 US Senate Race (continued) Races with incumbents running Republican candidate Web site Sen Richard Shelby
Sen Lisa Murkowski Jim Holt Sen John McCain Bill Jones Jack Orchulli To be decided Sept 18 Sen Mike Crapo Marvin Scott Sen Charles Grassley Sen Sam Brownback Sen Jim Bunning E. J. Pipkin Sen Kit Bond Richard Ziser Sen Judd Gregg Howard Mills Mike Liffrig Sen Gerorge Voinovich
Al King Sen Arlen Specter John Thune Sen Robert Bennett To be decided Sept 14 George Nethercutt To be decided Sept 14
http://www.shelbyforsenate.com http:/+.lisamurkowski.com http:/hww.jimholt.us http:/+,@ndsofmccain.com ht tp:/hww.jonesforcalifomia.com http://[email protected] None
http://wruul.mam'nscott.org http:/+.grassleyworks.com http:/him-brownback.com http:/)hw. bunningforsenate.org http://wruul.pipkinforsenate.com http:/+.kitbond.com http:/+,ziserf rsenate.com http://wruul.juddgregg.corn http:/~m.mills2OO4.cm http:/2vww.mikelij+ig.com http://wruul.voinovichforsenate.com http:/+.kingforsenate.com http:/7www.specter2OO4.com http:/+.johnthune.com http://www.bobbennett2004.com
http://wruul.nethercuttforsenate.com
Open races Republican candidate
Web site
Current senator
Pete Coors Me1 Martinez Johnny Isakson Alan Keyes
ht tp:/%uww.coorsforsenate.com ht t p : / h .melforsenate.org http://www..isakson.net http:/~.keyes20.com
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R) Bob Graham (D) Zell Miller (R) Peter Fitzgerald (R)
David Vitter Richard Burr Tom Coburn Jim DeMint
http:/%uww.vitterforsenate.com http://~~..richardburrcommittee.com http/%uww.eoburnforsenate.com http:/h.jimdemint.com
John Breaux (D) John Edwards (D) Don Nickles (R) Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D)
1. Demoerntic Senatorial Campaign Committee, http:/ /www.dscc.org/Races/states-new (acces%d 2 Sept 2004). 2. National Republican Senatorial Committee, http://www.nrsc.org/nrscweb/races2004(accessed 1 Sept 2004). 3. Ron Girnzburger's Politics, http://www.politicsl.com/states.htm(accessed 2 Sept 2004). ._
AORN JOURNAL
7 53
Health Policy Issues
HEALTH
P O L I C Y
I S S U E S
A review of t h e 2004 US Senate race
T
uesday, Nov 2, is Election Day in the United States. In addition to the race for US President, candidates are running for all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the US Senate. Newly elected members will take office as the 109th Congress in January 2005. The Republican party currently controls the White House and, by narrow margins, both branches of Congress. Given the philosophical differences of the two major political parties, the election results will determine strategies and approaches used by organizations to lobby Congress and initiate grassroots activities in support of legislative priorities during the coming year. AORN’s Legislative Committee is considering several advocacy issues, such as medical liability and patient safety proposals, for possible action in 2005. Current legislative priorities include 0 keeping the RN in the OR, 0 protecting the RN scope of practice with regard to unlicensed assistive personnel, 0 supporting activities to address the national nursing shortage, and 0 seeking insurance reimbursement for certified RN first assistants. Advocacy opportunities will depend on which party controls the decisionmaking processes. As voters, perioperative nurses can have a significant effect on outreach efforts next year by being informed citizens right now. Of the 34 seats up for election in the Senate, Democratic incumbents hold 14; Republican incumbents hold 12 (Table 1). Eight states have open senatorial seats because the incumbent has either retired or decided not to run. Incumbent candidates usually have an advantage because their positions
Burke Beu
generate publicity and name recognition. Additionally, their routine contact with interest groups in Washington, DC, makes campaign fundraising easier and, often, more lucrative. Sixteen states will not have a senatorial race in 2004. These are 0 Maine, 0 Massachusetts, 0 Michigan, 0 Minnesota, 0 Mississippi, 0 Montana, 0 Nebraska, 0 New Jersey, 0 New Mexico, 0 Rhode Island, 0 Tennessee, 0 Texas, 0 Virginia, 0 West Virginia, and 0 Wyoming. If Sen John Kerry (D-Mass) is elected President, however, there may be a special election in 2005 to fill his seat. At the state level, the following 11 states have gubernatorial elections in November: 0 Delaware, 0 Indiana, 0 Missouri, 0 Montana, 0 New Hampshire, 0 North Carolina, 0 North Dakota, 0 Utah, 0 Vermont, 0 Washington, and 0 West Virginia. Additionally, all 50 states have numerous races for their legislatures and local public offices.*:* BURKE BEU FEDERALLEGISLATIVE SPECIALIST GOVERNMENTAFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AORN JOURNAL
