Republican Majority for Choice
Republican Majority for Choice (formerly known as the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition) is a Political Action Committee that seeks to elect Republican candidates to office who are pro-abortion.
Contents
History
In 2000, the Republican Coalition Pro-Choice Alliance of New York, the Republican Coalition for Choice and the Republican Pro-Choice PAC merged into one organization operating as the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.[1]
The coalition later changed its name to the Republican Majority for Choice."
Personnel
2000
Following the creation of the Republican Majority for Choice, the following were named as leaders of the organization:[1]
- Susan R. Cullman, co-chair
- Samuel F. Pryor, III, co-chair
- Pat Green, PAC co-chair
- Chris O'Dell, PAC co-chair
- Lynn Grefe, National Director
- Kellie Rose, Deputy Director
- Susan Walrich, Administrator
- Annie O'Connor, Administrative Assistant
- Veronica Syngh, Database Manager
- Miranda Hooker, Massachusetts Coordinator
- Nancy Becker, NJ Director
- Karen Chizeck, PA Coordinator
Other
- Susan R. Cullman, 2001 co-chair[2]
- Samuel F. Pryor, III, 2001 co-chair[2]
- Elizabeth Payne[3]
- Amanda Mountjoy, Colorado coordinator[4]
- Woody Bliss, Connecticut coordinator[4]
- Katherine Waddell, Virginia coordinator[4]
- Dorothy Sprague, treasurer (post 1999)[5]
Florida Committee
Personnel
2001 Board:[6]
2001 Executive Committee:[6]
- Linda Bolton, chair, membership committee (as at 2001)[6]
New York Committee
Information on the New York Committee/Chapter of the Republican Majority for Choice.
Personnel
- Ellen Milberg (Westchester County), co-chair[5]
- A.C. Riley (Saratoga County), co-chair[5]
- Dorothy Sprague (co-chair until 1999)[5]
- Nancy Henze (co-chair until 1999)[5]
June 2001 Luncheon
On June 27, 2001, the New York Chapter hosted a luncheon to honor "distinguished leaders," Ann Printon and Elizabeth Gosnell who had taken the reigns of the NY Chapter from its previous leaders as it merged with the national organization in 1999. The group stated,[5]
- "Ann and Elizabeth served for two years during these challenges of transition while maintaining a strong presence in New York. It was under their watch that the long awaited Clinic Access Bill became a reality. Both women devoted incredible time to the organization through lobbying, board development, political leadership and raising funds."
2004 Supported Candidates
Republican Majority for Choice supports candidates with a minimum rating from the PAC of 80%. The Committee supported the following candidates in 2004 races. Listed after each candidate's name is the rating given them by the PAC:[7]
New York State Senate:
- Emily Csendes, 29th SD (80%)
- Nicholas Spano, 35th SD (100%)
- John Bonacic, 42nd SD (90%)
- Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, 49th SD (100%)
- George Winner, 53rd SD (90%)
- Patricia McGee, 57th SD (90%)
State Assembly:
- Fred Thiele, 2nd AD (100%)
- Christopher Lanzillotti, 69th AD (100%)
- Douglas Winston, 73rd AD (100%)
- Lou Mosiello, 93rd AD (90%)
- Nancy Calhoun, 96th AD (90%)
- Willis Stephens, Jr., 99th AD (90%)
- Joel Miller, 102nd AD (100%)
- Clifford Crouch, 107th AD (100%)
- Jeff Brown, 121st AD (85%)
- Deirdre Scozzafava, 122nd AD (90%)
- William Barclay, 124nd AD (90%)
Events
2000 Annual Gala
On May 30, 2000, the Republican Majority for Choice held its annual gala at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Here the PAC presented its annual "Choice" Award to the late Senator John Chafee, "in recognition of his unwavering commitment to personal choice during his long and illustrious career as a US Senator from the State of Rhode Island." Senator Lincoln Chafee accepted the award on behalf of his father.
The event featured a keynote address by Dr. LeRoy Carhart. Dina Merrill, actress, member of the Republican Majority for Choice Board of Directors and highly visible Pro-Choice Republican was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening's events.[8]
Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker presented the award. New York State Senator Roy Goodman also received special recognition for his unwavering dedication and leadership for women's reproductive health rights since 1969.[9]
July 2000 News Conference
On July 25, 2000, LeRoy Carhart addressed a news conference for the PAC in Philadelphia at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. Click here for full text of LeRoy Carhart's remarks at this event.
