APMA News - September/October 2017 - 46

Report from the APMAPAC Chair
By Barney A. Greenberg, DPM

Are You Ready for Some Football?
I am ready for some football, but I have a job to do and
that job is to motivate all APMA members to become politically active.
Most everyone who is part of a football pool pays an entrance fee with the hope they will experience the satisfaction
of winning some money in return.
If we think of political action more like a game, with players
on both sides of the ball, and the goal to score a touchdown by
getting legislation passed, we can begin to understand how other
organizations are winning, and how we can ensure our own success. The stronger the team, the better the chance of winning.
Although APMA members make up a strong team, we need
to be stronger. We are more than halfway through the year,
and so far only 14 percent of our members have donated to
APMAPAC. We have to do better than that!
I am excited to announce that in late July, the US House of
Representatives passed our VA Provider Equity Act (HR 1058).
This success is thanks to the hard work of APMA President Ira
H. Kraus, DPM; Executive Director James R. Christina, DPM;

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and Director of Legislative Advocacy and APMAPAC Benjamin
J. Wallner, who worked in concert with Rep. Brad Wenstrup,
DPM (R-OH), to negotiate with the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Orthopaedic
Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) for their endorsement of the
bill. Wallner is presently working with Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD
(R-LA), to get the bill introduced in the Senate when the body
returns from recess early in September.
This bill, when passed and signed into law by the president, will put our colleagues on a level playing field in the VA,
and will mean higher salaries and increased opportunities for
career advancement through administrative leadership roles.
This win will be our Super Bowl win!
We can do this, but the "we" is not just the 14 percent who
have supported our efforts so far-"we" needs to be a 100-percent team effort.
Every member of APMA needs to:
1. make a meaningful donation to APMAPAC;
2. visit www.apma.org/eAdvocacy and send a prewritten
message to your US representative and senator on one
of our issues;
3. call and visit your elected officials in their district offices when Congress is not in session;
4. attend, host, or support a fundraiser for your member
of Congress or candidate for federal office;
5. get to know your legislators' office staff through regular
communications; and
6. get the representative to cosponsor our legislation.

With midterm elections right around the corner, we need
to have the resources necessary to support our friends and
help us make our goal.
So, when you are joining a football pool or playing fantasy
football this fall, think about my plea and follow the steps
above to help your profession.
I know that with your attention and help, our profession
can win!
n
Contact Dr. Greenberg at pac@apma.org.

www.totalvein.com * 888.868.8346
46 APMA News September/October 2017

PURPOSE: The American Podiatric Medical Association Political Action Committee's purpose is to raise and disburse funds to candidates for federal ofﬁce who
support the legislative priorities and goals of the podiatric medical profession.
IMPORTANT: Any contribution amounts noted here are suggested amounts. You may
contribute more, less, or not contribute without concern of being favored or disadvantaged. Occupation/employer information is required for aggregate annual contributions of more than $200.00 by the Federal Election Campaign Act. Federal election
law does not permit corporate contributions to be used for donation to candidates for
federal ofﬁce. Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - September/October 2017