| According to documents provided by the California Secretary of State, the CCAOM paid $45,980.54 to the Livingstom and Mattesich from January through December, 2002, for the purposes of influencing legislation, specifically to oppose acupuncture profession sponsored AB 1943 (Chu) and to support acupuncturist-opposed SB 1951(Figueroa). Livingston and Mattesich lobbyists assisted the CCAOM to oppose the positions taken by the California's Licensed Acupuncturist profession. |
| Where Does All of That Money Originally Come From? |
| The money originally comes from students trying to enter the Oriental medicine profession in the United States, many of whom borrowed the money via Federally-guaranteed low-interest student loans. The two major sources of revenues for the CCAOM are membership fees from schools, and fees from the CCAOM Clean Needle courses. Schools obtain their revenues from student tuition, from which they pay operating expenses and fees to the CCAOM. This money has been spent to further the interests of the CCAOM, even when its interests run counter to those of the the profession, students, and the public. It is doubtful that acupuncture students are aware of the nature of the CCAOM, or that part of their tuition is being used to further political agendas in which they have no voice. |
| How Was It Spent? |
| The Council of Colleges has a long history of providing controversial and contradictory testimony to government officials, and often mis-representing themselves as representatives for schools, students, and the profession alike. This has had the effect of confusing public officials and stalling efforts of the profession to better itself. Earlier this year, suddenly facing the prospect that progressive legislation introduced on behalf of the California Licensed Acupuncturist profession and students could pass because it had widespread support from Licensed Acupuncturists, the leadership of the CCAOM recommended contracting with a "high-powered" lobbying firm in Sacramento to "throw a monkey rench" into the legislation. With help from Livingston and Mattesich, AB 1943 was softened up, and prescious resources were wasted. |