751
Health Policy Issues
OCTOBER 2004, VOL 80, NO 4
TABLE1
2004 US Senate Races with incambents running State Democratic candidate Wayne Sowell Alabama Tony Knowles Alaska Sen Blanche Lincoln Arkansas Arizona Stu Starky California Sen Barbara Boxer Sen Chris Dodd Connecticut Hawaii Sen Daniel Inouye Idaho Scott McClure Indiana Sen Evan Bayh Art small Iowa Kansas Robert Conroy Kentucky Dan Mongiardo Sen Barbara Mikdski Maryland Nancy Farmer Missouri Sen Harry Reid Nevada To be decided !&pt 14 New Hampshire New York Sen Charles Schumer Sen Byron Dorgan North Dakota Eric Fingerhut Ohio Sen Ron Wyden Oregon JoeHoeffel Pennsylvania Sen Tom Daschle South Dakota Paul Van Dam Utah Sen Patrick Leahy Vermont Sen Patty Murray Washington Wisconsin Sen Russ Feingold open races State Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Louisiana North Caroliia Oklahoma South Carolina
Democratic candidate Ken %lazar Betty Castor Denjse Majette Barack Obama Several, state uses a run-offsystem Erskine Bowles Brad Carson Inez Tenenbaum
Web site http:/h.waynmell2OO4.org http:/b.tonyknmles.com http:/m.blancheM.org h t t p : / m .starkyf o r t e . c o m ht t p : / h . b o x e r 2004.org http:/h.chrisdodd.com http:/h.dan2004.m http:/fuww.mcclur+rsenate.com http:/hw.evanbayh.com ht tp:/h.artsmallfirsenate.com None http:/h.drdan20.com http:/m.senatorbarb.com http:/m.nancyfarm@orussena te.com http:/huww.fimdsforharyreid.com http:/m..chuckschumer.org http:/W.dorgan04.com http:/m$ingtrhu tforsenate.com http:/m.wyden.net http:/b..ho4felfmsenate.com http:/h.tomdaschle.com http:/h.uandamussenate.com http://www.leahyfomt.com http://www.pattymurray.com http:/m.rus$eingold.org Web site http://wwro.salazarjbrcolorado.com http:/,ettycastorforsenate.com http:/[email protected] http:/h.obamaforillinois.com
http:/h.lademo.org (party web site) http://www..bowIes20.com http:/h.bradcarson.com http:/~.inez2004.com
*Many of these races include minor party candidates, mostfrom the Green and Libertarian parties. Their national web sites are http:/ /www.gp.org and http://www.lp.org, respectively.
752
AORN JOURNAL
TABLE1
2004 US Senate Race (continued) Races with incumbents running Republican candidate Web site Sen Richard Shelby
Sen Lisa Murkowski Jim Holt Sen John McCain Bill Jones Jack Orchulli To be decided Sept 18 Sen Mike Crapo Marvin Scott Sen Charles Grassley Sen Sam Brownback Sen Jim Bunning E. J. Pipkin Sen Kit Bond Richard Ziser Sen Judd Gregg Howard Mills Mike Liffrig Sen Gerorge Voinovich
Al King Sen Arlen Specter John Thune Sen Robert Bennett To be decided Sept 14 George Nethercutt To be decided Sept 14
http://www.shelbyforsenate.com http:/+.lisamurkowski.com http:/hww.jimholt.us http:/+,@ndsofmccain.com ht tp:/hww.jonesforcalifomia.com http://[email protected] None
http://wruul.mam'nscott.org http:/+.grassleyworks.com http:/him-brownback.com http:/)hw. bunningforsenate.org http://wruul.pipkinforsenate.com http:/+.kitbond.com http:/+,ziserf rsenate.com http://wruul.juddgregg.corn http:/~m.mills2OO4.cm http:/2vww.mikelij+ig.com http://wruul.voinovichforsenate.com http:/+.kingforsenate.com http:/7www.specter2OO4.com http:/+.johnthune.com http://www.bobbennett2004.com
http://wruul.nethercuttforsenate.com
Open races Republican candidate
Web site
Current senator
Pete Coors Me1 Martinez Johnny Isakson Alan Keyes
ht tp:/%uww.coorsforsenate.com ht t p : / h .melforsenate.org http://www..isakson.net http:/~.keyes20.com
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R) Bob Graham (D) Zell Miller (R) Peter Fitzgerald (R)
David Vitter Richard Burr Tom Coburn Jim DeMint
http:/%uww.vitterforsenate.com http://~~..richardburrcommittee.com http/%uww.eoburnforsenate.com http:/h.jimdemint.com
John Breaux (D) John Edwards (D) Don Nickles (R) Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D)
1. Demoerntic Senatorial Campaign Committee, http:/ /www.dscc.org/Races/states-new (acces%d 2 Sept 2004). 2. National Republican Senatorial Committee, http://www.nrsc.org/nrscweb/races2004(accessed 1 Sept 2004). 3. Ron Girnzburger's Politics, http://www.politicsl.com/states.htm(accessed 2 Sept 2004). ._
AORN JOURNAL
7 53