Stream Saver Bill Update
By Bryan Moats • Mar 13th, 2008 • Category: Coal, Environmental JusticeIf this is your first time here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. You may also want to checkout our list of organizations and books if you want to learn more about what this site is about.
Legislation to stop the dumping of toxic mining wastes into Kentucky’s headwater streams fell two votes short of passing the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Tuesday afternoon. The “stream saver” legislation had 13 favorable votes and only 12 against but did not get the 15 needed to pass when Louisville Reps. Scott Brinkman and Bob DeWeese reneged on commitments to vote for the bill. Both abstained.
After more than four hours of testimony last week, no new testimony was taken Tuesday. But the voted was delayed until mid-afternoon while the committee dealt with revenue bills and the budget.
KFTC members are disappointed but were thankful for the courage of Reps. Harry Moberly and Don Pasley to bring the bill before the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Both pledged to bring the issue up again if the Natural Resources Committee continues to fail to taken water pollution and the burying of streams seriously. As both said, this issue directly affects hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians and it deserves a fair hearing.
Getting this issue a full hearing before a legislative committee is the result of a tremendous amount of work by KFTC members and allies across the state, and in itself is a great step forward. The detailed data provided by scientists as to the damage being done to the state’s waterways — and the cost that all Kentuckians pay because of this — opened the eyes of many people in the room, especially since the coal industry could not refute these facts.
In the the end, though, the power of the money, the opposition of House leadership, and the attitude by some legislators that it’s OK for eastern Kentucky to be the state’s sacrifice area still held sway with many legislators.
Also a disappointment was the No vote by Rep. Larry Clark of Louisville who had expressed support for the measure in conversations with constituents but then said he thought the bill was being heard in the wrong committee.
Here’s how the Representatives voted:
Action:
We are asking that our members leave thank you messages on the Legislative Message Line (800-372-7181) to all those who supported the bill by voting yes.
We especially need to thank Rep. Pasley and Chairman Moberly for championing this bill despite pressure against it from House Leadership and the coal industry. Without their efforts the bill would died in the House Natural Resources committee without a hearing or a vote. If you have a moment, leave them a special message or write them a letter of thanks for their work.
We also need to to call out those who either voted against this bill or refused to vote on it at all. If you live in a district represented by any of these legislators, please leave a message expressing your disappointment with their vote. We need to remind them that their constituents will hold them accountable for how they vote.
Finally, please consider renewing your membership or donating above and beyond your annual dues. It is essential that our work to stop mountaintop removal build on the progress made in the last few weeks. Our work in Frankfort is directly funded by our membership donations. Without your support our ability to work for good legislation would be greatly limited.
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Bryan Moats is an illustrator, designer and art technology geek at WKU. He lives with his amazing wife, two dogs and three cats in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
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