November 17, 2011
Change Service Requested
Volume 30 Number 7
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth P.O. Box 1450 London, Ky. 40743
balancing the scales
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Lexington, Ky. Permit No. 513
Living in the shadow of the LG&E Election day voter turnout numCane Run Power Plant bers low at 28% pg. 4 pg. 10 Berea citizens and groups unite Message to Rep. Hal Rogers: to push for fairness for all citi- Kentucky deserves better zens pg.8 pg.13
Fall Fundraising Campaign Kicks Off! Make sure to renew your dues or make a special donation to support the work of KFTC.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Executive Committee Corner KFTC Executive Committee members are using this column to introduce themselves and share thoughts on KFTC’s work and goals. Dana Beasley Brown was just elected to a second one-year term as secretary-treasurer.
I grew up in poverty, and in living in poverty I was aware from a very young age that there were structural barriers in place, and people in places of power that made my family’s life harder than it had to be. We felt criminalized just for being poor. These injustices inspired me and created a desire in me to change that reality for my family and other families, and for generations to come. Everyone tells poor people, as long as you work really hard you can be anything you want to be. From the age of 10 I was baby sitting, and with that money I was able to buy my own toothpaste and toiletries and things like that, to help my family. During high school I was working full-time as a server at Denny’s and as a high school student. I went to Western Kentucky University on Pell grants and Stafford loans. I worked really hard and majored in political science and communications. Every year I was in school I received less and less aid from the government, not because my family was making more money but because funding for those programs was being cut. By the time I was a senior I was going hungry the last few days of the month because I couldn’t make ends meet. I had some insight and wisdom about how we could change things, but I found out very quickly the hoops you had to jump through to have your voice heard. No one wanted to hear my story about how I felt about being poor, and about how low-income families are being oppressed. I felt silenced. I felt my voice was caged. It was depressing to realize even with my excellent education, an early life in poverty had sentenced me to a future life in silence. Still I couldn’t escape the desire that I wanted to change these problems. I kept asking, and finally about two years after I graduated someone told me to talk to KFTC. I went online and clicked on the economic justice tab. I still remember, five years ago, looking at that screen and for the first time feeling like there was something inside of me that was freed. I felt
I was being told, “Dana, everything you’ve experienced about low-income communities are really there. You’re not going crazy. There are serious economic injustices.” At the time I lived near Lexington. I joined online and went to a chapter meeting that night. For the first time, people started listening to my story. I was told we have a statewide economic justice committee and I could have a role in shaping statewide policy. I was floored that I could be a part of forming legislation on tax justice and economic justice issues. I thought that this could never be possible for me, that I could be a part of shaping and helping change some of the economic barriers that we have in this state. KFTC kept telling me, “You are qualified just by who you are. You are a voice that’s most important in this work. We need to hear your voice.” KFTC kept telling me that over and over again, and slowly it sunk in that my story was valuable and powerful, just as important as someone with political power or economic power. The real experience I had facing economic injustices and my story were all I needed to be a powerful voice, to be qualified to be at the table making decisions that affected our community. I transformed from being silenced to my voice being amplified. I don’t know how to explain what it’s done for me on a human level. You don’t realize that you feel like a second-class citizen when you feel silent. It’s after you find your voice that you realize that you felt that way. Something is alive in you when you can tell your story. I am a completely different person than I was when I came into the organization. KFTC was willing to meet me where I was. Any question I had, even if I asked the same question four times before, it was never, “Here’s the report for you to look at.” It was very much one-on-one, we are learning this together as long as it takes. I was never made to feel I was irritating anyone. I was teaching KFTC and they were teaching me – a mutual beneficial relationship of learning about how to solve problems. Now I’m helping organize in Bowling Green and helping other people have the same journey as myself, to find their voices, telling their story, and making a difference in their community. Organizing in Bowling Green and starting this chapter – from telling my story to transitioning into helping others learn how to tell their own stories – has been an incredible journey.
