March 2013 - balancing the scales

March 14, 2013

pg. 11

In Memory of Betty Howard pg. 3

Members prepare for tax reform Special Session pg. 7

Legislation would halt study health impacts pg. 12

Broad grassroots effort continues to push for House Bill 70 pg. 5

Testimony describes how clean energy creates jobs pg. 8

Rowan County members speak up for their vision pg. 13

Think about running for public office in 2014 pg. 6

Harlan Hosts Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference pg. 10

Lexington City Council supports restoration pg. 14

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEXINGTON, KY. PERMIT NO. 513

I Love Mountains Day energizes citizens for a brighter future

Change Service Requested

Volume 32 Number 2

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth P.O. Box 1450 London, Ky. 40743

balancing the scales

Shelby County members expand their organizing

pg. 15 Georgetown College students and faculty organize for fairness pg. 17

Page 2

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Table of Contents Executive Committee Corner page 3 In Memory of Betty Howard page 3 Voting Rights Update Broad grassroots effort continues to push for House Bill 70 Think about running for public office in 2014

page 5 page 6

Economic Justice Updates Members prepare for tax reform Special Session in spring Federal sequester to hurt Kentucky families, cost jobs

page 7 page 7

New Energy and Transition Update Testimony describes how clean energy creates new jobs New Power Leader profile: Steve Wilkins How to help in Ray Tucker’s Electric Co-op Campaign Steering Committee adopts ambitious 2013 Program of Work Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference comes to Harlan

page 8 page 8 page 9 page 9 page 10

Canary Project Updates I Love Mountains Day energizes citizens for a brighter future “Walk” brings message of transition from mountains to capitol Legislation would halt radical mining, study health impacts

page 11 page 12 page 12

Local Updates Growing Appalachia conference sparks ideas and innovation Rowan County members speak up for a vision for east Kentucky Lexington City Council unanimously supports restoration Shelby County members continue to expand their local organizing Fairness, dancing, art – all in a month’s work in Madison Water was central focus at NKY film screening Georgetown College students and faculty organize for fairness Multi-chapter potluck brims with enthusiasm and excitement East Kentucky chapters host at-home meeting with Sen. Smith

page 13 page 13 page 14 page 15 page 16 page 16 page 17 page 18 page 19

Member Profile: Harrison Kirby Dangerous selenium proposal delayed by quick citizen action Calendar

page 19 page 20 page 20

Name: Address: City, State Zip: Phone: Email: I want to make my donation to the following organization (check one): ____ KFTC (not tax-deductible) ____ Kentucky Coalition (tax-deductible) B a n k W i t h d r a w a l / C re d i t C a rd P a y m e n t Authorization: I authorize KFTC/KY Coalition to debit my account or charge my credit card in accordance with the information provided. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until cancelled or changed by reasonable notification to KFTC/KY Coalition.

Who asked you to join KFTC?

Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually. ____ One-time Gift: Amount $_____________ ____ Sustaining Giver:

I will contribute $___ (check one):

__ Monthly __ Quarterly __ Annually Authorized Signature: ________________________ Date: _____________ Circle one: Mastercard Visa American Express Discover Card #: __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ Expiration date: ___ ___ / ___ ___ Cardholder’s name (as it appears on the card): _____________________________ Date: ____________ For bank drafts, return this form with a voided check from the account you wish to have the withdrawal made. Make checks payable to KFTC or the Kentucky Coalition and mail to: KFTC • P.O. Box 1450 • London, Ky. 40743-1450.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is a statewide grassroots social justice orga­­ni­ zation working for a new balance of power and a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organizing to accomplish the following goals: • foster democratic values • change unjust institutions • empower individuals • overcome racism and other discrimination • communicate a message of what’s possible • build the organization • help people participate • win issues that affect the common welfare • have fun KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50 per year, based on ability to pay. No one is denied membership because of inability to pay.

Membership is open to anyone who is committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change.

KFTC Steering Committee Sue Tallichet, chair Dana Beasley Brown, vice chair Rick Handshoe, secretary-treasurer Megan Naseman, at-large member Steve Boyce, immediate past chair

Chapter Representatives Homer White, Scott County Christian Torp, Central Kentucky Ted Withrow, Rowan County Ben Baker, Northern Kentucky Shekinah Lavalle, Jefferson County Travis Lane, Southern Kentucky Jack Ball, Harlan County Cleveland Smith, Perry County Meta Mendel-Reyes, Madison County Elizabeth Sanders, Letcher County Whitney Blackburn, Floyd County Daniel Morgan, Wilderness Trace Leslie McBride, Shelby County Alternates: Rosanne Fitts Klarer, Scott County; Greg Capillo, Central Kentucky; Lisa Bryant, Rowan County; Rick Traud, Northern Kentucky; Nan Goheen, Jefferson County; Alan Smith, Southern Kentucky; Carl Shoupe, Harlan County; Katie Pirotina, Perry County; Steve Wilkins, Madison County; Ada Smith, Letcher County; Leah Bayens, Wilderness Trace; Patrick King, Shelby County. balancing the scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Kentucky.

Reader contri­butions and letters to the editor should be sent to 250 Southland Drive Suite #4, Lexington, KY. 40503 or tim@kftc.org.

Subscriptions are $20 per year.

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Executive Committee Corner

by Rick Handshoe KFTC secretary-treasurer “If there’s one thing we can count on from the Beshear administration, it’s a willingness to sacrifice Kentucky’s water to the coal industry.”

That statement, from a Lexington Herald-Leader editorial, gets proven time and time again.

The most recent attempts are in the form of House Bill 424 and a proposed new water quality standard for selenium.

Both are designed to let coal companies off the hook for creating water pollution that doesn’t easily wash away with the next rain.

I know that these problems don’t go away.

My stream has been dead for several years as a result of pollution from a discharge pipe that carries water off of a mine site now operated by James River Coal. I’ve had state and federal inspectors there, even the governor, yet instead of getting better, the problems have gotten worse to the point where it is a real danger to live along Raccoon Creek.

My neighbors and I discovered that watering your garden out of the creek is a way to kill your tomato or sweet potato plants. You can’t use it to water your cattle or chickens, either. I didn’t eat anything from my garden last year. Even with the coal company treating this water constantly, nothing is able to live in the creek.

That’s what makes the new selenium standard the governor wants a real problem – it’s not enforceable. He wants to switch from a standard for selenium that tests water to one that tests fish tissue.

In the headwaters there are no fish, so they will have to go downstream to do fish sampling. Then who do you point the finger at? From that point, there may be five different coal companies upstream. If they did water testing right at the point of discharge, then they could know if there’s a problem. You could pinpoint the

source of the selenium.

That’s why Environmental Protection Commissioner Bruce Scott wouldn’t answer questions about how their proposed selenium standard would be enforced when KFTC and allies met with him twice in February.

What happened here on Raccoon Creek illustrates the need for long-term water treatment. That’s where House Bill 424 becomes a problem. In HB 424, the new reclamation bonding pool being set up is specifically prohibited from being used “for long-term treatment of substandard water discharges and subsidence.” And with no “water treatment trusts” that Natural Resources Commissioner Steve Hohmann told KFTC members would be in the bill (taken out because coal companies didn’t want the accountability), then what protection do the people living below these mines have? And how do we protect taxpayers from this potential liability?

U.S. EPA inspectors have told me they’ve looked at some areas for 15 years, not as bad as Raccoon Creek, and they’ve never seen an improvement.

It’s a sad situation, made worse when the Beshear administration gave a reclamation award to James River Coal subsidiary Laurel Mountain Resources, shortly after the company had been fined $11,000 for water pollution violations. Laurel Mountain is the same company that KFTC and the Sierra Club exposed in December 2011 for unpermitted selenium pollution.

It’s too late for where I live. So why do I still have hope?

My community is not the only place. There’s still a lot of good places to protect, communities that mining hasn’t impacted yet.

KFTC’s new water testing program is a key. Getting a history of how good some of our streams still are will give us information to challenge coal companies when they apply for new permits. It’ll remind us of how good all of our streams can be, and what the cost is when we don’t protect them, with Raccoon Creek as an example of what can happen.

Our focus on water means we’re seeing fewer hollow fills, like in Benham and Lynch, where local residents helped slow new mining permits, and Lotts Creek, where the federal EPA forced the company to have fewer hollow fills and ponds.

In Memory of...

Betty Howard

Long-time KFTC member Betty Howard passed way on Monday, February 18. Howard was known in the community for her public service on the Benham Garden Club and as a former mayor of Benham.

She was responsible for many of the major projects in Benham, such as the Coal Miner’s Memorial Park and The Coal Miner’s Memorial Theater.

“Betty had a vision for Benham that moved us into the 21st Century,” said Carl Shoupe. “She didn’t just dream it up. She figured out what people wanted, how to

fund it, and motivated dozens of people to make it happen. Betty was a wonder woman and Benham wouldn’t be the same without her years of dedication to us.”

Others knew Howard as a member of the “Petti-coat Mafia,” a group of strong women who were getting positive work done in the community.

Howard and the Benham Garden Club helped with countless KFTC mountain witness tours. She had a strong vision for her community which she shared in the KFTC project “Voices from Black Mountain.”

Page 3 Litigation around Clean Water Act violations is making a big difference. The settlement last fall with ICG was a victory for people from my house down through Ashland, a victory for everybody downstream.

And we’ve been able to at least delay the selenium proposal and bring a lot of scrutiny to what the Beshear administration is trying to do.

I was in the head of a holler, where the mining hadn’t gotten to, last summer during the drought. My nephew and I were digging some water seeps my grandfather had shown me, so the animals would have a place to drink, and we actually found some crawdads. That’s an indicator of the health of a stream. That reminded me not to give up hope.

I see the attitudes of people changing. People are starting to remember how important our water is, and that this work to protect it is about more than coal. This is about looking past coal, which is what we’ve got to do.

Water that is safe is a key to our future. Our good work means that some day the governor will understand this, too.

You can learn more about Rick Handshoe’s situation at: www. kftc.org/rick-handshoes-water

KFTC Offices and Staff MAIN OFFICE Morgan Brown, Robin Daugherty & Burt Lauderdale P.O. Box 1450 London, Kentucky 40743 606-878-2161 Fax: 606-878-5714 info@kftc.org

FIELD OFFICES Louisville Jessica George, Jerry Hardt, Alicia Hurle Carissa Lenfert, and Colette Henderson 901 Franklin Street Louisville, Ky 40206 502-589-3188 Whitesburg Tanya Turner P.O. Box 463 Whitesburg, Ky 41858 606-632-0051 Central Kentucky Tim Buckingham, Jessica Hays Lucas, Beth Howard, Erik Hungerbuhler, Heather Roe Mahoney, Dave Newton and Ondine Quinn 250 Plaza Drive Suite 4 Lexington, Ky 40503 859-276-0563

Northern Kentucky Joe Gallenstein 859-380-6103 Floyd County Kristi Kendall and Jessie Skaggs 154 North Lake Drive Prestonsburg, KY 41653 606-226-4159 Bowling Green Denney Breeding 270-779-6483 Berea Lisa Abbott, Beth Biss­ meyer, Amy Hogg, Sara Pennington and Kevin Pentz 140 Mini Mall Drive Berea, KY 40403 859-986-1277 Teri Blanton 118 Baugh Street Berea, Ky. 40403 859-986-1648

e-mail any staff member at firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays Lucas -- use jessicabreen@kftc.org, Beth Howard -- use BethHoward@kftc.org, and Beth Bissmeyer -- use BethBissmeyer@kftc.org

Page 4

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

2013 KFTC’s Legislative Issues at a glance Here’s a quick look at the bills KFTC has a position on in the 2013 General Assembly. The KFTC Executive Committee (which serves as the legislative strategy team) reviews bills and amendments weekly. For a current update, visit www.kftc.org/billtracker.

