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Shake n' BakeA recipe for legislative successIt has been said that two things you never want to see being made are sausage and laws. Nonetheless, a "recipe" for passing legislation has been concocted by James Mayberry, administrative coordinator of the Fabricare Legislative and Regulatory Education group. Mayberry sent his "Recipe for Gaining H.R. 1711 Cosponsors" to people in the industry to encourage action that will achieve the goal of 100 cosponsors for the Barton bill. As of the first week of August, Rep. Joe Barton and 87 of his colleagues had their names signed on to the bill. The recipe for increasing the sponsorship is simple, according to Mayberry. "I promise that you won't need salt, sugar or flour and the you won't even need to preheat any oven. But a campaign contribution has been known to help." The recipe is as follows:
"If we can get as many industry members as possible to follow this recipe, we can get the sponsors we need to let Barton take the lead," Mayberry said. Rep. Barton has said that if the drycleaning industry can help him get 100 co-sponsors for the legislation he introduced last year, he will be able to convince House leadership to move ahead n the legislation. Mayberry volunteered to help cleaners make contact with he representatives. "Need a letter to be written? Want information on your representative? No fax machine? Please contact me at 630/416-6221, and I will be more than happy to lend you a hand," he said. "Show the nay-sayers that the democratic process works, that this can be done." As for the bill's prospects, Mayberry said there is still a chance for action this session, although time is short. "Even if the bill does not see action this session, our course of action must remain the same," Mayberry said. "This effort still needs the industry's ongoing financial support. We still need to gain as many cosponsors as possible so that the bill can be reintroduced from a position of strength in the next session." Cleaners will have a good opportunity to meet with their representatives over the next few weeks. With elections looming, most members of Congress will be in their home districts as Congress takes a late summer vacation from August 10 through Sept. 8. After Labor Day, Congress is scheduled to be in session for only about a month, aiming for adjournment on Oct. 9. Face to Face in DC The goal, according to MACLA executive director Dave Norford, is "to leave no stone unturned" in efforts to secure passage of H.R. 1711, the Barton bill. A "Phone & Fax Day" coordinated by MACLA this spring helped recruit several additional Barton bill cosponsors. While MACLA's efforts will be concentrated on gathering more sponsors for the bill from the states of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, the association is inviting other trade groups and cleaners from around the United States to join by arranging meetings with their respective representatives and coming to Washington for face-to-face meetings. The Hyatt Regency at 300 New Jersey Ave. NW will serve as the headquarters hotel. The hotel is located at the foot of Capitol Hill near Union Station. Norford said he is particularly interested in securing the sponsorships of members of Congress who have expressed interest in the bill but are yet to sign on. Eighty-seven members of the House have agreed to cosponsor the bill that was introduced last year by Texas Republican Joe Barton. The usual flurry of last-minute action as Congress nears adjournment may provide an opening for Barton to move his legislation, Norford said, especially if he has secured the 100 cosponsors he has said he needs to get action on the bill. "We are just so close to having the 100 cosponsors Congressman Joe Barton says he needs to make this thing happen that we simply cannot leave any stone unturned to get them, said Earl Knight, MACLA's legislative chairman. "Gary Baise (of the Baise, Miller and Freer law firm) and Congressman Barton have both indicated that there are still a number of options open for passage during the waning days of this session of Congress. If the bill is not acted upon in this Congress, Barton has said he will reintroduce it in the next Congress. Norford said that the more sponsors the bill can obtain this year, the further along it will be when the new Congress convenes on January. Norford said he believes it is important for cleaners to come to Washington to make the industry's case. Meeting with representatives or staff people in local district offices has merit, but speaking directly to the representative and key staff people in their Washington offices can carry more weight. Legislative aides in the Capitol meet with the representative every day, as well as other representatives and their key staff members, and they are often the ones who can make the commitment. The agenda On Thursday morning there will be a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency followed by a briefing session and distribution of materials. Speaking at the briefing will be Gary Baise and Mary Scalco if the International Fabricare Institute. After the briefing session, participants will head for the congressional offices on Capitol Hill. That evening there will be an informal gathering back at the headquarters hotel to review the day's events. While MACLA will underwrite meeting room expenses, coordinate professional assistance and individualize materials for distribution as requested, the individual participants are responsible for making appointments with their representative or the legislative assistant in charge of environmental matters. Appointments should be scheduled between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 1. Groups will be formed to go to each appointment. Norford invited other trade associations to participate with MACLA in the event; so far, he said, the Southwest Drycleaners Association and the South Eastern Fabricare Association have expressed interest. There is no registration fee, but participants are asked to register with MACLA by Sept. 20 by calling (800) 235-8360. Arrangements for hotel accommodations should be made directly with the Hyatt by calling (202) 737-1234 and identifying yourself as part of the Mid-Atlantic Cleaners and Launderers Association group. New cosponsors Recent additions to the cosponsors list include Dan Hunter of California, Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, Jim gibbons of Nevada, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Van Hilleary of Tennessee. Representatives from 32 states are now signed on to the bill. In a memo to the bill's industry supporters, Marshall Miller of the Baise, Miller & Freer law firm, which has been working to get the bill through Congress, said the key to the bill's success is grassroots support. "We have lined up quite a number of other Congressmen who, we believe, are ready to join us if and when they hear from their home folks. That means we have to have your continued help," he said. "Don't be shy," he urged. "If you know your congressman, or if you and several others are willing to write his office, let us know and we'll help you." The law firm can be reached by phone at 202-331-9100 or e-mail at baisemill@aol.com. Call for contributions Expenses have been running at $18,000 to $20,000 a month, according to DCAFA administrator Merry Bering. "We need donations," she said. Contributions continue to come in, she said, but the expenses associated with lobbying continue, too. Donations in any amount can be made in the form of a checks made out to the Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America and sent to DCAFA, c/o MILD, PO Box 14044, Lansing, MI 48901. |
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Information from FLARE to help cleaners get the message to Congress
Contacting Your Representative |
Date created:Oct. 31, 1997 Last modified: Aug 10 98 Copyright © 1998 Blind Squirrel Maintained by: Hal Horning hhorning@pond.com