Volume 25, Issue 1
DOCTORS, DOCTORS EVERYWHERE
2012 Texas Election Update and Legislative Forecast
Jaime Capelo, JD
TSA Legislative Consultant
Texas defied the national trend and Republicans maintained supremacy. Texas Democrats did, however, demonstrate that the “coalition” approach can work in Texas too. In particular, Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Ft. Worth) defeated Rep. Mark Shelton MD (R-Ft. Worth) in a Republican district – Senate District 10. Overall, Texas Democrats increased their presence in the Texas House of Representatives from 48 to 55, leaving Republicans with 95 House members – a substantial majority, even if it is not a “super majority.” In the Senate, the Republican and Democrat numbers remained the same – 19 Republicans and only 12 Democrats.
Ironically, despite the Democratic gains in the Texas House and no change in the Texas Senate, both chambers are now more conservative than they were last session. During the Primary elections, conservative Republicans defeated moderate Republicans, with some exceptions.
Medicine was also a big winner! Six physicians were sworn into the 83rd Legislature on January 8, 2013: Sen. Bob Deuell, MD (R-Greenville) (Family Medicine ), Sen.-Elect Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown) (Orthopedic surgery), Sen.-Elect Donna Campbell, MD (R-New Braunfels) (Emergency Medicine), Rep. John Zerwas, MD (R-Simonton) (Anesthesiology), Rep.-Elect Greg Bonnen, MD (R-Friendswood) (Neurosurgery) and Rep.-Elect JD Sheffield, DO (R-Gatesville) (Family Medicine). The highest number of physicians serving in the Texas Legislature ever!
Kyle Janek, MD
Your TSAPAC had another very successful election cycle! TSAPAC supported 87 statewide and legislative candidates in the 2011 – 2012 election cycle, contributing a record-high $324,500. Our TSAPAC winning percentage was 89%; 76 of our 87 supported candidates won! You only have to look at your colleagues – HHSC Commissioner Kyle Janek, MD (Anesthesiology) and Rep. John Zerwas, MD (Anesthesiology) to know that your contributions make a big difference!
The election results set the stage for a tension-filled 83rd Legislature; discussion of conservative and some say “divisive” issues like vouchers, Voter ID, and sanctuary cities, may be expedited in the upcoming legislature. On opening day, the Senate may engage in a fight to change the “2/3 rule”. The Texas Senate requires “2/3” of the Senators present to affirmatively vote to officially recognize a bill on the Senate Floor for discussion and vote.
The Texas Senate “2/3 rule” is not much different from the US Senate’s “cloture” rule which originally required 2/3 of the 100 US Senators to end debate with a 2/3 majority vote. The US Senate “cloture” rule is now 3/5 of the US Senators, or 60 out of 100. The purpose of these rules is to not only encourage but require the legislation in question be meaningful to the people, as determined by the Senators.
John Zerwas, MD
Unfortunately this will be the background in which TSA and our legislative champions will advocate for anesthesiologists in the 83rd Legislature. TSA will fight for maintaining/increasing Medicaid payment for anesthesiologists, protecting our out-of-network rights, increasing physicians’ rights, defending against further erosion of patients’ and physicians’ rights, defending our scope of practice and, of course, protecting our historic medical liability reforms. TSA looks forward to a tough, but successful 83rd Legislature.
As you know, each year the political and monetary interest in health care grows, creating tougher challenges for TSA. Accordingly, TSA must increase its political and legislative participation in order to defend and protect anesthesiologists in Texas.
Thank you all for standing up for Texas Anesthesiologists, your participation in TSA and the TSAPAC, is making a difference in your practice today and tomorrow.
