REFORM CONGRESS 94 PO Box 11481 Spokane WA 99211-1481 For Immediate Release Monday, 29 August 1994 Contact: Mary M. Hartman 509-924-6576 (voice) 509-926-4626 (fax) 509-990-0935 (cellular) DF8@comtch.iea.com (Internet) 76350,2275 (CompuServe) "De-Foley-ate" PAC Formed "People's PAC" Stirs Nationwide Support SPOKANE - A group of Spokane citizens have founded Reform Congress 94, a nonconnected political action committee. The PAC's sole project is "De-Foley-ate Congress", an effort by Eastern Washington voters to defeat 30-year incumbent Thomas Foley. "What started as a local effort has become larger than our wildest imaginations," says Richard Hartman, Treasurer and co-founder of Reform Congress 94. "People all across America are contacting us, asking how they can help defeat Speaker Foley." Hartman, a computer software developer, works with many nationwide communications networks. When he mentioned Foley, he was flooded with responses. "Foley's behavior has touched a raw nerve in every state," Hartman notes. "Foley's a lot like Clinton: He came from a single state, but his actions are impacting all of them. I believe I've heard from people in all fifty [states]." That unexpected outpouring of support forced the creation of a PAC. "We wanted to keep it simple," says Hartman. "But when word got out and people started calling, we checked into the laws and found we had to form a PAC." Federal election rules require groups to register if they collect or spend more than $1000 during a Federal election. The group's charter spells out their only objective: To defeat Foley. Plans call for an independent advertising campaign aimed at countering Foley's own estimated half-million dollar war chest. The advantage of this approach, according to Hartman, is that people no longer have to guess which challenger is likely to win. The PAC will promote the winner of the Republican primary, no matter who it is. "It's simple," says Hartman. "If you want to defeat Speaker Foley, support Reform Congress 94. The primary election will identify the best challenger, and we'll put him into office. Every day makes that goal more likely." Anti-Foley sentiment is surging in Washington State's Fifth District. Once viewed as Spokane's "Congressional favorite," Foley has broken from the large, predominantly rural area on such issues as health care, the crime bill, firearm rights, and especially term limits. Foley's close association with the Clinton Adminstration has also snubbed Eastern Washington=92s huge agricultural and timber industries. Local businesspeople are vigorously outspoken in their negative opinions of Foley= , weakening the Democrat's support in this otherwise conservative district. Spokane's talk radio programs are "increasingly hostile" toward the incumbent Foley, according to Hartman. A cottage industry of anti-Foley bumper stickers and t-shirts has sprung up. Yard signs decry his stand on term limits. And recent polls show the most frequent answer to the question, "Who are you supporting in this year's Congressional race?" is "Anyone but Foley." "The term limits lawsuit was the last straw," says Hartman. "When Washington State voters overwhelmingly approved term limits, Foley went to court and had the vote thrown out. That left no room for doubt. Foley went out of his way to oppose the wishes of his own people, and now they're mad. They want to get rid of him." A recent protest rally held near Foley's re-election headquarters in Spokane drew several hundred people - and security guards at Foley's office. Citizens held signs, waved at passing cars, and wore earrings fashioned from teabags in a modern-day reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. A followup rally, held a week later, saw a much larger crowd. Local media estimated attendance at over one thousand people. Traffic was slowed as drivers honked and waved their support. Hartman was there, spreading the word about "DF8", the project's nickname. "We went through 2000 flyers in under an hour. Cars were stopping for information. Calls were waiting on the answering service afterwards. Radi= o stations were promising airtime. This thing is just snowballing." Despite it all, Hartman is not taking Foley's defeat for granted. "History suggests that DF8 will face challenging odds. People sometimes feel having the Speaker as their representative is an advantage. Others tell me no one has ever defeated a sitting Speaker in an election. "But I suspect we've never had so much popular sentiment against one, either," he continues. "Foley's close connections with Clinton, and his behavior on term limits and the crime bill, are counting against him. The people of Spokane, and all across America, have rendered their judgement. "It's time for Speaker Foley to come home." -------------------------------------------------- What have you done for your country today? WE'RE trying to defeat Speaker Foley! Please Help! Reform Congress 94 DF8@comtch.iea.com "De-Foley-ate Congress" 76350,2275 (CIS) PO Box 11481 509-924-6576 (voice) Spokane WA 99211-1481 (temporary number) -------------------------------------------------- ----- House Speaker Tom Foley Gave You The Crime Bill... Now You Can Give Him The Boot! Reform Congress 94 "The People's PAC" wants to De-Foley-ate Congress If you've been following firearm politics lately, you know Tom Foley has been an important player in Clinton's attack on the Second Amendment. From the original House "assault" weapon ban to the Crime Bill, Foley has been pushing Clinton's gun control every step of the way. We created Reform Congress 94, and the De-Foley-ate Congress (DF8) project, to focus on defeating Foley. We have no long term agenda; the PAC will be dissolved after the November election. DF8 has only one goal: Defeat Foley! Foley's election campaign has over $600,000 in special interest money so far. DF8 is leveling that playing field by giving citizens nationwide a way to help defeat Foley. We'll support the winner of the Republican primary, NO MATTER WHO WINS. We're planning TV and radio advertisements that tell the truth about Foley. We have volunteers that will be making the commercials at very little cost. But the airtime is expensive - very expensive. It's basically a money race. We need YOU to do two things: * Please donate generously to Reform Congress 94. It's the only way you can be SURE your dollars are focused on removing Foley and shutting down Clinton. $20 will help. $50 is better. $100 is REALLY helpful. * SPREAD THE WORD about DF8. Getting rid of Foley will require support from thousands of people. Lots of people SAY they care about their rights; DF8 is a chance for them to actually DO something about it. Cross-post messages to every BBS and newsgroup. Don't forget how Foley kept the voting open so the original House gun ban could pass last May. Don't forget how he rammed the Crime Bill through, even after it had already been defeated. Taking Foley out of office will eliminate one of Clinton's best weapons in his attack on the Second Amendment. Defeating a sitting Speaker of the House will send the STRONGEST POSSIBLE MESSAGE to Washington DC. Please... if you're serious about your rights, support DF8 today. Send check or money order made out to "Reform Congress 94" (no cash, please) to: Reform Congress 94 PO Box 11481 Spokane WA 99211-1481 Any amount over $1 will help. For donations above $200, or to volunteer, please call Mary Hartman at 509-924-6576. Foley's tough - we need all the assistance we can get! Worried about honesty? Check us out! Call Ms. Pat Crumpacker, Manager of SeaFirst Bank, at 509-353-6040. Our account number is 11630803. WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT DEFEATING FOLEY. ARE YOU? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Reform Congress 94, a nonconnected Political Action Committee. Not authorized by any political candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions must include name and address and are not tax deductable. Reform Congress 94 509-924-6576 (temp. voice line) PO Box 11481 509-926-4626 (temp. fax line) Spokane WA 99211-1481 DF8@comtch.iea.com -------------------------------------------------- What have you done for your country today? WE'RE trying to defeat Speaker Foley! Please Help! Reform Congress 94 DF8@comtch.iea.com "De-Foley-ate Congress" 76350,2275 (CIS) PO Box 11481 509-924-6576 (voice) Spokane WA 99211-1481 (temporary number) --------------------------------------------------