Issue

Summary

Status

KFTC SUPPORTS Tax Reform House Bill 142

House Bill 142 would make Kentucky’s tax system more fair, adequate and sustainable with a broad variety of tax reforms. It would raise about $800 million, mostly from income and transac­ tions that currently go untaxed.

HB 142 was filed on Feb. 5 and was assigned to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. It has 8 cosponsors.

KFTC SUPPORTS Clean Energy Opportunity Act House Bill 170

House Bill 170 would create a Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard requiring utilities in Kentucky to get an increasing share of their electricity from clean, renewable sources and energy effi­ ciency programs. It would also establish a Feed-in Tariff that sets a guaranteed rate for renewable energy producers.

The Clean Energy Opportunity Act was introduced on Feb. 5 by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian. It has been assigned to the House Tourism, Development, and Energy Commit­ tee. The committee held a “discussion only” hearing on Feb. 28.

KFTC SUPPORTS Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment House Bill 70

House Bill 70, the Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment, calls for a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to most former felons upon the completion of their sen­ tence.

The Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment passed out of the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Inter­ governmental Affairs Committee on Feb. 12 by a vote of 6-1, and passed the full House 75-25 on Feb. 20. It is now in the Senate before the State and Local Government Committee.

KFTC SUPPORTS Stream Saver Bill House Bill 86 Senate Bill 29

This legislation will prohibit the dumping of toxic mine wastes into “an intermittent, perennial, or ephemeral stream or other water of the Commonwealth.”

The Stream Saver bill has been filed in the House (HB 86) and Senate (SB 29) this year. HB 86 has been as­ signed to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. SB 29 has been assigned to the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee

KFTC OPPOSES Religious Belief Act House Bill 279

House Bill 279 gives individuals the right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, even if counter to a law. The bill is written so broadly that it could allow for challenges to existing anti-discrimination laws in Kentucky that protect individuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

HB 279 passed the House 82-7 on March 1. The House refused to add language that would have ensured the continued protection of current civil rights laws in Ken­ tucky. The bill made its way quickly through the Senate, with approval by the Seante Judiciary Committee on March 6 and by the full Senate, 29-6, on March 7.

KFTC OPPOSES Mine Reclamation Bonding House Bill 424

House Bill 424 is the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s bill to make improvements to the bonding program for coal mine reclamation, including setting up a bond pool to cover reclama­ tion costs when forfeited bonds are insufficient (most of the time).

However, the bill specifically prohibits the funds to be used to address long-term water pollution discharges, which are common and usually expensive to treat.

HB 424 was taken from the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee and given two readings on the House floor, even before the bill was heard in commit­ tee. HB 424 was not brought up during a March 4 special committee meeting called specifically for that purpose, but was amended the next day at a special meeting and then passed by the full House 90-1. It is now in the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee and has already received one reading on the Senate floor.

KFTC OPPOSES Water Quality Exemptions House Bill 165

House Bill 165 exempts landowners from permits and water qual­ HB 165 passed the House on Feb. 26, 91-3. It has gone to ity standards for rock quarries on their own land, if the excavated the Senate but has not yet been assigned to a committee. rock is for their own use. It would be an exemption inviting abuse.

KFTC SUPPORTS Industrial Hemp House Bill 33 Senate Bill 50

Senate Bill 50 and House Bill 33 set up a regulatory structure by which industrial hemp could be grown in Kentucky, provided a waiver of federal rules is obtained.

HB 50 is the bill that is moving. It was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Feb. 11 and the full Senate, 31-6, on Feb. 14. It was approved by the Agri­ culture and Small Business Committee in the House on March 6 and is now before the House Rules Committee.

On Tuesday, March 12, Rep. Rocky Adkins filed a floor amendment, largely re-writing the bill.

This information is current through Thursday, March 14. Check the KFTC web site at www.kftc.org/billtracker for updates on these bills and others that are not listed in this issue of balancing the scales, or the Legislative Research Commission web site at http://lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/record.htm

Page 5

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Voting Rights Update

Broad grassroots effort continues to push for House Bill 70

One of KFTC’s major legislative campaigns is to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society. Kentucky is one of just four states that disenfranchise all former felons unless they can get a partial pardon from the governor. Nearly a quarter million Kentuckians can’t vote because of this law.

Kentucky’s answer is House Bill 70, an amendment to the state constitution to restore voting rights to most former felons when they’ve served their debt to society.

KFTC members started off the year with a large voting rights coalition meeting in Louisville with 40 participants, including representatives from labor groups, faith organizations and a broad range of other community groups.

About one third of the participants were former felons themselves. Together, a plan was made to move HB 70 forward.

When the General Assembly began its 2013 legislative session, KFTC members launched a broad campaign to raise awareness and connect with legislators by sharing stories of former felons to help legislators relate to the issue and encouraging them to vote yes on HB 70.

Members campaigned by getting hundreds of people to call in, send postcards, write letters, make presentations, submit letters to the editor and go to Frankfort in person to talk to their legislators.

HB 70 passed the House Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee with a bipartisan vote of 6 to 1.

On one of the many days former felons travelled to talk to legislators, Jason Smith and Sean O’Donley from Elizabethtown got to talk to many legislators.

This was O’Donley’s first day as a citizen lobbyist in Frankfort. He doesn’t have the right to vote, but has been fighting to get it back for the past six months.

“I had no idea it was like this or that people could just flag down their representative and have a conversation with them. It’s kind of exciting,” he said.

“He’s a Republican and I’m more of a Democrat,” said Smith, gesturing to O’Donley. “But I don’t care who people vote for nearly as much as I care about whether they’re allowed to vote. And we should all be allowed to vote.”

A little later, HB 70 passed over-

whelmingly on the House floor with a 75 to 25 vote and made it over to the Senate.

Representative David Floyd spoke on the House floor in favor of voting rights, asking, “Are felons forever condemned or can they be restored? I think if you’ve served your debt to society, you’ve served your debt to society. I want the people of Kentucky to vote on this and that’s what HB 70 does.”

The very next day, KFTC had six teams of citizen lobbyists in Frankfort talking to senators, and kept it up day after day the entire session.

HB 70 gained the support of several new senators, adding to an impressive bloc of support including two members of Senate Republican leadership. But other Senate leaders did not allow it to come to a vote in the Senate.

On March 6, members held their largest lobby day in Frankfort focused on voting rights. Despite snowy weather that kept many citizens home, about 260 people raised their voices for voting.

Several former felons took the podium to share their stories and urge passage of House Bill 70.

Aileen Bryant, a former felon from

Louisville, recalled that at one time she was told she’d never amount to anything. “Today I am somebody,” she said.

She urged those gathered to talk to their legislators about House Bill 70. “We need to let them know we deserve that right. Don’t give up.”

Michael Hiser of Bullitt County said he has obtained his bachelor’s degree and is working on a master’s degree since serving his time. He has regained custody of his children and paid $15,000 in back taxes. But he still can’t vote.

Ed West, another former felon, said it feels good to be a citizen again, even paying taxes. “It feels good to be responsible and be able to pay a debt.” But gaining voting rights for former felons will take a powerful movement. “We need to continue to voice such powerful voices.”

KFTC member Tayna Fogle, who emceed the rally, said she wants to set an example for her two children and seven grandchildren. “I want them to be able to believe in this democracy.”

They visited with dozens of lawmakers and left hundreds of postcards for Senate President Robert Stivers.

In the end, the Senate failed to allow

HB 70 to come to a vote in their chamber despite broad support.

But KFTC members are relentless and patient, and are already planning fieldwork in the coming months to build support, put pressure on key senators like Robert Stivers, Katie Stine and Joe Bowen, and explore the possibility of passing city council resolutions like Lexington’s in other cities throughout the state.

Tanya Fogle shared her story and passion while emceeing the voting rights rally to pass HB 70.

Page 6

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Voting Rights Update

Think about running for public office in 2014

There are no scheduled Kentucky elections in 2013, so KFTC members are putting a lot of the effort they would have put into massive voter registration and mobilization and instead focusing on planning and training for the 2014 elections.

Next year, Kentucky will have elections for a U.S. Senate seat, six U.S. House seats, 19 of the 38 state Senate seats, all 100 state House seats, plus many local county and city offices.

KFTC encourages members and allies to consider running for public office themselves in 2014. Additionally, KFTC will host a candidate training later in the

year to help people prepare to run.

One of the most common questions people ask is, “What would that take?”

Some general answers include time, dedication, an idea of how to make things better, a solid connection to your community, friends, a willingness to ask others to invest in your campaign, and a lot of drive and self-motivation.

It depends a lot on what office you’re interested in running for, but a good way to illustrate the amount of effort it would take to win an election is to talk about how many (or few) votes it has taken to win different offices in past similar elections.

When did you make your last gift to KFTC? Look at the cover of balancing the scales.

Under your name we have listed your last gift date and amount!

Feel free to donate as you can! Thank you to those who have renewed your dues. We’ve been getting a lot of renewals in the door these past couple of months. If you haven’t done it yet, you might as well.

Here are some examples – using the 2010 results in most cases since it was the last year Kentucky had a U.S. Senate race in a non-presidential year, similar to how next year will be structured.

• State Representative races, 2010 – 8,290 votes (average). In 2010, only 55 of the 100 state House races were contested in the general election. The 45 other candidates ran with no opposition. Of those 55 contested races, in 33 races the winner received 8,290 votes on average, with winning vote counts as low as 5,120 votes or as high as 15,019 votes.

• State Senate races, 2010 – 20,709 votes (average). In 2010, only 13 of the 19 state Senate races were contested in the general election. In the other six, candidates ran with no opposition. Of those 13, the winner received 20,709 votes on average, with winning vote counts as low as 16,291 votes or as high as 30,305 votes.

• U.S. House of Representatives races, 2010 – 145,387 votes (average). In 2010, the winner received 145,387 votes on average, with winning vote counts as low as 119,812 votes or as high as 155,906 votes.

• Lexington Urban County Council races (District), 2010 – 3,363 votes (average). In 2010, 5 of the 12 seats were contested.

The winner in those 5 district races received 3,363 votes on average, and winning Lexington council members received vote counts as low as 1,570 votes or as high as 4,210 votes.

And of course city and county races of areas less populated than Lexington take fewer votes to win.

Do some research about offices you might be interested in running for. It might not be as hard to win as you might imagine.

