Friends,

Gary Bauer, of the powerful Family Research Council, is forming his own PAC.
I'm sure it will powerful given his recourses, and of course support of his
parent organization, Focus on the Family.

Thought you'd want to know.

Skip Evans, President
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Atlanta Chapter


Following is a letter from Gary L. Bauer of the Family Research Council to
his flock announcing the formation of his new PAC, which he registered with
the FEC last Election Day:
________________________________

February 6, 1997

Dear Friend,

  This may be the most important letter I write you this year.  I want to
explain to you a new political action plan I have developed, why it is
needed, and how you can play a major role in its success.

  Over the last three months I have received hundreds of letters and phone
calls from friends like you around the country expressing your frustration
about the 1996 elections.  I assure you that I share that frustration.  Once
again we had a presidential race in which the candidates of the two major
parties ignored or were hostile to the values we believe in.  I wasn't
surprised that Bill Clinton continued to champion abortion on demand and the
homosexual rights movement while using pro-family rhetoric.  He has used
this tactic before.  But how does one explain the Republican ticket missing
one opportunity after another to challenge their opponents on the issues of
heart and soul?  The outcome was predictable our country experienced one of
the lowest voter turnouts in history, and Bill Clinton has four more years
to promote his liberal agenda, appoint radical judges to our courts, and
expand the power of government at the expense of the family.

  It could have been even worse.  In congressional races, pro-family and
prolife candidates were subjected to a relentless barrage of negative
advertising from liberal special interest groups and the hostile media
establishment.  Some independent observers have estimated that as much as $
100 million was spent by the interest groups to label pro-family candidates
as extremist and radical.  While many conservatives were re-elected, others
lost because they didn't have the resources to respond to these smear
tactics.

  All signs point to our opponents continuing this strategy in the 1998
congressional elections and the presidential race in 2000.  Already members
of the House and Senate who are pro-family and believe in smaller government
and free enterprise are being targeted for defeat.  And in the presidential
sweepstakes we face the possibility of another race where the candidates of
neither major party defend our values.  Some Republican consultants and
pollsters are once again advising the GOP to abandon the pro-life cause and
downplay our family issues - despite the obviously disastrous impact of this
advice in 1992 and 1996.  They seem to never learn.

  Enough is enough.  We have been losing by default.  I made a promise on
election night that I would do everything I could to make sure that in
future campaigns our values receive a fair hearing.  I want candidates to
defend the sanctity of human life.  I want someone to stand up for reliable
standards of right and wrong and to defend marriage.  I want candidates who
will support real educational reform and the rights of parents.  These
values must be defended as we go into the next century.

  As you know, the Family Research Council, which I run here in Washington,
D.C., is not permitted under the law to participate in partisan political
activity.  Even my other organization, American Renewal, is only permitted
to influence legislation - not campaigns.  Bold new steps must be taken.

   A few weeks ago, I registered with the Federal Election Commission a
political action committee called the Campaign for Working Families.  It has
one central purpose and one purpose only: to elect pro-family, pro-life,
pro-free enterprise candidates to the House and the Senate every two years,
and to the White House in the year 2000.

  Now I know that political action committees (or PACs, as the media refers
to them) receive a lot of negative publicity.  But they are the only way
under our laws that like-minded citizens can join together to raise money to
support candidates for office or to vote out bad politicians.  I will run
the Campaign for Working Families following the highest ethical standards.
And I am humbly  asking you to be a partner with me in this important
project.  Time and time again, you have stood with me in some big battles in
Washington.  I am praying you will do it one more time.

  My goals are simple.  I want to put together at least 100,000 pro-life,
pro-family activists who are willing to financially support good candidates
in key political races around the country.  If we do that we will be one of
the biggest political action groups in America!  Think of what that could
mean in countering the pro-abortion and pro-homosexual rights crowd that has
so much power here in Washington.  Think of what we could do to ensure that
the tax burden on families is lowered and that American workers have more
opportunity.

  Perhaps most importantly, I want to be sure that four years from now the
Republican Party nominates a candidate for president who believes in our
values - and is willing to say so to the American people!  Imagine the
presidential debates four years from now.  Imagine how gratifying it would
be to see a major presidential candidate argue for the sanctity of human
life, defend working families, make the case for traditional marriage, argue
for lower taxes and smaller government.  Now, I want to make it clear that
we won't just support Republicans.  We are looking for candidates in every
party.  And if the GOP in four years ignores our concerns again, we will
have to consider other options.  The Campaign for Working Families will
support a set of ideas that we share in common - not just support one
political party.

  The possibilities are exciting.  If 100,000 of our friends would make an
average donation of $50 in the next month, we could raise $5 million to
prepare for the next election cycle!  We could begin to counter the
left-wing propaganda that misled the American people in 1996.

  I know the demands on your resources.  I hesitated many months even to
come to you with this project.  Many of you may be unable to afford to give
anything at this time.  Please don't feel pressured.  I understand how hard
it is for American families to meet all of their financial responsibilities.
Do not divert funds from your church or charitable activities for this
project.  If you can't give now, then please pray for our work.  But some of
you may be able to help now with $5, $10, $50, $100 or more.   I hope you
will consider the Campaign for Working Families worthy of your support.
This may be the most important project the pro-family movement undertakes in
the next four years.

  Whether you can help or not, I want to thank each of you for all you have
done to make my work in Washington possible.  I have no greater blessings
than your friendship and prayers.  I promise you that every day here in the
nation's capital I will continue to do everything I can to defend our values
and strive to make America a shining city upon a hill for our children and
grandchildren.  With God's grace we will succeed.  May you and your family
enjoy all of God's blessings in 1997.

Sincerely,

Gary L. Bauer
______________

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