Council on Governmental Affairs Report
Dr. Scott Hamilton
The Council on Governmental Affairs (COGA) met on September 10th and on January 27th in conjunction with the 2007 Leadership and Governmental Affairs Conference. The September meeting included a legislative affairs update on how a new Congress might affect our profession.
At the meeting January 27, 2007 in Washington, DC, the following actions were taken:
- The COGA has recommended to the Board of Trustees that the AAO’s Access-to-Care policy statement be amended to include the following preamble: “The AAO will work with the ADA and other dental organizations to increase access to quality orthodontic care for patients in need.”
- The Council has recommended to the Board of Trustees that the AAO continue its Partisan Communications Program in future election years, with the COGA Chair and/or the President of the AAO as the signatory.
- The COGA discussed legislation that is likely to advance during the current Congress with the AAO’s Legislative Counsel. It also discussed the political landscape, and how it is likely to shape the AAO’s agenda during the next two years and beyond, depending on which party controls Congress and the White House after the 2008 elections.
- The COGA reviewed the revised AAO Congressional Leave-Behind document, designed to be a concise summary statement of the AAO’s positions on legislative issues. It has recommended to the Board of Trustees that the document be revised slightly to indicate the AAO’s Access-to-Care policy statement by reference.
The AAO Political Action Committee (AAOPAC) Board of Directors also met on January 27, 2007 in Washington, DC. The following actions were taken:
- The Directors discussed several initiatives to increase contributions to the AAOPAC. It set a goal to raise $1,000,000 during the 2008 election cycle and to increase member participation to 33%. The Directors each committed to personally contributing $1,000 annually to the PAC, and have submitted a resolution to the AAO Board of Trustees asking each Trustee to make the same commitment. The Directors have also submitted a Resolution to the HOD, asking each Delegate, Alternate Delegate and the Speaker of the House to contribute $500 annually.
- Additionally, a subcommittee was appointed to investigate the costs associated with hiring an outside consulting firm to develop a market study on the AAO’s membership in order to determine what motivates members to contribute to the PAC and how the AAOPAC could refine its message to increase participation.
- The Directors revised the recognized contributor levels as follows: Student Membership = $25; Representative’s Club = $250; Senator’s Club= $500; President’s Club = $1,000; and Guardian’s Club = $2,500+.
- The Directors developed a policy that, when AAO members request AAOPAC funds for a candidate, the member must be a current contributor to the AAOPAC and a personal contributor to the candidate’s campaign of at least $250.
It has been my pleasure to serve on COGA and I thank you for the opportunity to represent the SWSO. Please contact me at drscott@hwortho.com should you have further questions.