|
|
 
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Easy Web Action On The Energy Bill
We Need You For Clean Elections--Hearings On the Horizon
BRING BACK JACK CAMPAIGN GOING GREAT--THANKS TO YOU
The Bring Back Jack (Spadaro) campaign is in full swing—thanks to folks like you! Jack’s story should air on a broadcast of “60 Minutes” at the end of this month, or in early March. Remember, Jack is a coal sludge impoundment expert and long-time, well-respected mining inspector who took seriously his job of safeguarding miners and coalfield residents. Citing what we know are trumped up charges, the Bush administration has placed Jack on “administrative leave” from his job as superintendent of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s national training academy in Beckley. Bush and his mining-industry friends are retaliating against Jack, the whistleblower.
As one source told us, the Mine Safety And Health Administration (MSHA) managers who allegedly have been most involved in MSHA’s cover up of its role in the Martin County Coal (Massey Energy) sludge impoundment disaster cover-up and some illegal sole source contracts (both of which Jack blew whistle on) are very nervous these days, what with all the attention we are helping to focus on MSHA’s treatment of Jack. Jack has filed a lawsuit against MSHA for its illegal retaliatory actions. In the lawsuit, Jack’s attorney, Jason Huber, alleges that two MSHA officials, John Caylor and John Correll, were instrumental in developing a plot to punish Jack for exposing problems in the agency. CAYLOR HAS RECENTLY RESIGNED! MAYBE HE DIDN’T WANT TO TALK TO “60 MINUTES.”
For more on what you can do to help Jack, and for pictures of our January action on Jack’s behalf, click here.
Also, the Friends of the Mountains Coalition will have information on more you can do for the Bring Back Jack campaign at E-Day (see below), so please come out. JACK IS GOING TO GET AN AWARD AT THIS EVENT, AS WILL OVEC’S JANET FOUT AND COAL RIVER MOUNTAIN WATCH’S FREDA WILLIAMS.
Please show your concern for West Virginia’s environment by coming out for the 15th Annual West Virginia Environmental Council’s E-Day! at the State Capitol rotunda, beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday Feb. 17. Come early, visit the tables, including OVEC’s, see the awards ceremony, visit your legislators, then stay for the evening reception and benefit, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Perfater Law Office lobby, 1311 Virginia St. East, Charleston. Bid on great items at the silent auction and boogie to the music of Steve Himes and Debbie Grimm.
For a complete schedule click here.
We sure hope to see you there!
EASY WEB ACTIONS ON THE ENERGY BILL
Ask your senators to stop the polluting, budget-busting energy bill at this web site.
WE NEED YOU FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS--HEARINGS ON THE HORIZON by Julie Archer, julie@wvcag.org
Clean Elections legislation was introduced this week in the House (HB 4260) and the House subcommittee is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon. If your legislator serves on this subcommittee please contact them and ask them to support the "WV Public Campaign Financing Act." Subcommittee members are Delegates Fleischauer (chair), Brown, Craig, Ellem and Webster. Other Judiciary Committee members should be hearing from their constituents as well. For a list of Judiciary committee members and contact information visit the legislative website at www.legis.state.wv.us.
We still anticipate the Senate version (SB 270) to be taken up by the Judiciary Committee at anytime. Chairman Kessler plans to run the bill, but our understanding is he has held off at the request of House Chairman Amores who wanted his subcommittee to have an opportunity to meet. So this could be the week!
If you haven’t contacted your Senators yet asking them to support Clean Elections please do so. If you’ve already sent a letter or e-mail follow up with a phone call.
The legislature will only pass this reform if the public is clamoring for them to do it! Please call or write today! Below are a sample letter (provided by Kathryn Stone) and Clean Elections Talking Points.
SAMPLE LETTER Dear Senator -----: I hope that will support SB270, the much-needed Public Campaign Financing Act.
As you may know, the states of Maine and Arizona have had great success with such a bill, and both major parties in these states report favorably about:
- increased public participation in voting - being relieved of the onerous task of raising money for campaigns and therefore able to concentrate on important public issues - fairer/broader representation of choices, since good potential candidates cannot compete with those backed by moneyed special interests
The public already pays dearly in economic and in social terms under our present system. Public financing of elections will level the playing field and give us our money's worth. (Maine and Arizona report that public financing has actually been cheaper for them than the old method of financing elections).
Thank you.
CLEAN ELECTIONS TALKING POINTS
-- Under our current funding system it is increasingly difficult for the average West Virginian to effectively participate in our democracy and to make their voice heard above the special interests that finance campaigns. Comprehensive campaign finance reform is needed to reduce the influence of special interests in our political process.
-- Fewer than ½ of one percent of voting age West Virginians contribute to campaigns leaving the door wide open for wealthy, special interest contributors to influence public policy. In West Virginia, many issues like better education for our children, greater environmental protection, and better access to health care for all our residents, take a back seat to the big special interests that currently fund many legislators’ campaigns.
--As a taxpayer and voter, I would rather have my tax dollars subsidize elections instead of projects that largely benefit special interests. --Public financing of campaigns in West Virginia will decrease the public perception of corruption in our political system.
--Public financing will decrease the amount of time that a candidate needs to spend raising money and provide more time for a candidate to talk with voters in his/her district about issues that matter most to them.
--Clean Elections has the potential to reinvigorate democracy. This system would provide a candidate public funding through collecting many small qualifying contributions from registered voters within his/her district, making the candidate accountable to voters instead of special interest contributors.
|
OVEC Home Issues Contact Join Site Map |
|