LEGISLATION

From usher@mo.netMon Sep 25 14:23:35 1995 Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 02:43:38 -0500 From: Dave Usher To: fathers Dear John, No, I didn't make it to Washington. I'm starting a new business on a shoestring, and for the moment, am recycling newspaper strings. But another board member (Bob Olson, Springfield MO went there for a week last spring an really made the rounds. A stalwart warrior, fer sure. I might say, briefly and VERY PRIVATELY, that I was not impressed with the package that Hugh took to his meeting with Gingrich. The AFC reform proposals were tantamount to living in the answer, and didn't contain any thinking that would tend to change anything. It was a real "hat in the hand" proposal. I think it was a big strategic mistake, women's groups always demand the moon on a silver platter, and get some of what we want. Mens' groups ask for used car bodies, and end up in the rust pool. I think we need to be more confident in ourselves. I sent an impressive set of literature, with factual discussion, to them well in advance. I was told that it all ended up in the trash can. So, I know that Hugh is who is available, so we gotta work with him. But I wish he would be less apologetic and more dynamic in selling our ideas. Our stuff will work, if somebody just gets the ideas across and gives politicians the political buzzwords to make it politically correct. Monday, a Missouri house interim committee will be in St. Louis, holding hearings about court procedure in custody, visitation, and child support matters. We have 5 testifying from our group, with me leading the pack. I'll be doing a mix of Dave Blankenhorn with children's rights in an argument for mandatory joint custody. We'll see how it goes. PS: I'll be shooting for an appointment to the Family Courts Advisory Panel. Two years ago I had letters of recommendation for it from 4 state reps/sens plus Congressman Jim Talent. I didn't get it cause Kaye Steinmetz hated my guts. (so you know a bit of history, when she resigned the Mo legislature two sessions ago, she publicly named me as one of her 3 favorite reasons for resigning. I framed my copy of the Post that day. She also honored John Ampleman (VOCAL) and the anti-abortion organizations for making her exit necessary,. PS: there will be hearings down in Springfield soon. If you want to go, call Rep Dougherty's office (Cathy), for scheduling. Sincerely, Dave Usher, usher@mo.net