You're not getting off to a very good start (Lowell - 1/17/2008 10:47:51 PM)
here at RK with comments like "catch a clue." A few more like that and we'll conclude that you're one of these:
What You Must Do:
1. Spread this email to your lists!
2. Call your Senator NOW and give them the message using the talking points below.
Find your Senator - http://conview.state.va.us/who...
3. Call BY FRIDAY 5PM!!
4. If your Senator is listed here as committee member, call immediately
* (Alexandria)Ticer (Chairman),
* (Arlington)Whipple, Hanger,
* (Midlothian)Watkins,
* (Martinsville)Reynolds, Puckett,
* (Clarksville)Ruff,
* (Chesapeake)Blevins,
* (Charlottesville)Deeds,
* (Harrisonburg)Obenshain,
* (Mechanicsville) McDougle,
* (Richmond)McEachin,
* (Fairfax)Petersen,
* (Norfolk)Northam,
* (Montross)Stuart
But even IF we can stop this in committee, everyone must call their senator by 5 pm TOMORROW, Friday, and make the entire senate aware of your opposition to SB423.
Talking Points:
* As a constituent, I need Senator ______ to vote against Bill SB423 and protect Virginia's air and water.
* Virginia's Citizen Environmental Boards have long had a key role in protecting Virginia's environment.
* Virginia's governors appoint the members of the Air, Water and Waste Boards and the appointees reflect the choices of different governors and have provided a balanced group of citizens with expertise in the specific field.
* The Citizen Environmental Boards hold meetings and hearings in public and provide accountability and transparency on important environmental issues.
* Virginia industry enjoys a highly favorable regulatory climate now. Virginia is regarded as #1 in the U.S. as an easy place to do business, due in large part to this favorable regulatory climate. There is no need to make it even easier to pollute, especially at the expense of citizen input.
* Stripping the Environmental Boards of their authority to review and decide certain permits is unacceptable. We must preserve the right of Virginians to be heard on environmental protection, particularly in cases that have heightened public interest and could have a significant impact on the environment.
* When the Department of Environmental Quality was created in 1993 by combining Air, Water and Hazardous Waste agencies, there was agreement to keep each of the Citizen Boards in place.
* The Air Pollution Control Board has delegated its permit authority for most cases & only decides cases where permits have been identified as significant (less than one-percent of all permits are decided by a citizen board)
--
Rick Kennerly
Tidewater Climate Action Network
www.twcan.org
rick.kennerly@twcan.org
We are environmentalists, but we're not just "environmentalists." We are also citizens and we are ratepayers; we are customers and employers; we are business owners and educators; we are members of communities of faith who take seriously our stewardship of God's gift and we are patriots who care about energy independence for the nation; we are parents and grandparents concerned about the sustainability of the legacy we leave our children, who all just happen to also care about our environment.
Based on what I know now, I sure hope the Democratic leadership listens to this criticism and doesn't relegate citizen input to a less important status--this is exactly the opposite of what grassroots Democrats believe, and what we've always stood for.
VOTE THIS DOWN IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, DEMOCRATS!
These guys can help if you pitch it right.
DONT use the word environment. Use Air Quality, Water Quality, Conservation, Habitat protection.... you get the idea.
"Hi Chap. This is off topic, but very very important. I understand you sit on the committee that will be considering SB423. This bill is patently designed to help polluters and shut citizens out of the process. Additionally, I understand the vote in committee has been moved up to early Monday morning to thwart a lobbying effort by environmentalists that was scheduled for later in the day. I'm counting on you to display that you're on the side of the citizens and not the polluters. Please do the right thing."
I encourage my fellow constituents to contact him.
"I've got materials on the bill and will be prepared by Monday. Thanks for the heads up."
I think it's fair to presume that he'll be voting against SB423.
Thanks to Rick for the tip and Lowell for the forum.
It is my understanding that all the hot topics are being moved up so that the groups going up to Richmond Monday will be presented with a fait accompli by the GA on their various issues.
As noted elsewhere, it's just not conservationists planning a lobby day on Monday (the MKL holiday for schools but a workday for the GA).
It's early yet. I've sent an email to my contact on the "inside" to verify. But looking at the dockets, Friday and Monday seem unusually busy.
Rick
The comment I made was true to the post, in that the post is dealing with sneaky stuff in general. I don't think that it matters that it is the Democrats. It certainly matters that we hold both sides equally accountable for their actions, but to say that the intent of this post was to attack Senate Democrats is a bit naive.
And I notice that your first comment was on this thread approx. 8 minutes after you made an account. Seems to me like you're a bit of a troll.
House C&J meets Monday and Friday.
On a completely different topic, one thing on the docket is "urban archery season"... what exactly are people bow hunting in the cities and should I be looking out for stray arrows?
On a completely different topic, one thing on the docket is "urban archery season"... what exactly are people bow hunting in the cities and should I be looking out for stray arrows?
adds new meaning to bolt from the blue, probably a Tahoe parked down the street.
The chamber of commerce issued an alert to its members in the last two days telling them the bill was coming up Monday. It was listed briefly on that committee calendar but later withdrawn (we assume as word spread).
Rick Kennerly
www.twcan.org