The Kentucky Voting Rights Coalition held a meeting in early February to strategize for the legislative session.

Page 7

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Economic Justice Updates

Members prepare for tax reform Special Session in spring

KFTC members have been working to continue the impressive momentum generated by the Blue Ribbon Commission hearings across the state last year in preparation for an anticipated special legislative session focused on tax reform.

At the Economic Justice Lobby Day on Feb. 7, significant cuts had just been announced to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program.

One member explained that her childcare provider expected to close their doors because of the budget cuts, putting all those workers out of the workforce and causing an array of hard choices for the families who depended on it.

Jefferson County member Molly Tevis-Orona, who testified at the Blue Ribbon Commission meeting in Louisville and was quoted extensively in The Courier-Journal, explained how the cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program will likely impact her family, as well.

Members took these stories and others stories – of struggles to keep up with tuition increases, of outdated textbooks, of never-ending job searches, and more – to legislators to ask them to finally do something about it by reforming Kentucky’s tax structure.

Throughout the session, members continued meeting with legislators, reminding them of the overwhelming take-away from the Blue Ribbon meetings: Kentuckians want revenue because they believe in what Kentucky can be.

Legislators are likely to have an opportunity to act on Kentuckians’ messages during an upcoming special legislative session that the governor said he will call for tax reform.

Members are currently planning athome meetings for immediately after the current regular session. If you’d like to help organize a tax reform meeting with your legislators, call Jessica Hays Lucas at 859-276-0563.

Instead of commonsense tax increases on the wealthiest U.S. residents, Congress, in an effort spearheaded by Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, opted for a series of drastic federal budget cuts that took effect on March 1. Below is a list of the impacts on Kentucky, taken from a report from The Washington Post.

Senator McConnell has said that the budget cuts are “modest.” But the list of impacts on our commonwealth alone suggests that the impact of these cuts will be drastic and long-lasting.

Kentucky children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B.

Federal sequester to hurt Kentucky families, cost jobs

What the sequester means for Kentucky: • Head Start and Early Head Start services will be eliminated for approximately 1,100 children in Kentucky.

• Up to 500 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care because of federal budget cuts. This is in addition to the state budget cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program.

• In Kentucky around 1,350 fewer

• 160 teacher and aide jobs are at risk.

• 21,000 fewer students will be served and approximately 40 fewer schools will receive federal funding.

• About 90 teachers, aides, and staff who help Kentucky’s children with disabilities will lose funding.

• Around 1,710 fewer low-income students in Kentucky will receive aid to help them finance the costs of college.

The Impact of Kentucky’s Budget Cuts since 2008

On February 5, the governor’s Cabinet Secretary (and former state budget director) Mary Lassiter testified about the dire outlook for the state budget and the programs and people who depend on state funding. This is what she shared with the members of the House and Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committees: • Budget cuts in the last 5 years have taken $1.6 billion from essential state programs and services, representing about 38% of these agencies’ budgets.

• Legislators have provided no money for textbooks in the last five years.

• Tuition is up over 200 percent at state universities and community colleges since 1998.

• Two-thirds of students who qualify for need-based financial aid – about 73,000 students – are being denied this assistance because of a lack of funds.

• There are more than 7,000 fewer state employees than there were in 1974 (and they’re doing more work but without a raise in 4 years).

• There has been no increase in funding to Kentucky’s community mental health centers since 1998; support for Kentucky’s behavioral health services was once tops in the nation and now we’re ranked 45th . We’re also losing school nurses, who are often the front line of ensuring that our children are healthy.

• Environmental laws are not enforced due to inadequate staffing.

• 300,000 fewer Meals on Wheels will be served this year than in 2010.

• We have fewer state police on the road than we’ve had in a generation.

• School safety programs have been cut by 60%.

• There’s a moratorium on applications for the Child Care Assistance Program in April and a reduction in eligibility for FY 14.

• There’s a moratorium on applications for Kinship Care Program.

• About 100 additional children entered the foster care system instead of receiving intensive services that would keep them in the family home as a direct result of the elimination of Diversion Services in Community Based Services.

• Without new revenue, there will be a $300 million revenue deficit in the first year (FY 2014-15) of the next biennial budget, and a $1 billion shortfall by 2020.

• Around 470 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

• 1,200 fewer people will be admitted to substance abuse programs.

• Around 16,690 fewer Kentuckians will get the help and skills they need to find employment because of cuts to job search assistance, referral, and placement programs.

• 2,100 fewer HIV tests will be given.

• About 11,000 Department of Defense workers will be furloughed in Kentucky, reducing their gross pay by about $54.4 million.

• Kentucky could lose up to $93,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, causing up to 400 victims to be denied help.

• Kentucky will lose approximately $677,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

Page 8

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

New Energy and Transition Update

Testimony describes how clean energy creates new jobs

Compelling testimony about the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency incentives and programs was delivered to the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee on February 28.

“This [bill] is a recognition that there are alternatives,” said House Bill 170 sponsor Rep. Mary Lou Marzian. “It’s about jobs , jobs, jobs. We need to start looking at the future and building on what we have in terms of renewables and bio-fuels … [and] making Kentucky residents and Kentucky businesses less vulnerable to rising energy costs.”

Electricity usage can be cut 30-50 percent by cutting waste, testified John M. Smith of General Refrigeration. His company specializes in improving energy use at supermarkets and refrigerated warehouses by reclaiming waste heat and water.

“We’ve done this in several Kentucky area stores … and their electric bill was only $7,500 a month that would normally be in the $12-15,000 a month range,” Smith said.

For the businesses he works with, these energy savings translate into lower food costs for consumers, Smith said.

“So it benefits the entire community.”

However, utilities need a push to get involved in and be more supportive of these efforts. “Power companies haven’t given so much consideration to the technical side of heat reclaim [and] upgrades are expensive. We’d like to see the utilities to provide these monetary incentives.”

House Bill 170 would require utilities to find ways to increase energy efficiency.

John A. Smith of Smith Insulation cited similar benefits for residential energy users. He has been in the business of residential energy improvements for 15 years in eastern and central Kentucky.

“Most homes are less than 30 percent efficient,” he testified, meaning that there’s great potential for savings. For the homeowners he has helped, savings range from 30-70 percent.

However, “a lot of home owners can’t afford upgrades,” he said. That’s why programs like How$mart, which allow upfront costs to be repaid through savings on energy bills, are so important.

“With the increased work, it’s al-

lowed me to hire additional employees and buy equipment,” Smith said. “This is helping jobs. This is helping individuals be more comfortable in their homes.”

In addition to requiring utilities to find ways to increase energy efficiency, the Clean Energy Opportunity Act would require them to invest in renewables, with a goal of generating 12.5 percent of their electricity from these sources within 10 years.

John Cotten, the marketing director at Alternative Energy Kentucky in Danville, told the committee of the benefits of supporting this goal. AEK is Kentucky’s only solar panel manufacturer.

His company is growing, but that’s largely from orders coming from out of state. Job growth could be much more robust if Kentucky committed to diversifying its energy portfolio, he said.

Having renewable goals to get utilities to cooperate would make this happen.

“As we continue to look into the future, we do see there are opportunities to level the cost for consumers by diversifying the portfolio.”

AEK was involved in the installation of several solar energy systems on farms in the Tennessee Valley Authority service area in southern Kentucky.

Those farmers were motivated by the feed-in tariff program offered by TVA. A feed-in tariff provides owners of renewable systems a guaranteed price for the surplus energy they produce.

After a typical 7- to 8-year payback period, “the savings for farmers over the long term is an amazing amount of money,” Cotten said.

HB 170 would set up a similar feedin tariff program for all utilities in Kentucky.

The goal of the legislation is to “foster more of those kinds of partnerships” that the Smiths and Cotten described, said Joshua Bills, a certified energy manager with the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).

There were several questions and comments from legislators, including Rep. Kim King, who wanted to know what would happen if utilities did not

meet the efficiency and renewable goals, and Rep. Tom McKee, who touted the role of agriculture in developing renewable energy sources.

Bill Bissett of the Kentucky Coal Association testified against the bill.

“The serious concern is the tremendous cost that will be imposed on every consumer,” he said. “HB 170 is about redefining Kentucky’s energy production … [and] seeks to supplant coal with energy made possible only through public subsidies.”

HB 170 does not require any use of public funds.

Bissett also said that HB 170 represents a “political mandate” being pushed by “anti-coal activists.” He added that most of the energy “will come from out-of-state sources” rather than using Kentucky coal.

Not enough time was allowed to discuss the bill in more depth, and no vote was allowed. Committee chair Rep. Keith Hall said, “I like the task force idea” as a way to continue discussion, but no steps were taken to set this up.

Why did you decide to become a New Power Leader?

As KFTC moves toward its goal of 25,000 members, there needs to be a way that the organization can remain accessible, responsive and personal. The New Power Leader approach creates intimate clusters where the relationship is still person-to-person.

What are some of the outcomes you’ve seen?

We’ve done letter writing to legislators, and my cluster members have also passed on their desires and concerns, which I am able to relay to others at KFTC.

New Power Leader profile: Steve Wilkins

How long have you been involved with KFTC, and how did you get involved?

I’ve been a member for about 10 years, but I got actively involved about four years ago when I retired. While I was originally drawn to KFTC’s commitment to stop mountaintop removal, the “Stop Smith” campaign (to prevent a new coal-burning power plant) was just ramping up and that’s where I directed my energies. Now, I’m involved in all of KFTC’s efforts that relate to the electric energy sector.

How did you decide whom to include in your New Power cluster?

I chose friends. Also, I live in a small cul-de-sac community, so it made sense to include neighbors who were acquaintances.

What are some things you’ve done with your cluster?

I actually wish I had done more than I have.

We had a block party cookout. I’ve also communicated with many of my cluster on an individual basis.

What are your plans or aspirations for your cluster members?

I’d like to have more “community conversations.” Ideally, some of my cluster would go on to become a New Power Leader for their own clusters.

What’s your vision for your community and Kentucky?

My vision is the realization of what we call our state ... a common-wealth. Not a wealth of the wealthy, nor the well-connected, nor this part of Kentucky at the expense of this other part. Healthy, sustainable communities where all industrial and extractive activities balance profits with the welfare of the communities in which they operate. A common-wealth with a tax base that is adequate and gained in a fair and balanced way.

What do you think would be the impact of having 1,000 New Power Leaders in Kentucky?

Well, if each NPL had a cluster of 10-15 households, KFTC would have lobbying potential powerful enough to counterbalance those whose dollars buy them an inside track to legislative decision-making.

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

New Energy and Transition Update

Page 9

How to help in Ray Tucker’s Electric Co-op Campaign

In the last issue of balancing the scales, we told you about Ray Tucker, former KFTC chairperson and Pulaski County farmer, who is running for the board of directors of the South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative.

Since that time, Tucker’s name has been officially placed on the ballot, and his campaign is gearing up. And he can use your help.

Tucker is running to not only make his co-op more open to member participation, energy savings programs and clean energy, but he wants to use this opportunity to build a strong community in the South Kentucky area that works together for a brighter future. Beyond his campaign goal of getting elected to the board, Tucker wants to increase democratic participation and build support for KFTC in the area.

