FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/November 12, 1996 CONTACT: Sara Foer [202-651-7023]; Joan Meehan [202-651-7020] ANA Celebrates Clinton VictoryTwo Nurses Win House SeatsWASHINGTON, DC --The American Nurses Association (ANA) celebrated Bill Clinton's electoral-vote landslide victory over Republican challenger Robert J. Dole. Citing his continued support of registered nurses (RNs) and the nursing profession, as well as his commitment to improving the health care system through sound public policy, ANA confirmed its pride in having endorsed Bill Clinton for re-election. "President Clinton has actively sought the support of nursing for the past four years and has embraced many of the principles of Nursing's Agenda for Health Care Reform, and we look forward to his continued leadership with an increased focus on improving access to and delivery of health care," said ANA President Beverly L. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. Nursing's Agenda, the profession's plan for health care, was released in 1991 and is endorsed by more than 70 nursing and health care organizations. Addressing ANA's centennial convention in June, President Clinton raised the political awareness of the 5,000 attendees and called for their support during his campaign while paying tribute to their selfless commitment to provide the highest quality of care for the past 100 years, acknowledging their support for his health care initiatives, and asking for their continued support for key legislation. "President Clinton's request for support was welcomed by our nurse colleagues, who pledged to organize nurses around health care issues and to promote the Clinton/Gore ticket," said Malone. "One of ANA's primary goals was to highlight the role of nurses in politics this year both as candidates themselves and as political activists supporting nurse-friendly candidates," she continued. This year, two of the nurse candidates won seats in Congress. Eddie Bernice Johnson, RN, (D-TX-30th), who was first elected to Congress in 1992 was re-elected this year. Joining Johnson is New York licensed practical nurse Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-4th) who defeated freshman incumbent Republican Daniel Frisa. McCarthy was one of the most visible of the nurse candidates. She is the widow and mother of two victims of the Long Island Railroad massacre that occurred in 1993. In August, McCarthy addressed the Democratic National Convention, promising to fight to retain the assault weapons ban and to end "the violence that means millions of dollars in hospital costs every year, and so much pain." The three other nurse challengers did not fare as well; however, they did bring the issue of health care to the public's attention. Operating room nurse, Lydia Spottswood, RN, (D-WI) lost to freshman Rep. Mark Neumann (R-WI) in the race for Wisconsin's First Congressional District seat. Motivated to run for political office because of Congress' move to shrink the health care system, San Diego oncology nurse Rita Tamerius, RN, (D-CA-51st) and Iowan Connie McBurney, LPN, (D-IA-4th) both lost their races. Tamerius lost to Republican R. Cunningham and McBurney lost to Republican incumbent Greg Ganske. Both Spottswood and McBurney fought tight races and lost by small margins. ANA is looking forward to working with President Clinton and the 105th Congress in promoting health care issues that affect the nation's consumers as well as securing nurses' roles in meeting their health care needs.
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