On the cover: KFTC members and allies attended a rally at Rep. Hal Rogers’ Somerset office on Friday October 14 with the simple message “Kentucky Deserves Better.” Members rallied, spoke to the press and left notes and objects from their home communities for Rep. Rogers. Although Rep. Rogers was not at the office, the message was heard by his staff. Additionally, members traveled to Pikeville the following week to attend a reception with Rep. Rogers, sponsored by the Southeast KY Chamber of Commerce. Photo Credit Lee Ann Paynter
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 is 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 Steve Boyce, Chairperson Sue Tallichet, Vice-Chairperson Dana Beasley Brown, Secretary-Treasurer K.A. Owens, Immediate Past Chair Rick Handshoe, At-Large Member
Chapter Representatives Rosanne Fitts Klarer, Scott County Erika Skaggs, Central Kentucky Ted Withrow, Rowan County Ben Baker, Northern Kentucky Mary Love, Jefferson County Travis Lane, Bowling Green & Friends Carl Shoupe, Harlan County Cleveland Smith, Perry County Megan Naseman, Madison County Elizabeth Sanders, Letcher County Nathan Hall, Floyd County Vacant, Scott County; Christian Torp, Central Kentucky; Lisa Bryant, Rowan County; Katie Meyer, Northern Kentucky; Christine Farmer, Jefferson County; Vacant, Bowling Green & Friends; Roy Silver, Harlan County; Tiffany Stiles, Perry County; Meta Mendel-Reyes, Madison County; Ada Smith, Letcher County; Bev May, Floyd 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, November 17 , 2011
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Table of Contents Executive Committee Corner
KFTC Offices and Staff
MAIN OFFICE
page 2
Letter to the Editor A tale of two ponds: mountain witness in Harlan County
page 3
Member Commentary Living in the shadow of the LG&E Cane Run Power Plant Becoming a ‘Canary Leader’ leads to organizing citizens in Texas Kentucky Occupy Wall Street works to advance ‘invest in Kentucky’
page 4 page 5 page 5
New Power Leader Profile Tanya Torp, as a New Power Leader, hopes to train citizen lobbyists New Power Leader Ivory Faeth builds power in northern KY
page 6 page 6
Local Updates Berea citizens and groups unite to push for fairness for all citizens Perry County members ratchet up recruitment efforts Members celebrate KFTC’s 30th birthday in Carlisle
page 8 page 8 page 9
Voter Empowerment Updates Northern Kentucky members spread grassroots democracy Election day voter turnout numbers low at 28%; Singing for Democracy travels to Northern KY Former Felon Voices: April Browning, Lexington Homelessness and voting: An attempt to disenfranchise more voters
page 9 page 10 page 10 page 11 page 11
Grassroots Fundraising Update KFTC raising the bar again: annual fall fundraising campaign underway
page 12
Economic Justice Update Message to Rep. Hal Rogers: Kentucky deserves better Kentucky congressional reps have an influential role KFTC members participate in and support Occupy Wall Street
page 13 page 14 - 15 page 15
Canary Project Update Coal industry fights regulations; communities lose protection Secret negotiations with coal company expose Energy Cabinet’s protection EPA objects to 19 water pollution permits; Division of Water disagrees
page 16 page 17 page 17
New Energy and Transition Update KFTC members stand up for clean energy during the governor’s energy conference; Public Power Reform Conference: energy co-op reform Sustainable home energy systems benefitting two Louisville families Solar electric classes attract participants from across Kentucky Annual membership meeting reflects on 30 years of action
page 18 page 18 page 19 page 20 page 21
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
Berea
Jessica George, Jerry Hardt, Colette Henderson and Nancy Reinhart 901 Franklin Street Louisville, Ky 40206 502-589-3188
Teri Blanton 118 Baugh Street Berea, Ky. 40403 859-986-1648
Whitesburg Willa Johnson and Tanya Turner, P.O. Box 463 Whitesburg, Ky 41858 606-632-0051 Berea Lisa Abbott, Amy Hogg, Carissa Lenfert, Sara Pennington and Kevin Pentz 140 Mini Mall Drive Berea, KY 40403 859-986-1277
Central Kentucky Tim Buckingham, Jessica Hays Lucas, Erik Hungerbuhler, Heather Roe Mahoney, Dave Newton, John Malloy 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 606-226-4159
e-mail any staff member at firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays Lucas use jessicabreen@kftc.org
Letter to the Editor
A tale of two ponds: mountain witness in Harlan County
Dear Editor, On October 1, a delegation of 23 members of Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty (Louisville) made the trek to the beautiful eastern Kentucky areas of Benham and Lynch for a Moun-
tain Witness Tour to learn more about the coal industry, the practices of strip mining and mountaintop removal, and the impact upon community residents. We met with KFTC members Cody Montgomery, Carl Shoupe and Elmer
Lloyd. One of my favorite fiddle tunes, Cold Frosty Morning, came to mind as we stood in a frosty mist at Elmer Lloyd’s home, listening to Elmer share the impact of unregulated mining upon his pond, the poisoning of its inhabitants, and the dissolution of his dream of a healthy and sustainable fishpond for his grandchildren. We toured the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum and went in an exhibition rail car at the Portal 31 mine to learn about the history of coal production and its significance for the region. We made our way up Black Mountain, where we saw in sharp contrast the breath-taking beauty of the mountain range as designed by our Creator on one side and the equally breath-taking
