MEMORANDUM 

Date: December 28, 1994
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon
Re: CONVERSATION WITH TONY COELHO

I heard a rumor that Tony had spoken with Gingrich about ADA--and called Tony. He in fact called Gingrich recently about ADA. They entered Congress together in 1979 and have a longstanding relationship.
 
Coelho described his conversation with Gingrich: 
--Coelho reminded Newt that in 1989 he came to him and asked him to designate Republican members to work on ADA. Newt designated Cong. Steve Bartlett (now Mayor of Dallas) and Cong. Steve Gunderson. Coehlo appreciated Gingrich's help then, which kept ADA from becoming a partisan issue in the House (and Bush got a lot of credit as a result). 

--Coehlo was calling to make sure Newt was not going back on their original discussion--not as a threat, but Coehlo would have to take this issue on if he were. 

--Newt replied that his commitment still stood--that any action on ADA--hearings or whatever--would be bipartisan, and that the disability community would be involved. Newt felt that sometimes the intent of a bill is lost in the regulations or enforcement, and at the very least needed periodic review. Coehlo asked Newt if it was okay to pass on the substance of their conversation, and Newt said, "yes." 

Coelho has heard that Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), incoming House majority whip, is very negative about ADA. Incidentally, DeLay announced on December 14th formation of Project Relief, a coalition to advocate reform of the government regulatory process. Project Relief's chairman is Bruce Gates, vice president of the National American Wholesale Grocers' Association.