This is where others can help. For Tucker to accomplish his goals, lots of folks will need to be having one-to-one interactions with lots of other folks in the southern Kentucky area around Somerset, including in Pulaski, McCreary, Wayne, Clinton, and Russell counties.

What can you do to help Tucker’s campaign?

• •

•

•

Visit Tucker’s website at www.RayForSouthKentucky.com and watch his inspiring campaign video; Send an email about Tucker’s website and campaign video to people you know in the South Kentucky area. Ask them to fill out the survey on his “I Want to Hear From You” page; “Like” Tucker’s campaign page on Facebook and encourage people you know who are interested in democracy, transparency, energy efficiency and clean energy to do the same. You don’t have to be in the South Kentucky area to like the campaign. Building excitement throughout Kentucky for his campaign will help. His Facebook page is here: facebook.com/RayForSouthKentucky; Sign-up to make phone calls to talk with South Kentucky RECC members about Tucker’s campaign. KFTC will host “virtual” phone banks during the first week of April with a goal of reaching at least 3,000 co-op members in three days. Lots of folks from

throughout KFTC’s membership are excited to make calls together about Tucker’s campaign. If you have a computer and a phone, you can be a great help. Contact Tucker at ray@ solarplacefarm.com to let him know you want to make calls.

Tucker wants RECC customers to imagine the progress that can be made

if people in the local South Kentucky area, as well as KFTC members from Shelbyville to Elliotsville, from Lawrenceburg to Whitesburg, are spreading the word about the potential for New Power in Kentucky: new democratic people power, new clean energy power, and new economic power in the form of energy savings and the local jobs that can be created in the co-ops.

Ray Tucker talks with friends, neighbors and KFTC members about why he is running for the South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative board at a house party he hosted at his Solar Place Farm on March 3.

Steering Committee adopts ambitious 2013 Program of Work

In its first meeting of 2013, the KFTC Steering Committee celebrated the work of last year and approved the Program of Work for this year.

The Program of Work is a guiding document that includes specific objectives for the year for all of KFTC’s strategies and campaigns. At the February 9 meeting, Steering Committee members and staff gave brief presentations in each category that touched on accomplishments in 2012 and lifted up priorities for 2013.

In speaking about diversity, one of KFTC’s fundamental strategies, Meta Mendel-Reyes of Madison County said, “I think our commitment to diversity has three parts.” She described these parts as commitment to ourselves, commitment to Kentucky and commitment to our future. These commitments mean making sure everyone thrives and ending oppression in all its forms.

KFTC vice chairperson Dana Beasley Brown of Bowling Green described leadership development, a primary KFTC strategy: “Our purpose firstmost is to create leaders and get people involved

in our democracy.” KFTC doesn’t want to be an internet-only organization, she said, stressing the importance of personal relationships built within KFTC. KFTC’s strong and growing voter empowerment work is another primary strategy. Central Kentucky member Christian Torp shared highlights from the 2012 voter work, including KFTC’s registration of nearly 5,000 new voters.

The committee also discussed the importance of the 2014 elections in Kentucky, which will include races for the U.S. Senate and House.

Member Homer White of Scott County encouraged the group to remember KFTC’s emphasis on telling our stories and lifting up a positive message, whatever the political landscape.

“I think this is just a great time not to be politically wily,” he said.

Steve Wilkins of Madison County encouraged the committee to think about how the 2014 elections might be “an opportunity for us to build our issues and get them front and center.”

The day-long meeting also touched

on the Kentucky General Assembly, national discussions around climate jus-

tice, and ideas for inviting more college students into KFTC’s work.

Steering Committee members (left to right) Megan Naseman, Ben Baker, Lisa Aug and Patrick King listen intently during a discussion.

Page 10

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

New Energy and Transition Update

Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference comes to Harlan

An exciting three-day conference on the challenges and opportunities facing eastern Kentucky and ways to shape a just transition for the region has been announced by KFTC. “Appalachia’s Bright Future: A Conversation on Shaping a Just Transition” will take place in Harlan April 19-21 and is open to all who care about the future of the region.

“I come from a long line of hardworking Appalachian people. My great grandfather worked in timber. My grandfather and father were coal miners. I was a coal miner. And I’m proud to tell you that my son is one of the best underground miners I know,” Harlan County KFTC member Carl Shoupe said recently.

“But the world we’ve known is changing. It’s changing fast, and we have to change too. I do believe that we can have a bright future here in Kentucky, including in eastern Kentucky.

We can create new jobs, we can have safe energy, and we can live in healthy communities.”

Those ideas were echoed by Letcher County member Elizabeth Sanders, who said, “More and more, people are recognizing that we need to transition. But we don’t want any transition. We want a just transition – one that is equitable to all.

“The debate we need is bigger than jobs. It’s about the kind of jobs we want and deserve. We need to think longer term and make economic decisions that are good for our land and our people,” she added. “It’s clear to most people that rapid economic transition is already underway in eastern Kentucky. In this moment of rapid change, we have an opportunity, if we pull together, to build

a bright future.”

The conference program will highlight positive examples of economic transition from eastern Kentucky and other Central Appalachian communities. Panelists will also include guests from places that have been through major economic upheaval, including Wales, the north Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and rural Pennsylvania.

The program will engage participants in many ways, including through art, music and theater as well as more traditional conference formats. Additional program details can be found at www.kftc.org/abf.

More than a dozen workshops will focus on promising pathways for job creation and community development in areas like renewable energy, land and stream restoration, arts and culture, broadband internet access, sustainable forestry, and energy efficient affordable housing.

Additional workshops will explore what a just transition in eastern Kentucky means, and what it will take, from the perspective of journalists, workers, and young people in the region.

This event is open to all people who are interested in shaping a bright future in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia. Registration fees are on a sliding scale of $5 to $100, which covers the cost of all conference programs and several meals.

Information about lodging is available on the registration form, including places to reserve a room and ways to request a lodging scholarship. Do act soon, however, because many of the rooms reserved in local hotels are only guaranteed through March 19.

Below is a simplified agenda for the conference. Visit www.kftc.org/ABF for a more detailed schedule.

Friday, April 19 1 pm Optional pre-conference tours —various locations in Harlan County 5 pm Conference registration & info expo at the Harlan Convention Center 7 pm Opening Session at Harlan Convention Center This session will feature film clips and a discussion with guests from the Appalachian region and Wales about that country’s experience before, during and after coal mining ended in the 1980s.

Saturday, April 20 8 am Conference registration and information expo continue at Harlan Center 9 am Welcome and Opening Plenary: Perspectives on a Just Transition This opening session will feature presentations and discussion about key opportunities and challenges we face as a region and perspectives on a just transition.

11 am Panel: Transition Stories This panel will explore Transition Stories from other communities and regions that have been through economic upheaval.

12 pm Lunch and time to network and enjoy the information tables 1 pm Workshops Arts and culture; Community-Based Transition Efforts; Local Food Economy; Entrepreneurship; Broadband Internet Access; A Conversation About Transition from the Perspective of Local Journalists.

3 pm Forum Theater This session is an opportunity to test out and practice honest, hard and constructive conversations about the future of eastern Kentucky.

5 pm Break 6:30 pm Dinner and Concert We’ll relocate to the East Kentucky Social Club in Lynch for an evening of great food, music and fellowship. An evening performance will start at 7:30 pm and feature guests Anna Roberts-Gewalt, Chris Owen, the Mount Sinai Spirituals, and other local artists and musicians.

Sunday, April 21 8 am Breakfast served at convention center 9 am Workshops Community Assessments As A Tool For Local Development; Energy Efficient, Affordable Housing; Sustainable Forestry; Land And Stream Reclamation; Models For Providing Long-Term Investment In The Region; A Conversation About Transition From The Perspective Of Workers.

10:45 am Closing Session In this final session we’ll invite reflections about the weekend from panelists and participants. We’ll enjoy a presentation of a mural and other artwork created during the conference. And we’ll discuss ways to move forward and make progress on good ideas.

April 19-21 Harlan, Kentucky harlan Center For information and to register, visit www.kftc.org/abf

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Canary Project Updates

Page 11

I Love Mountains Day energizes citizens for a brighter future

KFTC members and friends celebrated their hope for Appalachia’s Bright Future at the annual I Love Mountains Day march and rally in Frankfort on Valentine’s Day.

“I believe in Harlan County’s Bright Future, in Kentucky’s Bright Future, in Appalachia’s Bright Future,” member Carl Shoupe of Benham told the crowd on the capitol steps. “But we must do more than want it. We have to dream it. We have to build it and protect it, together. We have to demand it and work for it every day. We have to organize for it and we have to vote for it.”

More than 1,100 people met at the Kentucky River and marched up Capital Avenue to call for New Power – new energy, economic and political power

Not only is I Love Mountains Day a time to celebrate but it is a time to educate youth about state government. Twelveyear-old Isaac Owens of Floyd County made the long trip to Frankfort and even got his picture taken with the lieutenant governor.

– and an end to mountaintop removal and other destructive mining practices that threaten our mountains, water, air and health.

Twelve-year-old Ella Corder of Somerset, winner of the first I Love Mountains Day essay contest, read from her winning esay at the rally.

“We all have a fire in our hearts. It may have started as a small, weak, flickering flame, but it grew, as does our love for our treasured mountains. We need to use that burning fire to stand up for what we believe in and let our voices be heard.”

Keynote speaker Silas House challenged those gathered to take action.

“For the past decade, KFTC has actively worked toward solutions with four main goals: enforcing existing laws, passing stronger laws where needed to protect health and environment, developing a diverse and sustainable local economy, and, lastly, developing clean energy solutions in the region. New Power.”

Elizabeth Sanders, who left the mountains with her family before high school and than returned as an adult, said, “Like many people I know, I reject the idea that people have to leave eastern Kentucky if they want opportunities and a good life. Some people will choose to leave; that’s their call.

But many of us are choosing to stay, or choosing to come back. We love this place. We are committed to building a better future here.”

People traveled from across Kentucky and beyond – some for the first time and others as an annual tradition.

“Every time I do something with KFTC, it’s energizing and inspiring,” said Perry County member Katie Pirotina. “It gives you energy. When you’re with a big group of people, you know

More than 1,100 people travelled to Frankfort to march and rally for a clean energy future for Kentucky. you’re in this together and are sharing this experience.”

“I’m here because I’m so frustrated with mountaintop removal, and it’s just got to stop,” said first-timer Jenny Neat of Frankfort. “It’s destroying mountains we’ll never have again and people are getting sick and the water’s getting polluted, and it’s just got to stop.”

Twelve-year-old Isaac Owens of Floyd County made the long trip to Frankfort and even got his picture taken with the lieutenant governor. He left a note for Rep. Greg Stumbo: I am 12 years old and I want my kids when I grow up to be able to see all the beautiful mountains and be healthy and not have orange water like I do. PLEASE HELP!

I Love Mountains Day speakers (left to right): KFTC Chairperson Sue Tallichet, retired miner Carl Shoupe, Kentucky author Silas House, Ella Corder, and Elizabeth Sanders.