devastation of this good gift through the practice of blasting off mountaintops on the other. Before leaving, we met in the Coal Miner’s Memorial Park in Benham to discuss what we had seen and heard. While there, we noticed the beautiful little fountain in the park. Beside it was a sign that read, “Anyone caught throwing objects into fish pond will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!” We have to believe that Elmer Lloyd would agree. Thanks for the trip and all you’re doing. Donna Trabue Jefferson County
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Member Commentary
Living in the shadow of the LG&E Cane Run Power Plant by Kathy Little
My name is Kathy Little, and I live in the shadows of the LG&E [Louisville Gas & Electric] Cane Run Power Plant. The power plant is 57 years old. I live 50 yards from a high-hazard pond and 200 yards from a coal ash landfill. How little I knew 32 years ago when I moved into this rural neighborhood with orchards and farms abutting my subdivision that a power plant could cause so much chaos. Twenty years ago, unbeknownst to me, the Cane Run Plant quietly began to build a landfill in response to fly and bottom ash they were collecting from the scrubbers that were installed in the stacks in the 1990s due in part to the Clean Air regulations that had been recently passed. Now the landfill is almost filled to capacity, and the craterous surface of the landfill reminds me of the topography of the moon. It is a physical impossibility that they would be able to keep the fly ash on their property, and it doesn’t. This year LG&E’s own sampling came back positive for fly ash for every house that was tested, along with a watered down concrete mixture that they use in the landfill. They have been fined a pittance of $4,000. The sludge plant spews ash into the neighborhood from its malfunctions sometimes two or three times a week. The air tastes of sulfur and the only way we can get coal ash off of our furniture is with an ammonia-based product. I became aware of the high-hazard ash pond at Cane Run two years ago when the EPA released the locations of such. I was astounded that they did not have an alarm system of some sort in the event of a breach. It couldn’t help us, the embankment is over our roofline, but it could help others. The power company respectfully declined. I suppose that was when I began to speak out and haven’t stopped. I was shocked that they cared so little for the community. With the help of the Sierra Club, earlier this year Rep. Joni Jenkins introduced a bill during the legislative session that required LG&E to put an emergency contingency plan in place. However, it got stuck in Rep. Gooch’s Natural Resource Committee. Because
this bill did not pass, the children and the elderly are being put needlessly at risk in my community. Because the bill had the word “coal” in it was reason enough for it to get stuck in committee. A study commissioned by the Clean Air Task Force regarding death and diseases attributable to fine particle pollution from the Cane Run Station assigned a value of $7,300 in medical services for each life lost (23) in 2010. Within the report they indicate that the smaller the particles the easier they invade a person’s blood system through the lungs and onto the vital organs. It’s particularly more severe to children, the elderly and those with lung diseases. The report goes on to list the incidences of illnesses, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, hospital admissions, asthma attacks, etc. for the Cane Run area. These are all statistics though, and do not evoke much anger, much emotion, or much conscience. I am scared for my granddaughter Bryanna, who is 8 years-old, and for all of the other children and the elderly in my community and throughout Kentucky. Bryanna is a little red-headed girl, full of life and is worth much more than the $7,300 per death assigned within the study. She makes my life worth living. If fly ash is on my house then it’s in my yard where she plays. She is intelligent and does well in school, but I am not sure what is happening to her small body as a result of this exposure. The state of Kentucky is not protecting my child or any other children from exposures. Whether they live in Louisville or in the hills of Appalachia, we face similar assaults. Many of Kentucky’s political leaders are swayed completely by industry instead of science. We are poisoning our environment in order to keep costs down and profits up. The corporate bottom line for LG&E Cane Run or any other coal producing entity says that they can’t make money if they can’t poison the local community for free, and that’s what they are doing and that’s why they fight efforts to reduce toxic pollution. Our state continues to block sustainable forms of energy to keep us dependent on coal and purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through
their statements to the media. These corporations with their deeppocketed lobbyists have helped to sway our state leaders to place profit over people, self-interest over justice and oppression over equality. The above statistics that I mentioned are not factored into their bottom line. Mega-wealth opposes change, which will for sure cut into their pockets. They worship at the altar of profit. Meanwhile we are paying a disproportionately higher price for “cheap electricity” with Type of Impact
our health and our lives. Our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights. and those of their neighbors because democratic government derives its just power from the people. I can’t protect my little girl due to the lack of regulation from the state and federal level. So I do what I can by speaking out about the hazards of coal ash and providing testimony for those who don’t have a voice.
