Why bother?????..uhhgg

[l.rae]

Hey all, in response to one of NrsKarenRN's threads, (can't remember the title), But it involved the bill before congress to improve the collection of evidence for sexual assaults. Today l got a response from my congressman. l wanted to share it with you and get some feed back........thanks, LR

Dear

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 2874, the Debbie Smith Act.

It is good to hear from you.

Sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the Debbie Smith Act

would authorize federal grants to states for the purposes of: sexual

assault nurse examiner programs, law enforcement personnel training, and

"first responders" for the collection and use of DNA evidence. To be

eligible for the money, states would have to follow strict bureaucratic

guidelines that would nationally standardize evidence collection and

investigation procedures.

While I am certainly in favor of strict law enforcement, I must point out

that the Federal government does not have the time or resources to aid

states in solving every rape case. Criminal law enforcement is a state

issue. As is the case with most federal grants, the Washington-imposed

guidelines will do little more than "gum up the works." It is impossible

to think that states would have any freedom under the proposed process,

which I am sure you are aware, is always the case when federal funding is

involved. I fear, the Debbie Smith Act will simply cost more money while

yielding few results.

Thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please

continue to keep me informed of the issues that are important to you.

Sincerely,

John Boehner: (

[Youda]

Cool, jt. I like that 85% are elected.

But, who is the ANA endorsing for the election in a little under two weeks? Is there a list somewhere?

[l.rae]

good question Youda...JT?......LR

[-jt]

I cant get into the search browser right now. There is usally a list on the Govt Affairs page. If you cant get there either, send an email to the Govt Affairs dept addresses I gave you in that post up there & just ask them! I dont know whos running in your states. :) You can also call your own state assoc yourself & ask which of your local candidates they recommended for ANAs endorsment.

[Youda]

I'm sure the ANA and local associations are endorsing someone, but the problem is that this informaiton is not easy to find. Very few people will take the time to make that phone call, unfortunately, just as very few votes don't take the time to find out how candidates stand on ANY issue. If it isn't said in a 30-second campaign commercial, the general public is woefully uninformed about the candidates.

We need a "Friends of Nurses" list, like the ANA published in 1998.

[-jt]

A list of endorsed candidates was always put up there, & I thought it was again. I just couldnt get the search button to work to find it, so I sent an email (which anybody who wanted the info could have done) to the names I gave you in the other post. And received an immediate reply.

Apparently, there is some FEC rule now about posting certain things on public websites. If it was a members-only site, they could post the whole list. But its not so they cant anymore. It would be considered a "campaign donation" & they cant do that. I guess the rules changed since 1998 But if you contact the name below, she can give you the list of candidates endorsed in your state. Or you can get that from your state nurses assoc.

I understand your point but I don't think its so hard to find out which candidate is a "friend of nurses" in your state. Just ask your state nurses assoc. The ANA endorsement goes to whomever a states nurses recommend. Once again, nurses have to start taking the initative. The information is there for them if they want it.

contact:

Shari Dexter

ANA-PAC Coordinator

202-651-7096(w)

[email protected]

[-jt]

PS,

Your state nurses assoc has a list of endorsed candidates right on its own website! 2 clicks of the wrist & there it was. :)

PAN-M Endorsements for November 5, 2002 election.

http://www.missourinurses.org/panm2.shtml

Maybe everyone should check their own state assoc website too.

Also on your states website, I found something which you might be interested in & would be excellent at:

The network would essentially consist of a list-serve group where periodic e-mails regarding the Senator's positions, press releases, upcoming events, etc. would be sent to people who signed up for the service.

If you have any questions, or would be willing to help out, please feel free to contact Rachel Shields with the Carnahan Campaign at 314-531-2006, or Jan Polizzi, MONA Member and chair of PAN-M committee at [phone] or [email protected].

Thank you for your time.>>

http://www.missourinurses.org/panm1.shtml

[Youda]

Yes, -jt!

I've been inactive in politics for a long, long time. I must say that because of your efforts, rncountry, and Karen's, I am starting to get involved again. I'm also playing catch-up to learn what has already been done, and where to best help. The Carnahan/Talent race for the Senate seat is going to be a very close call. I've been watching that race with a great deal of interest.