Barton Tally: 59

Fund-raising drive starts

With House members home for the holidays, it's prime time for local politicking

Congress adjourned for the year in November with 58 representatives having signed on as cosponsors for the bill that was introduced last May by Texas Republican Joe Barton. The bill would tie standards for cleaning up drycleaning solvents in soil and groundwater to standards set by OSHA for exposure of cleaning plant workers to the same solvents.

With representatives in their home districts until Congress reconvenes in late January, cleaners will have an opportunity to meet directly with their representatives to seek support for the bill. Barton has said that if he can get 100 of his colleagues to cosponsor the legislation he will be able to convince House leadership to hold hearings on the bill.

In addition to asking cleaners to meet with or telephone their representatives, Barton bill supporters are also launching a fund-raising drive to help finance efforts to keep the bill moving in Congress in 1998.

The Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America (DCAFA) will be the central collection center for all contributions made on behalf of the fabric care industry in the United States toward passage of The Small Business Remediation Act (H.R. 1711), aka the Barton bill.

All DCAFA contributions will be used solely for advancing the passage of the Barton bill or companion legislation in the U.S. Senate or similar compromise legislation developed by the House, Senate and Administration.

Administrative costs, such as banking fees, accounting fees, postage and similar expenses, will be absorbed by the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning (MILD).

Disbursements from the fund's account will be through the authority and approval of the DCAFA committee, which is made up of members from MILD, the Martinizing Environmental Group, Comet Franchises, the International Fabricare Institute and the Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International.

Congress done for the year
To date there are 14 Democrats and 45 Republicans from 24 states signed on to the bill. Representatives who joined the list in November included John McHugh of New York, Joe Scarborogh and Mark Foley of Florida, Bob Schaffer of Colorado, David Hobson of Ohio, Richard Pombo of California, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Larry Combest and Solomon Ortiz, both of Texas. Ortiz is the sole Democrat of that group.

According to Charlotte Giddings of the Baise & Miller law firm, another Democrat has advised that he will sign on, however with Congress not in session, no other representative can officially add their names to the bill. That representative and any others who agree to sign on in the coming weeks won't be able to do so until Congress reconvenes.

"With help from the entire industry, we feel it is doable to have 100 cosponsors," Giddings said.

Giddings noted that a Superfund reform bill introduced in October by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert of New York had yet to pick up its first cosponsors.

"This shows the importance of the efforts on behalf of H.R. 1711, both by Rep. Barton and the grassroots action by drycleaners."

Where's the money?
Of equal importance is fund-raising for the bill which is the goal of the newly created DCAFA. At the annual meeting of the Cleaning and Laundry Association Executives last month, MILD executive director Merry Bering explained the effort and asked the associations to participate. The goal is to have each association act as the designated collection point in its territory.

Two groups -- the Southwest Drycleaners Association and the Nebraska Fabricare Association -- offered cash donations as seed money for DCAFA at the meeting held in Biloxi, Mississippi. SDA gave $10,000 and NFA added $5,200 to the fund.

Other local, state and regional drycleaning associations will gather contributions in the respective areas and forward the funds to DCAFA through MILD. Checks can made out either to the Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America (or to a representative association, depending upon the association's direction) and sent to DCAFA, c/o MILD, PO Box 14044, Lansing, MI 48901. For information on DCAFA and the Barton Bill fund-raising program, contact Bering, (517) 337-2909.

MILD said no funds will be dispersed for any purpose that could be considered campaign contributions under federal political campaign regulations. MILD also noted that contributions are at will and may not be a qualified business deduction. Donors should consult a certified public accountant concerning rules and regulations governing their contributions.

MILD has been in the forefront of association-backed fund-raising efforts for the Barton bill. Association members have pledged about $50,000 to the fund-raising drive and more than half of that amount has been collected to date from Michigan cleaners, according to MILD executive director Merry Bering.

As of this fall, about $300,000 had been expended to get the bill advanced in Congress with most of that money coming from a handful or sources, most notably the Martinizing Environmental Group and Comet Franchises. Those two organizations have been working through the Baise & Miller law firm in Washington for the past two years to get the Barton bill to where it is today.

The need for broader support from the industry was put bluntly in a letter written by Gary Baise to the principals of the two companies this fall. In the letter, Baise said:

"I do not believe your two groups should pay any more than you are already paying; however, other parties who are benefiting form your efforts need to step up to the plate nowŠ Some of the other major players in the industry surely can assist us in this effort to the same extent the two of you have. There are too many companies riding on the backs of your two groups. This must stop now in light of your record with our law firm."

The Details...

• Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America
• Text of the Barton Bill
• Summary of HR 1711
• Rep. Barton's "Dear Colleague" letter
• The Barton bill Scorecard
• The problem and solutions
• Barney Deden's letter to drycleaners

Information from FLARE to help cleaners get the message to Congress

• Sample Congressional Letter
• Talking Points
• How the Barton Bill Protects Cleaners from Excessive Clean-up Costs
• Environmental Problems Facing Drycleaners
• Possible Arguments Against The Bill

Contacting Your Representative

• Step-by-step guide to congressional contact
• Congressional Directory
• Locate Your Representative
• Members of Key Committees dealing with the Barton bill