Page 12

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Canary Project Update

“Walk” brings message of transition from mountains to capitol

by Sarah-Jane Poindexter From February 1-14, Footprints for Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating change through peaceful actions, conducted its annual “Walk for a Sustainable Future.”

To raise awareness about the negative effects of mountaintop removal on Kentucky communities, the group walked approximately 150 miles from Prestonsburg to Frankfort, starting with a mountaintop removal site tour with KFTC member Rick Handshoe and Floyd County organizer Kristi Kendall and culminating at the state capital for I Love Mountains Day. I had the privilege of joining this diverse and inspiring “community of walkers” for a number of days on the road. Approximately half of the group were Kentuckians. The other half were Buddhist monks, Veterans for Peace, a documentary filmmaker, and activists, mostly from the Ohio Valley and Appalachian region. Our representative from the Kentucky coalfields was Russell Oliver of Perry County, making his fifth walking trip with Footprints.

When asked why he chose to participate in the walk, Oliver said, “Because it was a way that I could express my opposition to mountaintop removal and encourage a sustainable future to supply jobs for people in Kentucky. The I Love Mountains Day rally takes the message

to the politicians at the capitol; the walk through the coalfields takes the message to the people of the coalfields. Politicians can help the people, but the people themselves must become aware of their own needs and find local solutions through the empowerment of people.”

In years past, Footprints encountered a few hostile comments, but according to Oliver, “We have been treated nicer every year. This year a woman came out of a gas service station and waved at us. One church minister invited us on a cold day to come into his church and warm up with refreshments. Several cars stopped and said that they supported us.”

A typical day started early: morning prayer led by the monks, packing up of sleeping bags and supplies, a communal breakfast, then embarking on the road.

Weathering a fickle February, our walks averaged 12 to 15 miles a day with short breaks every three miles, a lengthier lunch rest, and an ever-present support vehicle.

Each evening we entered a new community and settled into our lodgings, always donated at the generosity of local allies. Communal dinners and conversations further strengthened the bonds we formed on the road. Early to bed, we started again the next day, journeying among the Kentucky landscape and peoples that make our state unique and irreplaceable.

As our group neared Frankfort, the country roads gradually became more

urban, and as we were joined by increasing numbers of supporters, the foot traffic grew heavier until eventually we were absorbed into the thousands of citizens marching up Capital Avenue toward the statehouse. Footprints participant Bob Thompson metaphorically compared the journey to the many streams running into a river, a literal evocation of our cause’s adage, “We all live downstream.”

I heartily encourage KFTC members to join this allied organization in 2014 for the annual march from the coalfields to the capital. Walk for just one day, one hour, or perhaps simply use your local

network to arrange overnight accommodations or other amenities for the group.

Lastly, I would encourage KFTC members to help connect the walkers with the communities through which they pass by hosting potlucks or facilitating other community events. One of the greatest strengths of the KFTC membership is facilitating dialogue. Increased community engagement through partnership between KFTC and Footprints will help to make our shared mission all the more effective. In the words of Footprints walker Larry Crane, together, “we can carry the banner for all those who we pass.”

Footprints for Peace hosted its annual “Walk for a Sustainable Future” that began in Floyd County and ended in Frankfort at I Love Mountains Day.

Legislation would halt radical mining, study health impacts

The Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act (H.R. 526) – legislation that would require the first comprehensive federal study of the health dangers of mountaintop removal coal mining – was introduced in Congress last month by Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky and Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York.

H.R. 526 would place a moratorium on all new mountaintop removal mining permits while federal officials examine health consequences to surrounding communities.

“Every American has a right to live and work in a community free from environmental health risks,” said Slaughter, a native of Harlan County, Kentucky.

“And it is our duty to ensure that this right is not infringed upon by industries that consider community health and

environmental protection to be less important than their profit margins.”

“Mountaintop removal coal mining destroys entire ecosystems and contaminates the water supplies in mining communities, making people sick and jeopardizing their safety,” said Yarmuth.

“This legislation will provide families in these communities the answers they need and the protection they deserve. If it can’t be proven that mountaintop removal mining is safe, we shouldn’t allow it to continue.”

There is a growing body of evidence that people living near mountaintop removal coal mining are at an elevated risk for a range of major health problems.

About 20 recent peer-reviewed studies have examined the question more systematically and revealed compelling results.

“All the research points to what mountain people have known since mountaintop removal began: It is not possible to destroy our mountains without destroying ourselves,” said KFTC member Bev May, a family nurse practitioner and resident of Floyd County, in a Yarmuth press release. “It’s not possible to poison our streams without poisoning our children for untold generations to come. The research is not complete, but there’s more than enough research to justify an immediate moratorium on mountaintop removal.”

One peer-reviewed study in Environmental Research found that communities near mountaintop removal mining sites showed elevated levels of birth defects – including circulatory and respiratory problems and damage to the central nervous system, musculoskeletal and gas-

trointestinal systems – when compared with communities surrounding nonMTR mines.

“I will have to make a lot of important choices in my life, but of all the major choices I will have to make, wondering whether or not it’s safe to birth my future children in my homeland of eastern Kentucky should not even have to register on that list,” said Ivy Brashear, a fifth-generation Perry Countian who is a graduate student in the Community and Leadership Development Program at the University of Kentucky. “I, nor any other young woman who wishes to have children in the place of their own birth, should ever have to think about the ramifications our future children might have to endure simply from living where our families have lived for generations.”

H.R. 526 has 26 cosponsors.

Page 13

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Updates

Growing Appalachia conference sparks ideas and innovation

The fourth annual Growing Appalachia conference, an event hosted by the Floyd County KFTC Chapter, was a great success.

Nearly 120 people turned out on March 9 for a day of workshops about ways to earn and save money through small-scale agriculture, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“Twelve months ago, if I heard the name KFTC I’d probably move fast in the other direction,” said one participant.

“But I’m amazed to learn more about the organization and all the different work you are doing.”

Throughout the day workshops were offered on topics ranging from extending the growing season to harvesting wild edibles and medicinal herbs, and from building low-cost, low-energy homes to do-it-yourself energy efficiency strategies.

Other classes focused on small-scale dairy production and beginning organic gardening. Participants also enjoyed workshops on canning food, renewable energy in the mountains, and community supported agriculture.

Many sessions were led by local KFTC members, while others were taught by experienced farmers and hous-

ing contractors who donated their time.

Over lunch, a panel of local entrepreneurs discussed their challenges and successes in building new business opportunities in eastern Kentucky. One panelist, Floyd County farmer Todd Howard, described his journey from being laid off in 2010 to starting to farm and helping to build a thriving Floyd County farmers’ market.

“I think we are just scraping the surface of what the local food economy can be here,” Howard said.

Amelia Kirby, who together with her husband launched a successful restaurant and bar in downtown Whitesburg, also shared her experiences with a startup business.

“We thought about the kinds of things that we leave eastern Kentucky for. We leave town for better food, live music and art. So that’s what we’ve worked to create. We found there are tons of resources and capacity in our local community. We’ve been able to draw on the amazing skills and strength of local people. And a lot of pieces sort of fell together.”

A third panelist, Berea College professor David Cooke, described lessons he’s learned about entrepreneurship in

by Annie Adams

of “‘economically recoverable’ coal in central Appalachia,” and the abundance of “surface-mined coal from the West’s Powder River Basin” have all “resulted in a sharp decline in the demand for central Appalachian thermal coal used for generating electricity.”

Instead of worrying how the “last gasp of eastern Kentucky’s coal mining” benefits the industry and its friends, Tallichet argued, we should be focusing on the people and the land that will remain long after the companies have gone.

Raising coal severance taxes – and making them “permanent to pay for more scholarships, for programs to retrain former coal miners and to take more serious steps toward investing in renewable resources and diversifying eastern Kentucky’s economy” – is the

Participants enjoyed a locally sourced lunch at the Growing Appalachia conference. the mountains over many years as an extension agent in southern West Virginia.

“Do something you love,” he urged.

“Starting a new business is going to take everything you’ve got. So make sure it’s something you love to do.”

The Floyd County chapter is already

discussing their plans for 2014 and workshops they plan to offer throughout the year. If you would like to join the ongoing discussion, join us on the Facebook group "Growing Appalachia" at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/424672807618375

only way for the region to move forward into a new economy.

In a letter to the editor, Bob Burns and Lisa Bryant cautioned residents about the “preferred alternative” selected for the KY Route 32 Improvement Project.

Noting that the purported “alternative” for “improvement” is actually the construction of a new highway right next to the existing KY 32, Burns and Bryant underscored the real cost of such a proposal: not only will “the taxpayers of Rowan and Elliott counties … soon be paying for the maintenance of the ‘old’ sections of KY 32,” but the “preferred alternative will cost [all Kentuckians] more than a staggering $100,000,000 for 13 miles of new road” and “require the state to seize with eminent domain and buy many hundreds

of additional acres of private land.”

The people of Elliott and Rowan counties, Burns and Bryant argued, have already spoken, repeatedly asking for the Practical Solutions Alternative that will preserve the scenic byway.

Stressing that there is “still time to stop this boondoggle,” Burns and Bryant urged citizens to call Representative Rocky Adkins and attend the public meetings to make the Transportation Cabinet accountable to the citizens.

Bryant also published a letter in The Trailblazer, the student newspaper of Morehead State University, decrying the destructive practice of mountaintop removal and exhorting all people who care about the region to join KFTC at I Love Mountains Day.

Rowan County members speak up for a vision for east Kentucky The Rowan County chapter has been raising public awareness about the debt the coal industry owes to eastern Kentucky and the voice citizens should have in the legislature.

On February 26, members of the chapter published two substantial commentaries in The Morehead News that urged residents to take control of the resources and processes that are rightfully theirs.

Responding to an editorial that erroneously claimed that “Kentucky coal has taken a beating from the federal government and environmentalists and, as a result, statewide production is down sharply,” Sue Tallichet rightly countered that the production of relatively cheap natural gas, the depletion

Save The Date: 2013 Annual Meeting, August 16-18, General Butler State Park

Page 14

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Updates

Lexington City Council unanimously supports restoration

Frankfort, the Central Kentucky chapter decided to take this issue back to the On February 28, the Central Kenlocal level. It was their belief that with tucky KFTC Chapter celebrated a local the support of local government bodies, victory that had been a year in the makthe Kentucky Senate (where the bill had ing. stalled several years in a row) would

Working with the Lexington Fayette feel more pressure to put HB 70 up for a Urban County Government, local allies vote. and coalition members, KFTC members Twelve months and hundreds of were instrumental in the passage of a hours went into meetings, emails and resolution showing Lexington’s supphone calls. Their efforts culminated port of House Bill 70. in February in a public hearing and the If passed in the Kentucky legislasubsequent unanimous passage of the ture, this bill would place on the stateresolution. wide ballot a constitutional amendment

The public hearing was an example that, if approved, would allow the of how political leaders, community automatic restoration of voting rights to groups and individuals can come tomost former felons after they’ve served gether to make our system work. In a their debt to society. packed room, council members listened The Lexington resolution did not, intently to their constituents tell their in and of itself, change the law, but stories and plead their case for the pasit did serve as a powerful testament. sage of Councilman Chris Ford’s resoluIn no uncertain terms, the resolution tion. Many of the people who testified makes clear that Lexingtonians believe at the hearing offered statistics that that former felons should be able to pointed to the injustice and discriminavote once their debt to society has been tion inherent in our voting rights laws. paid, and that the citizens of Kentucky Others offered up personal stories of should be able to decide this issue by a loss, redemption, and perseverance. vote, without the impediment of politi While the statistics related to Kencians in the capital. tucky’s voting restoration policy are For many, the passage of this resoshocking, they don’t tell the whole lution was in some ways a homecomstory. The numbers don’t convey the ing. At the start, it was members of the true sum of damage: the humiliation, Central Kentucky chapter who first the hurt, the hopelessness. For it is only brought the voting rights issue to the in the stories of those affected that one attention of KFTC after encountering can hold the wreckage in his hands and countless frustrated former felons durbear witness. ing voter registration drives.