2001 Choice Awards
The Republican Majority for Choice's 2001 Choice Awards honored board member Dina Merrill. Friend of Merrill, "noted producer Terry Hodge Taylor, donated his time and talent to make the event such a success." Attendees at the event included Barbara Sinatra, Mistress of Ceremonies Carmen de Lavallade, choreographer Geoffrey Holder, NY Senator Roy Goodman, then-New York City Republican Mayoral Candidate Mike Bloomberg, event co-chairs Sarah Ayres &Charles Ayres, Susan Cullman and Sam Pryor; Sen. Olympia Snowe, Wendy Mackenzie, NY GOP Chairman Sandy Treadwell, RPCC Board Member Elsie Hillman, Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt, Kitty Carlisle Hart who sang at the event, Alan King, Christine Andreas and Davis Gaines.[10]
Candidates Supported
The PAC supported the following candidates in the 2000 election:[11]
- Marge Roukema (rated 85%) - 5th Congressional District, New Jersey
On June 9, 2000 the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition congratulated Marge Roukema on her primary victory "against [her] anti-choice opponent." The Coalition's Political Action Committee donated the maximum amount to her campaign. Coalition National Director Lynn Grefe stated that Roukema had been a strong voice "for the true Republican values of personal responsibility and personal choice," and that she had been "targeted for defeat by the conservative lobby group Club for Growth."[12]
- Dick Zimmer (rated 95%) - 12th Congressional District, New Jersey
On June 9, 2000 the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition congratulated Dick Zimmer on his primary victory "against [his] anti-choice opponent." The Coalition's Political Action Committee donated the maximum amount to his campaign. Coalition National Director Lynn Grefe stated that Zimmer had been a strong voice "for the true Republican values of personal responsibility and personal choice," and that his opponent was heavily funded by the RNC for Life PAC.[12]
- Rep. Jim Kolbe (rated 80%) - 5th Congressional District, Arizona (incumbent)
- Rep. Tom Campbell (rated 100%), U.S. Senate, California
- Jim Cunneen (rated 100%) - 15th Congressional District, California
- Rep. Steve Horn (rated 100%) - 38th Congressional District, California
- Rep. Steve Kuykendall (rated 95%) - 36th Congressional District, California
- Rep. Doug Ose (rated 85%) - 3rd Congressional District, California
- Rep. Nancy Johnson (rated 100%) - 6th Congressional District, Connecticut
- Mark Nielsen (rated 100%) - 5th Congressional District, Connecticut
- Rep. Chris Shays (rated 95%) - 4th Congressional District, Connecticut
- Rob Simmons (rated 100%) - 2nd Congressional District, Connecticut
- Rep. Judy Biggert (rated 95%) - 13th Congressional District, Illinois
- Mark Kirk (rated 80%) - 10th Congressional District, Illinois
- Sen. Olympia Snowe (rated 100%) U.S. Senate, Maine
- Jane Amero (rated 100%) - 1st Congressional District, Maine
- Rep. Connie Morella (rated 100%) - 8th Congressional District, Maryland
- Rep. Bob Franks (rated 80%) U.S. Senate, New Jersey
- Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (rated 90%) - 11th Congressional District, New Jersey
- Rose Robles-Birtley (rated 100%) - 7th Congressional District, New York
- Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (rated 100%) - 23rd Congressional District, New York
- Susan Cleary (rated 80%) - 11th Congressional District, New York
- Rep. Ben Gilman (rated 100%) - 20th Congressional District, New York
- Rep. Amo Houghton (rated 85%) - 31st Congressional District, New York
- Joan Johnson (rated 100%) - 2nd Congressional District, New York
- Rep. Sue Kelly (rated 90%) - 19th Congressional District, New York
- Rosemarie Markgraf (rated 100%) - 12th Congressional District, New York
- C. Adrienne Rhodes (rated 100%) - 14th Congressional District, New York
- Stewart Greenleaf (rated 90%) - 13th Congressional District, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Jim Greenwood (rated 100%) - 8th Congressional District, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Lincoln Chafee (rated 100%) - U.S. Senate, Rhode Island
- Sen. Jim Jeffords (rated 100%) - U.S. Senate, Vermont
- John Sharpless (rated 100%) - 2nd Congressional District, Wisconsin
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 WHAT A YEAR!, GOP Voice for Choice, March 2000 (accessed on Dec. 14, 2001 via the WayBack Machine)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRS, GOP Voice for Choice Newsletter, July 2001 (accessed on Nov. 26, 2001 via the WayBack Machine)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice: About Us (accessed on Oct. 20, 2012)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Republican Majority for Choice: Chapters/Affiliates (accessed on Oct. 20, 2012)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Luncheon Honors New York GOP Pro-Choice Leaders , GOP Voice for Choice Newsletter, July 2001 (accessed on Dec. 14, 2001 via the WayBack Machine)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 RPCC Chapter Update, GOP Voice for Choice Newsletter, July 2001 (accessed on Nov. 14, 2001 via the WayBack Machine)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice - New York State Political Action Committee: Pro-Choice Voter Information Guide 2004 (accessed on Oct. 20, 2012)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice: The late Senator John Chafee to be honored with the 2000 Annual Choice Award at a May 30th gala in NYC (accessed on Feb. 14, 2013 via the Way Back Machine)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice: Doctor in High Court Abortion Case Addresses Pro-Choice Republican Fund Raiser Honoring the Late Senator John Chafee (accessed on Feb. 14, 2013 via the Way Back Machine)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice: RPCC's Superstar of Choice: Dina Merrill! (accessed on Feb. 15, 2013 via the WayBack Machine)
- ↑ Republican Majority for Choice: RPCC PAC Rated Candidates (accessed on Feb. 14, 2013 via the Way Back Machine)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Republican Majority for Choice: Pro-Choice Republicans Cheer NJ Victories, June 9, 2000 (accessed on Feb. 14, 2013 via the Way Back Machine)
