APMA News - September/October 2020 - 30

Federal Advocacy Forum
By Patrick A. DeHeer, DPM, and William S. Long, DPM

Podiatry Votes!
The political season is upon us, and Election Day-November 3-is approaching rapidly. The right to cast a vote for
your governmental representation is something that should
not and cannot be taken for granted. The notion that your
vote does not matter is not valid; remember the 2000 presidential election, regardless of your political affiliation.
By voting, you take an active role in issues that affect you
and your family at all levels of government. Voting to elect
candidates who will move the podiatric profession forward
while ensuring its critical role in the health-care system is the
basis of advocacy. By actively supporting legislators by voting,
contributing to their campaigns, and engaging with them on
behalf of your profession, you invest in your future.
"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
This quote's origin is unknown, but it is thought to have
originated in Washington, DC, circa 2000.1,2 The quote is a
favorite among lobbyists, rightfully so, as it summarizes so
clearly the federal and local political process. Keeping podiatry at the table instead of on the menu is every podiatric physician's responsibility.
How does podiatry keep its seat at the table? It starts with
you and your contributions to APMAPAC and your active advocacy on behalf of the profession.
How does APMAPAC decide where to use your contributions?3
Funds collected by APMAPAC are contributed to congressional candidates who are selected without regard to political
party. Only candidates seeking a seat in the US House or Senate may be recipients of APMAPAC's funds. Candidate support is based on:
1. A candidate's position on issues-Does the incumbent candidate support podiatric medicine's issues? Is the candidate
accessible to APMA members and lobbyists? If a candidate
is a non-incumbent, were they supportive in the state or
local governing structure?
2. A candidate's congressional committee appointment-As
an incumbent, does the candidate serve on a committee
that has jurisdiction over federal health policy?
3. APMA member/state component endorsement-Does the
candidate have the backing of APMA members and/or the
state component? This criterion is required for the support
of non-incumbents.
What does active advocacy involve? It means responding to
APMA's calls to action to engage with your senators and representative through eAdvocacy; making phone calls; and par30 APMA News September/October 2020

ticipating in in-person meetings in Washington, DC, and in
your congressional district. APMA provides resources on its
website to make advocacy easy and straightforward with the
eAdvocacy tool and step-by-step instructions for making
congressional phone calls.4,5
Thinking that someone else will vote so you do not need to
is unacceptable. Thinking someone else will contribute to
APMAPAC so you do not need to is unacceptable. Thinking
someone else will get on the eAdvocacy website to send
emails to your senators and representative so you do not need
to is unacceptable. Thinking someone else will make the
phone call or meet with your members of Congress so you do
not need to is unacceptable.
Your advocacy checklist for this fall to ensure that podiatry
stays at the table:
* Go vote!
* Contribute to APMAPAC! Visit www.apma.org/donate.
* Use eAdvocacy! Visit www.apma.org/eAdvocacy.
* Advocate for your profession!
The podiatric profession is too small for anyone to expect
that someone else will do these things for you. We must all
carry our share of the load and do our part for the profession
and our careers. n
References:
1
www.oncnursingnews.com/nurse-blogs/carol_bush/1213/
if-youre-not-at-the-table-youre-on-the-menu
2
https://journals.lww.com/jnsdonline/Citation/2016/01000/_If_
You_re_Not_at_the_Table,_You_re_on_the_Menu__.8.aspx
3
www.apma.org/apmapac
4
www.apma.org/eAdvocacy
5
www.apma.org/HELLPPcallinstructions

http://www.apma.org/donate http://www.apma.org/eAdvocacy http://www.oncnursingnews.com/nurse-blogs/carol_bush/1213/if-youre-not-at-the-table-youre-on-the-menu http://www.oncnursingnews.com/nurse-blogs/carol_bush/1213/if-youre-not-at-the-table-youre-on-the-menu https://journals.lww.com/jnsdonline/Citation/2016/01000/_If_You_re_Not_at_the_Table,_You_re_on_the_Menu__.8.aspx https://journals.lww.com/jnsdonline/Citation/2016/01000/_If_You_re_Not_at_the_Table,_You_re_on_the_Menu__.8.aspx http://www.apma.org/apmapac http://4www.apma.org/eAdvocacy http://5www.apma.org/HELLPPcallinstructions

APMA News - September/October 2020

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