If you have not been fortunate But after seven years of tireless enough to hear some of the first-hand lobbying and constant road blocks in accounts of how our voting laws affect the former felons that reside in the commonwealth, seek them out.

They will break your heart, humble your soul, and hopefully, inspire you to action.

But their stories are not mine to tell. My story is one of collateral damage and community. It alludes to the sad truth of Central Kentucky chapter members worked with council what we all lose member Chris Ford for more than a year to win support for when we stand the resolution to support former felons. Members also met i d l y b y, w h i l e with each LFUCG council member, the vice-mayor and mayor. our brethren are

by Abigail Dority

KFTC members and allies gathered with Council Member Chris Ford after his resolution to restore voting rights to former felons was unanimously approved to be on the docket for the February 28 LFUCG Council meeting. Subsequently, the measure passed the council unanimously and was presented to the governor and members of the House and Senate at the March 6 Voting Rights lobby day. stripped of their civil rights and dignity.

Fifteen years ago my elder brother found himself on the street at the age of 16. I’ll be the first to admit he was not an easy child. He and my parents fought for what seemed like years. Feeling exhausted with his difficult behavior and failed attempts at reform, my parents asked him to leave. And while things settled down for the rest of my family, my brother’s penchant for trouble continued.

Instead of acting as the reality check it was meant to be, independence only accelerated his fall to the bottom. In less than two years my brother was arrested, convicted and sent to prison on felony charges.

While in prison, my brother, like many other inmates before him, began to get his life together. He took every opportunity for self-betterment that was offered. In anticipation of freedom, he fought to put together a semblance of the skills he would need to survive in the outside world. Upon release, he was more than ready to start over.

Unfortunately, his rosy view of re-entry was soon shattered. Kentucky didn’t see the new man he had become or the great man he hoped to be. Kentucky only saw a valueless criminal that couldn’t be trusted with our most basic

and yet most sacred right. And so, feeling ashamed and angry, he decided to leave Kentucky and move to a state that recognized his rights and treated him with the dignity he knew he deserved.

In his new home, my brother went about the business of making a life. And while he still faced obstacles from his past, he never considered failure. Tirelessly, he toiled to create a life he could be proud of. He started by going back to school, and in four years graduated summa cum laude from the university.

While in school, he met and married a wonderful woman and together they started a business that went on to be very successful and very lucrative.

But his success was about more than dollar bills and IRAs. He and his wife are now vibrant members of their community. They pay their taxes, hire local folks, volunteer their time and money, and actively campaign for the politicians they believe in. What more could be asked of any citizen?

I often ask my brother if he’d ever consider moving back to Kentucky. He always answers with a question of his own. He asks me why, after spending his entire adult life putting his past behind him, he would consider moving to a state that would forever see him as a (continued on next page)

Page 15

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Updates

Shelby County members continue to expand their local organizing

by Lisa Aug

KFTC’s Shelby County chapter has launched a year of action on fairness, new energy, membership and fundraising.

Members lobbied Shelby County Rep. Brad Montell and Sen. Paul Hornback on the Stream Saver Bill and Clean Energy Opportunity Act and marched in the rally on I Love Mountains Day. The next week, on the Fairness Lobby Day, they lobbied Montell and Hornback again on the anti-discrimination and anti-bullying bills. Montell accepted a packet of information from Shelby members, and Hornback agreed to speak to the Judiciary Committee chair about getting an informational hearing for the fairness bills.

Members also lobbied Montell and Hornback on the Voting Rights bill.

Member Carlen Pippin is working closely with the Public Service Commission on transparency and fair elections at Shelby Energy rural electric co-op. He also got a commitment from Rep. Montell to work on changing the proxy voting process. Montell, a Shelby Energy member-owner, called proxy voting “undemocratic.”

With the encouragement of Fairness Coalition leader Chris Hartman, members plan to keep pushing the Shelbyville City Commission and Shelby County Fiscal Court to adopt a Fairness Ordinance. The recent adoption of a simple ordinance in Vicco in Perry County gives Shelby members a stronger argument, and they will use it.

To promote membership and collect signatures on the petition to Shelby Energy for a Members’ Bill of Rights, Shelby members will have a table at the Chamber of Commerce Showcase in Shelbyville on March 16.

This annual event draws 2,500 visitors, and members will distribute KFTC brochures and newsletters and solicit new members as well as signatures for the Members’ Bill of Rights petition to Shelby Energy.

Shelby KFTC’s first fundraiser will be Trivia Night on March 22. Teams of 8 people will compete, and admission is $10 per person. Two teams have signed up already, but there’s room for several more. Free pizza, beverages and dessert will be offered, plus door prizes.

Email Ann Ellerkamp at ladybug56@insightbb.com to register a team.

The next Shelby KFTC meeting is Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. at the Stratton Center, 215 Washington Street, Shelbyville. Everyone is welcome.

TRIVIA NIGHT Gather your friends to show off your knowledge of Trivia. Teams of 8 people will compete to answer questions in 10 categories.

Join us Friday, March 22 at the Strat­ ton Center, 215 Washington Street, Shelbyville, 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Entry fee is $10 per person; includes pizza, snacks and drinks. Teams can buy a bonus question in each cat­ egory for $5 each. There will also be raffle bags of gently used items.

First prize is uncontested brag­ ging rights for your team, and an invitation to defend your title at no charge at the next Trivia Night.

To reserve space for your team, call Ann Ellerkamp at 502-437-5040 or email ladybug56@insightbb.com

$10 22 . r Ma 0PM 6:0

LFUCG supports restoration of voting rights

(continued from previous page) criminal. And I can’t blame him.

Changing this law is about more than hurt feelings or high ideals; it’s about loss. And it’s a loss we can ill afford. With unemployment high and budget reserves low, how can we stand to lose our most precious resource?

Want to know how a community dies? Travel a little east or west and visit the empty hollers and dying towns of our neighboring counties. Communities

need talent and ideas and taxes to survive. They need people to start businesses, and yell at school boards.

They need people to watch each other’s kids and feed each other’s cats. They need people to vote for good politicians to make our state great and people to give those same politicians hell when they don’t.

My brother is not the only former felon to leave this state for better pastures, but hopefully with the passage of this resolution and HB 70, he will be one of the last.

Film “Anne Braden: Southern Patriot” screened in Lexington to enthusiastic crowd More than 100 people gathered to view Appalshop’s first-person documentary Anne Braden: Southern Patriot on February 28 at the Central Library’s Farish Theater in Lexington The documentary chronicles the life of Anne Braden, an American civil rights leader who was charged with sedition for attempting to desegregate a Louisville neighborhood in 1954.

Braden used the attack to embrace a lifetime of racial justice organizing.

“We made the film because Anne Braden had an extraordinary story to tell of personal transformation leading to a lifetime of racial justice organizing,” said filmmaker Mimi Pickering. “Although historians consider her one of our great civil rights leaders, she is little known even in Kentucky. Perhaps this is because she is a woman, because she was a strategist who worked behind the scenes, or maybe her message of our responsibility to undo white supremacy made many people uncomfortable.

Anne Lewis and I hope the film will encourage new generations to follow in Anne Braden’s footsteps.”

Janet Tucker, a long-time KFTC member who worked alongside Braden, introduced the film and filmmaker and spoke of her admiration of the civil rights activist. “Our children and grandchildren will not read about Anne Braden in their history books, unfortunately. It is up to us to keep this history alive. Tonight is an important first step,” Tucker said.

After the screening, KFTC member Tanya Torp spoke to the audience about the issues of race and class that still exist in her neighborhood, such as gentrification, poverty, food deserts and the need to restore voting rights to former felons.

She challenged the audience to get involved as a way to continue Anne Braden’s work. Torp asked the audience to stand on their feet and in the tradition of the Civil Rights Movement she led them in song.

“Once we sang ‘I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom’ together, twice . . . we were family” Torp said.

For more information about Anne Braden: Southern Patriot, go to annebradenfilm.org or appalshop.org.

Page 16

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Updates

Fairness, dancing, art – all in a month’s work in Madison The Madison County Chapter hit the ground running this year, both in terms of fundraising and collaboration with allied organizations, old and new.

Madison County members have continued to join with Bereans for Fairness to fight for the rights of Berea’s LGBT residents by working with Berea’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) and organizing public events like the Building a Better Berea reception.

The reception, hosted by Berea Coffee and Tea, gave Berea residents the chance to talk to members of the HRC and to hear about the commission’s plans for the new year.

The momentum Bereans For Fairness built this year culminated in an announcement from Mayor Steve Connelly that he would pass an executive order extending domestic partner benefits to Berea’s LGBT employees, describing his action as “the right thing to do.”

Members of the chapter and their allies in Bereans For Fairness (led by KFTC member Kate Grigg) agree that it was the right thing to do, but will continue fighting until civil rights are extended to all Bereans, gay or straight.

The Madison County chapter has already found fun ways to fundraise this year with a pair of events in February.

The first was a pie auction and dance organized in collaboration with Berea’s Oh Contraire dancers, who lent callers and a dance floor for members and Berea residents to dance and haggle for pies.

The dance was a success both in terms of fundraising and the forging of new relationships with allied organizations.

“This year’s pie auction brought two new allies to the table – Berea’s Oh Contraire Dance series folks and the Black Mesa Water Coalition,” said Megan Naseman, several of whose pies fetched high prices during the auction.

The Madison County chapter is hoping to make the dance and pie auction an annual event to be held in the weeks leading up to I Love Mountains Day. The second fundraising event the chapter put on in February was the No Greater Task poster and print show, which came to Berea February 14-21, hosted by the Berea Arts Council.

On February 21, the band Sugar Tree played a concert for the dozens of resi-

On March 3, the Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter hosted an annual film festival with the Northern Kentucky Sierra Club at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Library.

This event focused on the importance of managing water and featured clips from well known documentaries like Gasland and Our Liquid Assets, a short film about water erosion in Covington. Speakers talked about the quality of local wetlands, reforestation projects and erosion.

