Kennedy-linked PAC gave to Republicans in 2018

A political action committee with close ties to House candidate Amy Kennedy made $5,000 donations to two Republican senators in 2018.

The ParityPAC, a federal leadership pack co-chaired by former Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) — Amy Kennedy’s Husband — is, in its own words, focused on backing “federal candidates who are taking a leadership role in advancing mental health equity, regardless of party affiliation.”

In 2018, the group, which was formed by close Kennedy associate Keith Lowey, gave $5,000 to Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) in 2018.

Both Republicans have a history of sponsoring and supporting legislation dealing with mental health.

In 2016, Cassidy and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) cosponsored the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016. Provisions of that bill, including ones creating early-intervention programs for children at risk of developing a mental illness and providing grants for a slew of mental-health related programs.

Portman has backed a series of mental health bills, including the 2013 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act, a bipartisan bill that, among other things, would have provided funding for mental health courts and crisis intervention services.

The PAC also made $5,000 donations to Sen. Sheldon (D-RI) and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) that year.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) each received $2,500 from the PAC in 2018.

“Since I started my mental health advocacy in 1996, I’ve worked with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who had a genuine interest in creating a health care system that would help the millions of Americans, and their families, struggling with these diseases,” Patrick Kennedy said. “It took nearly two decades to break down partisan barriers around these issues enough to pass the most sweeping mental health legislation in the history of this country.”

The only candidates to receive money from the PAC this cycle are Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) and Amy Kennedy. The PAC gave each of them $5,000.

Despite the PAC’s policy-driven nature, it’s possible that its past donations to Republican candidates could complicate a tense primary race between Kennedy and Brigid Harrison.

Both Democrats are seeking to oust Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), who was elected as a Democrat in 2018 but jumped ship after losing support form rank and file Democrats in the district over his opposition to impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

While unlikely, it’s possible that voters’ experience with Van Drew could see them sour on a candidate that appears friendly with Republican officials, but Patrick Kennedy doesn’t think voters should bring politics into this particular arena.

“My mission has not changed and will not change,” he said. “We cannot let politics get in the way of progress when it comes to advances in mental health care.”