Kathryn Serkes

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Kathryn Serkes is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Doctor Patient Medical Association (DPMA), a conservative group working to repeal health care reform[1] that calls itself "a nonpartisan association of doctors and patients dedicated to preserving free choice in medicine."[2] The DPMA has ties to the Tea Party Movement.[3]

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

Kathryn Serkes represents DPMA as a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and is on ALEC's Health and Human Services Task Force.[4]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

Background

Role in Defeating Clinton Health Plan

According to her biography on the DPMA website, "for more than 16 years, [Serkes] served as public affairs and policy consultant for the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, representing that group during it’s litigation against the Hillary Clinton and the White House Health Care Task Force, and helping to spur the national coalition that lead to the defeat of the Clinton health plan."[4]

Time at the Controversial Federal Emergency Management Agency

"Appointed by four Administrations to serve at the Federal Emergency Management Agency" (FEMA), according to Serkes' biography, she "received that agency’s highest recognition, the 'Director’s Award for Meritorious Service.'"[4] FEMA is a "former independent agency that became part of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 - is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters."[5] FEMA's role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been widely criticized.

Work to Limit the Rights of Americans Injured or Killed by Corporations

According to DPMA, Serkes is "founder and chair of the 'Coalition Against Prosecutorial Abuse' to rein in government trial lawyers – the criminal companion to civil tort reform."[4]

History in the PR Business

According to DPMA, Serkes "is also president and founder of Square One Media Network, a strategic communications firm serving clients such as Boeing, Sheraton Hotels, Continental Airlines, Time Warner Communications, Washington State Dairy Commission, Washington Health Care Association, and the State of Washington since 1985. Offices are located in Seattle and Washington D.C."[4]

References

  1. Suzanne Hoholik, Group Predicts Savings from Health-Care Law, Columbus Dispatch, October 27, 2011
  2. Amy Kremer, Politico Arena profile, accessed December 20, 2011
  3. National Tea Party Federation, Membership List, organizational site, accessed December 20, 2011
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Doctor Patient Medical Association, Kathryn Serkes, organization biography, accessed December 20, 2011 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SerkesBio" defined multiple times with different content
  5. Federal Emergency Management Agency, History, government agency site, accessed December 20, 2011
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