Jay Gray, who helped create the film C.O.R.E (Covington Ohio River Erosion) along with Caitlin Sparks and others, was pleased that his film was selected by the organizations. He told attendees about how the film began

from a local woman in Covington raising concerns about erosion behind her property.

Gray’s film has been shown to nonprofit groups like the Green Umbrella, the Sierra Club and student groups at Northern Kentucky University, and utilized by the local sanitation district to show local concerns with water management. Gray hopes his film helps illustrate the need to align our aesthetics with the natural world around us.

About 60 people attended the KFTC/Sierra Club film festival. Virginia Johnson said she especially enjoyed the clip from Bag It, which focused on the harm that plastic bags can cause to the environment.

by Cory Lowery

Madison County members gathered on February 20 at the Fairness Lobby Day sponsored by the ACLU and Fairness Campaign. Berea citizens have been organizing for a local fairness ordinance for more than a year. dents and KFTC members who packed into the Arts Council to admire (and buy) the donated prints. All told, the chapter’s February fundraisers raised more than $1,200 dollars.

While fundraising is important, direct action is the chapter members’ pride

Water was central focus at NKY film screening

and purpose. I Love Mountains Day has become a local event in Madison County that goes beyond the chapter’s membership.

Along with the dozens of Madison County members who went to KFTC’s biggest annual event, students from local schools, including a group of students organized by Berea College’s Bereans For Appalachia, packed into vans, cars and buses to join the more than 1,000 Kentuckians who gathered in Frankfort to stand up for environmental and economic justice. Around 150 Madison County residents made it to Frankfort to add their voices to the rally.

A dozen members returned to Frankfort in the following days to keep the momentum going, joining KFTC’s allies for the Fairness Lobby Day. Progress on fairness, fundraising success and a strong showing at I Love Mountains Day carried members of the Madison County chapter through the coldest and darkest months of the year.

The chapter looks forward to working with its allies in other chapters and in local grassroots organizations to achieve more victories in the months to come.

Save The Date: 2013 Annual Membership Meeting is August 16-18 at General Butler State Park

Page 17

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Updates

Georgetown College students and faculty organize for fairness

by Jamie McClard, Christian Nunez, and Homer White

The Scott County chapter recently acted in support of a new group at Georgetown College that seeks to persuade the college to expand non-discrimination protections to include such things as sexual orientation.

Georgetown College is a historically Baptist institution that traces its roots back to 1787, claiming as one of its forebears Elijah Craig, the Kentucky Baptist preacher and Bourbon maker.

Long a stronghold of moderate Baptist thinking, the college adopted a formal policy prohibiting discrimination against gay students in 2008, though college officials shy away from public acknowledgment of these policies.

The college refused to formally sponsor a gay student group until 2011, when gay students on campus boldly came out in the student newspaper and made the campus aware of the bullying and harassment to which they were at times subjected.

Even then, the college insisted that the name of the group (Campus Spectrum) should not directly suggest anything about its mission, which is to welcome and support all students, regardless of sexual orientation.

In the Spring of 2012, about 90 percent of the faculty voted in favor of a proposal to expand non-discrimination in hiring to include sexual orientation.

The proposal was considered especially timely in view of the fact that the college now does employ a few openly gay faculty and staff members.

This proposal would also bring the college in line with most other respected institutions of higher learning, including many religious institutions, which

have long since adopted similar policies.

The proposal was brought before the college’s Board of Trustees last fall.

In a surprise move, a committee of the board rejected the proposal almost unanimously, for reasons that board members have been unwilling to make clear.

Since that time a growing number of students, faculty and staff have begun to voice their concerns. And some of them – who happen to be KFTC members – brought their concerns before the Scott County KFTC Chapter at one of its monthly meetings.

The chapter responded by asking KFTC staff to facilitate a Power Analysis of the issue at a campus meeting on January 22.

More than 20 people attended the meeting and the Power Analysis galvanized the group into a series of weekly meetings that have continued to grow both in numbers and in power.

The organization has named itself the Non-Discrimination Working Group. It aims not only to update nondiscrimination policies, but to address other campus issues of justice and fairness in ways that empower those most directly affected and that make campus governance more participatory and more transparent.

For example, the group has recently begun to monitor the college’s plans to outsource its grounds and maintenance divisions.

On the non-discrimination front, the group is directly petitioning the board to re-address the original faculty proposal.

In spite of pressure from administrators, students and faculty have held a vigil together on the steps of Giddings Hall, the main administration building, and have distributed leaflets to board

Georgetown College students and faculty held signs supporting a non-discrimination policy outside of a board of trustees meeting this past winter. KFTC members continue to support allies across to state working for fairness.

members as they enter board meetings.

Student members of the Working Group are soliciting support from nearly 50 other student groups on campus.

Members are writing regularly for the campus newspaper, and are also hard at work on a week-long teach-in at the end of April.

The teach-in will culminate in a rally, a “Silent Disco,” an all-night vigil on the eve of the next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Some members of the Working Group, looking back at the long history of the college, note that the college has a distinct tendency to “wait around” to see if it can afford to do the right thing.

In pre-Civil War days, the college distanced itself from discussions of the morality of slavery. The Civil Rights

Movement of the 1960s also appears to have passed the college by.

To be sure, questions surrounding fairness and gay marriage are hotly debated in Kentucky today, especially in the religious communities that the college has long served.

Nevertheless, Working Group members believe that gay rights are the civil rights movement of our time, and that young people especially are the drivers of this movement. They believe that if the college sits this movement out – waiting around once again until it thinks it can afford to do the right thing, or is forced to do so by passage of federal or state farness laws – then it will miss an important teaching opportunity.

They are in this for the long haul.

Southern Kentucky Member Spotlight Jacob Abrahamson

I am a senior in high school from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I have been interested in politics since the 2008 election, which took place during my eighth grade year.

I have been a member of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth since January of 2012 in the newly named Southern Kentucky chapter.

I was compelled to join by spiritual leaders and fellow members Peter Connolly and Jason Brown, who gave me many reasons to join. After being a member for more than a year, I often wish I could have joined sooner due to the fact that this political organization coalesces wonderfully with my own views.

Since joining, I have had the opportunity to participate in acts of political action that will inspire what I do for the rest of my life. In February of 2012, I was able to lobby and rally in Frankfort at I Love Mountains Day. For one, I was able to meet with some great University of Kentucky students. I also had the chance to meet with Senator Mike Wilson and discuss a wide array of issues, focusing mainly on mountaintop removal.

My absolute favorite Kentuckians For The Commonwealth moment, however, was the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission meeting at Greenwood High School. There I was able to express to the commission how the tax proposals would affect all Kentuckians. I hope to take these memories and use them to achieve greater things through Kentuckians For The Commonwealth in the future.

I often think about the “Consider Running for Office” page on the website and wish I was old enough to make a run for myself. Until then, I hope to continue helping KFTC do great things for Kentucky.

Page 18

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Update

Multi-chapter potluck brims with enthusiasm and excitement

On a rainy Tuesday night, the Letcher and Harlan County chapters came together for the second Potluck on Pine Mountain.

Last year’s gathering was on the Letcher County side of Highway 119 in Eolia and included local music, soup beans, corn bread, sides and desserts from all over both counties. This year the gathering was held in the Cumberland Library, on the Harlan County side of the mountain.

More than 30 people made it through the wet and cold for world-famous Lynch BBQ, live fiddling music, cobbler with Cumberland-grown black berries, and dozens of other delicious dishes.

Event organizers were even excited to host city council members from communities in both counties.

KFTC members and friends shared stories and celebrations of great work from the last couple of months, across the state and close to home.

We heard tales from a January meeting in Hazard with new Senate Majority Whip Brandon Smith, as well as several other updates of bills moving (or standing still) in this General Assembly.

Ada Smith of Letcher County said of the meeting with the senator, “We had a good conversation with him about voting rights and clean energy. He supports us on these issues and that’s important.

He’s not quite willing to stick his neck out, but we’re getting there. We’re gonna stay on him.”

Rutland Melton, of Lynch, led the room in applauding three of the terrific I Love Mountains rally speakers who were around the table: Elizabeth Sanders, Carl Shoupe and Teri Blanton. Melton said, “That was the best part of the day, seeing y’all up there for all of us. I enjoyed that.”

Folks also shared wonderful news about ongoing community organizing across Letcher and Harlan counties. The Caudill family, from Civil War Gap in Carcassonne, was happy to report wonderful news from their ongoing efforts to save a family cemetery near their home.

It was only a couple of months ago that a notice appeared in the Mountain Eagle about a coal company’s intention to relocate the cemetery, as they saw mining move closer to the property.

After appearances at Letcher Fiscal Court meetings, in national news outlets, and on the cover of Letcher County’s Mountain Eagle, they beamed with the

news that the fiscal court had made a call to the coal company to let them know moving the cemetery was not an option.

“I just can’t say how relieved we are and thankful to all the people who’ve supported us. People we didn’t even know have called us up to offer advice and support. We hope some of our work will keep this from happening to anyone else,” Mike Caudill shared.

Residents of Mill Creek weren’t able to attend the potluck, but their story was shared about their continued pressure on the Letcher Fiscal Court.

At the last Letcher County KFTC Chapter meeting, the chapter voted to sign on to a letter, with Mill Creek residents, to the U.S. EPA asking for emergency assistance.

Not only did he prepare the tremendous BBQ, but Lynch City Councilmember Bennie Massey delivered an exciting update about the work happening in Lynch to save the city money through energy efficiency.

“Work is finally happening. We’ve been paying out over $4,000 a month and now we’re gonna be saving a lot of juice and a big amount of money for the city,” said Massey. “We already got a new heat pump for the water plant and better lights and they’re working on the insulation now. We were losing money all over the place. These energy projects work. It really works. The taxpayers were paying those big bills. All the departments are looking to save money now.”

An update was also given about current organizing and research around the location of a new federal prison in Letcher County, most likely in the Roxanna community.

Sylvia Ryerson, WMMT programmer and author of a recent Daily Yonder article on this topic, shared some updates about what she knows of the project’s progress, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers’ involvement, and lessons learned from neighboring communities.

“It just never plays out how they expected,” she reported “The jobs, the revenue, never showed up like they were all told.”

Just this past fall, KFTC adopted to its platform the “opposition of prison expansion as economic development” after the Letcher County chapter submitted the addition for consideration.

The grand finale of the evening was an overdue celebration of long-time

Members from Harlan and Letcher counties gathered for their annual Potluck on Pine Mountain. Members shared stories and celebrated victories.

KFTC member, author, radio personality and Letcher County mover and shaker Jim Webb. This year Webb slipped quietly into retirement from WMMT programming. Luckily he still hosts his radio shows, Appalachian Attitude and Ridin’ Around Listenin’ to the Radio, on Mondays and Wednesdays.

However, this is a real milestone in his decades of vision for and service to Appalachia, Kentucky and Letcher County. From the Rotary Club to huge festivals on his infamous campground on Pine Mountain, Wiley’s Last Resort, Webb takes steps every day to make life in the mountains better for everyone.

To celebrate him and his ongoing labor of love to his community, the chapters

scheduled a big cook out and clean up at Wiley’s for Saturday, May 11.

A closing circle served to finish out the celebration and offer space for everyone to share any final thoughts from the evening.

A few words were shared and Carl Shoupe offered up this before Rev. Albert Phillips closed in prayer: “Its always wonderful to be together with all of you. Now we’re all here together feeling strong and ready to take on the world.

But tomorrow we’ll all be separated again, back to our regular grind, and this work can seem more and more difficult, alone. Here’s to keeping this good spirit with us and carrying on together, even when we’re apart!”

Why invest in Kentuckians For The Commonwealth?

Your donation to KFTC supports the important work we do to build a stronger democracy, including supporting constituents in talking to their legislators, monitoring activity in Frankfort while legislators are in session, and giving members opportunities to take action on important bills. You also support our work to educate voters about where candidates stand on the issues we all care about.

Contributions to KFTC are not tax-deductible. Make your Coalition if you wish your contribution to be tax-deductible.

check payable to

Kentucky

Page 19

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Local Update

East Kentucky chapters host at-home meeting with Sen. Smith

Just days before traveling back to Frankfort to begin the 2013 legislative session, new Senate Majority Whip Brandon Smith met with KFTC members at the Perry County Library.

This was one of several at-home meetings KFTC members organized to open up communication during this General Assembly as well as to build support for the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. Members from Perry, Harlan and and Letcher counties met with Sen. Smith about these legislative priorities as well as the Kentucky Voting Rights Amendment (House Bill 70) and other local issues.

Sen. Smith recently attended the first Singing for Democracy gospel fest in eastern Kentucky at Consolidated Baptist Church in Hazard, along with other elected officials and more than 60 members of the public.

The senator shared that he’d heard many of those testimonies before and has always supported the voting rights work and will continue to do so. He encouraged KFTC members to continue their work in Frankfort, telling stories, targeting committee members and keeping the pressure on.

Sen. Smith told the room full of constituents, “We’ve had a complete change in leadership. This changes the game.”

Members are hoping to move him to a more specific action on HB 70 once it passes through the House and is in Senate committee.

Katie Pirotina, of Perry County, transitioned the conversation to the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. The bill, a collaboration of the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance������������ , could����� ���� create more than 28,000 local jobs across the state in energy efficiency and renewable energy production.

The group shared stories of local community college students getting through an Energy Audit Training Program here at home just to be forced to seek out jobs in neighboring states like North Carolina, where similar bills have passed.

Ada Smith of Letcher County shared her concern that “these new businesses can’t survive in Kentucky. They go to other states.”

Lynch City Councilman Bennie Massey stated he’d spent 14 years mining underground and told Smith, “We’ve

missed out on opportunities. We need to send our miners to school, to show them there is another way. Give them the opportunity to learn something else.”

Massey asked Smith, “What are we going to do after coal?����������������� ���������������� The younger generation has to live here, and they don’t want to live under the old way.”

Smith agreed, saying, “Things are changing for us here. We are facing some big changes here and they’re going to find out what we’re made of and what leadership will do about it.”

He noted that he has “pushed for a diverse energy portfolio.”

He fielded questions about everything from industrial hemp to federal mine safety from retired mine inspector Stanley Sturgill. The hour-and-a-half meeting closed with at least thirty minutes of informal exchange between Smith and nearly everyone who attended.

KFTC members from Perry, Harlan and Letcher County chapters met with Sen. Brandon Smith. Pictured above (left to right): Carl Shoupe, Harlan County; Josh May, Letcher County; Sen. Brandon Smith; and Stanley Sturgill, Harlan County.

Member Profile: Harrison Kirby What is your vision for KFTC? I don’t see a day when everything KFTC stands for will be accomplished. We’ll complete the projects we have now but find new goals just as soon. I think the biggest thing KFTC does is educate people about important issues in our state, as it has done for me.

KFTC will always be an engine for progress, and I think its growth will continue to bring about real change.

What goals do you have for the Jefferson County chapter?

I think the biggest thing the Jefferson County chapter can do in the near future is expand into more parts of the city. As a grassroots organization, it’s our responsibility to help every person’s voice be heard.

How did you first get involved with KFTC? My first experience with KFTC was at I Love Mountains Day 2012. I went lobbying for the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, started showing up at the meetings, and before I knew it, I was a member.

Why are you a KFTC member?

Kentucky is a great home, but it is lacking in a lot of ways. The best way to change things, though, is by working together as a unit, and I’m a part of that unit. I want to be able to live here when I’m older, and raise a family here if that’s where life takes me. But I want Kentucky to be a just, healthy and thriving place first, and I help achieve that through KFTC. Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. (They’re both important to me!)

What KFTC events are your favorite?

I Love Mountains Day and Louisville Loves Mountains Day have the best energy, but my favorite things with KFTC include anything where I get to go and see more parts of Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky, southern Kentucky, anywhere. It’s all beautiful and I fall in love with my home again every time I drive out of Louisville.

What does New Power mean to you?

I see New Power as power being shared equally in Kentucky’s democracy. New Power involves every Kentuckian in an active way with their communities, and it gives them a voice.

How do you plan to stay involved with KFTC once you go to college?

One of my top choices for college is Centre, and if I go there I would be able to stay an active member of KFTC. I’d probably get more involved, as I could stop by Frankfort and badger legislators every time I drove back to Louisville! If I go out of state, I plan to keep myself updated on issues and KFTC as much as possible. Wherever I go, my education will help me do more for KFTC once I’m out of college.

Page 20

Dangerous selenium proposal delayed by quick citizen action

Strong testimony from KFTC members and allies helped delay a Beshear administration plan to significantly weaken public protection from selenium exposure.

The Energy and Environment Cabinet wants to replace the current water quality standard for selenium with one based on weak science and that would be difficult to enforce. Its apparent intent is to let coal companies off the hook for selenium pollution, which is Members of KFTC and ally groups had a visible expensive to treat.

“We ask that you use your presence at the subcommittee hearing. oversight authority to extend the Kentucky Conservation Committee and comment period to the usual 30 days, so Tom FitzGerald of the Kentucky Resources we may analyze the shoddy science these Council. regulations are based on, and to give those “I am deeply concerned as a matter of us who live near selenium-contaminated of process,” said FitzGerald, who said the streams an opportunity to voice our state’s proposal was made at the “eleventh concerns,” KFTC member Bev May said at hour with no notice and no opportunity a hearing of the Administrative Regulation for comment. It feels like a bait-and-switch Review Subcommittee on February 11. situation.”

May told them that she lives along

The state did give notice last year that it Wilson Creek in Floyd County, a stream was contemplating changes in the selenium that remains contaminated with selenium standard.

It received public comments and today even though the strip mining at the took those into consideration, said Bruce head of the hollow occurred about 20 years Scott, commissioner of the Department for ago.

Environmental Protection.

She reminded them that a 2009 But the amended proposal that Kentucky Division of Water study was made public on February 5 was “a “found extensive selenium contamination, dramatically different proposal than what sometimes at highly toxic levels, below they asked comment on,” pointed out mountaintop removal and valley fills.”

FitzGerald.

However, the state delayed release of Written comments on the proposed these findings so that it would not have selenium standard were submitted to the to require coal companies to monitor their committee along with the oral testimony. selenium pollution as a condition of their They were prepared by Appalachian water pollution permits.

Mountain Advocates on behalf of KFTC The new standard would change and a number of allies. both the level of acceptable selenium

Rep. Jimmie Lee spoke to “the concentration in water and the test to one importance of testimony from folks that looks at concentrations in fish tissue who are most impacted” and moved to and ovary eggs. defer adoption of the regulation until the

“By the time to you get to this [new] committee’s March meeting. Scott agreed criterion there won’t be any ovaries to look to this plan. at,” KFTC member Ted Withrow testified.

However, the cabinet did not submit He added that the methodology is “backed the proper notification in time to be up with old science that was discredited taken up at the subcommittee’s March years ago. The science is overwhelmingly 12 meeting.

It is now expected to come flawed to be put forth in a rushed way.” up on April 9.

Selenium is a biotoxin that accumulates KFTC members have been meeting in fish tissue. So even small exposures with members of the subcommittee, can have devastating long-term health which has the authority to reject the impacts. cabinet’s amendment. Most committee

The lack of proper public notice – the members were unaware of the extent of cabinet gave less than a week’s public selenium pollution below coal mines and notice of this major change – also was the dangers it poses to fish and wildlife mentioned in the hearing by Lane Boldman and to human health. of the Sierra Club, Art Williams of the

balancing the scales, March 14 , 2013

Calendar of Events Mar. 19 Northern Kentucky chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at Roebling Books and Coffee at 306 Greenup St. Contact Joe@kftc.org or call 859-380-6103.

Mar. 19 Perry County chapter meeting and potluck, 6 p.m., Bring a dish to share if you like, or just enjoy some food and fellowship with us! HCTC Tech Campus Owens Building 115B. Contact Jessie@kftc.org or call 606-263-4982.

Mar. 21 Central Kentucky chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Diocese Mission House (corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and 4th Street) in Lexington.

Contact BethHoward@kftc.org or call 859-276-0563.

Mar. 21 Shelby County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at The Stratton Center, 215 W Washington Street. Contact Carissa@kftc.org or call 859-893-1147 Mar. 21 Rowan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on 5th Street in Morehead.

Mar. 22 Shelby County Trivia Fundraiser. Teams of 8 people will compete to answer questions in 10 categories.At the Stratton Center, 6:30 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per person; includes pizza, snacks and drinks. Teams can buy a bonus question in each category for $5 each. There will also be raffle bags of gently used items.

First prize is uncontested bragging rights for your team, and an invitation to defend your title at no charge at the next Trivia Night. To reserve space for your team, call Ann Ellerkamp at 502-437-5040 or email ladybug56@insightbb.com Mar. 23 Land Reform Committee Meeting, 10:30 a.m. Hazard Community and Technical College. Contact Kevin@kftc.org or call 606-335-00764.

Mar. 25

Madison County chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Berea College Appalachian Center, 205 N. Main St., Berea. Contact BethBissmeyer@kftc.org or call 859-3142044.

Mar. 26

Southern Kentucky (SOKY) chapter planning meeting, 6:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 531 West 11th St. Contact Denney@kftc.org or call 270-779-6483.

April. 1

Wilderness Trace chapter planning meeting, 7 p.m. at Inter-County Energy Community Room, 1009 Hustonville Road, Danville. Contact BethBissmeyer@ kftc.org or call 859-314-2044.

April 4

Scott County chapter meeting, 7 p.m., at the Georgetown Public Library.

Email Dave@kftc.org or 859-420-8919 for more information.

April 8

Jefferson County chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 809 South 4th Street in Louisville. Contact Alicia@kftc.org or call 502-5893188.

April 8

Floyd County chapter meeting, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Location has changed! For more information contact Kristi@kftc.org or call 606-226-4159.

April 9

Letcher County chapter meeting, 6 p.m., Whitesburg KFTC office. Contact Tanya@kftc.org or call 606-632-0051.

April 19 April 21 Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference, Harlan Center in Harlan, Kentucky. For more information contact Lisa@kftc.org or call 859-2005159.