Annual Incidence
Valuation
Death
23
$170,000
Heart Attacks
35
$3,800,000
Asthma Attacks
380
$20,000
Hospital Admissions
16
$390,000
Chronic Bronchitis
14
$6,300,00
Asthma ER visits
23
$8,000
The table above estimates the death and illness attributable to the Cane Run Station. Abt. Associates assigned a cost of $7,300 to each 2010 mortality, based on a range of government and private studies. Valuations of illnesses ranged from $52 for an asthma episode to $440,000 for a case of chronic bronchitis.[4] Table 1: Death and disease attributable to fine particle pollution from the Cane Run Station Source: “Find Your Risk from Power Plant Pollution,” Clean Air Task Force interactive table, accessed February 2011
Fall Fundraising Campaign: Renew, Recruit, and Build Power Last Gift Date Printed On Front Cover! We’ve heard from a lot of members that they would love to stay current in their membership dues, but just don’t know when their renewal date is. So now we are printing your last gift date with your mailing label*. Renew by mail: Send in a contribution and the form. Renew by phone: Call Morgan to pay by credit card: 606-878-2161. Renew online: It’s easy to make a donation online at www.kftc.org/donate. * Let us know if the last gift date looks wrong. Databases can be imperfect. Keep in mind that it takes about two weeks for the paper to be printed and on your doorstep. If you’ve made a donation in that time, it won’t make it on the label.
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Member Commentary
Becoming a ‘Canary Leader’ leads to organizing citizens in Texas
In 2008, I was ranch-sitting for Linda Hogan, an environmental writer. I was feeding and caring for her two horses. The day after Christmas, a berm failed at the Kingston Coal Plant in Tennessee and inundated a community and three thousand acres with 3.5 million tons of coal ash. As I researched coal, coal ash, and the failure of regulation and enforcement by state and federal government officials, I saw the energy debate in proper lighting, in its entire hideous, ravenous, selfish monstrosity. And it scared me. More than that, my research formed relentless questions: How am I connected to this disaster? Am I being responsible to the future of my country? I am an educator and artist from San Antonio. My poems concern themselves with man’s indivisible tie to nature, and as an artist, I concentrate on the human voice and the story. I have worked in my community for the last seven years challenging men and women to pen their own stories. I realized I couldn’t tell their stories. I could create an impression of their story, but I can’t tell their story, and why should I? I thought if I could get to
the coalfields and meet with men and women, I could encourage them to tell their stories and work with them from start to finish. One year after beginning my research, I finally talked to the right people in KFTC. They encouraged me to talk to a handful of men and women across eastern Kentucky. I interviewed them and recorded several oral history documents. Often, this meeting spontaneously turned into an on-site interview of the actual problems in the mountains: poisoned water, public health issues, polluted air, and a wild west attitude by coal companies, which left their former employees and neighbors under a constant barrage of coal trucks, blasting, lawyers, company men, legal documents, falsified environmental reports, and government officials unwilling to listen or protect their neighbors and citizens. The effect was profound and transformational. Not only was I able to reconnect with my family in Morehead, my grandmother’s hometown, I discovered an undeniable connection with the honest hard-working people of Kentucky and the beauty of Appalachia. Since returning to Texas, I have met with senior officials at the municipal power
company, CPS, and local government officials, explaining that the city burns unsustainably harvested coal at the cost of an entire economy, culture, environment and social stability of the communities in eastern Kentucky. CPS has since stated the city will stop burning coal by 2020 (it’s a start, but we’re not done). I have given lectures at local universities in San Antonio and Austin, complete with video work. This year, I was hired by a local Catholic university that has an environmental justice mission statement. As I write this, 60 students are watching over 20 hours of oral history interviews collected in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. They are taking notes and independently researching some aspect of the interview: whether it is the pollution of Dayhoit or coal slurry injections in West Virginia, or mining policies explained by Congressman Ken Hechler. The students are getting the story right from the source, two months after the interview. In this class, we are discovering San Antonio’s connection to mountaintop removal sites in Appalachia. I feel as strongly connected to the struggle for environmental and social justice, as if I was walking the back
ridges with McKinley Sumner or driving in the mountains behind Rick Handshoe’s home place, or eating apple muffins at Mary Jane Adams’. We are connected by more than the switch on the wall. Rounding the bend on the first year of my project, the stories are meeting their audience head on, squarely, in the words of the men and women who have the most to win in this struggle. I have a few more workshops to teach in Kentucky and soon we will have a very valuable book. Stories that will sing with the iron of truth. The workshop will also feature four students at this year’s Split This Rock: Poetry of Provocation and Witness in Washington, D.C. It is birth, slow, painful. We are shedding the old vision of this country. We are dreaming. Envisioning. Acting. Thank all of you for your powerful work and making room for others to share these stories. This is the sign of a healthy society. Connections. Community. Solidarity.
Dear Editor, I am, as many in KFTC are, aware of the Occupy Wall Street movement that is sweeping the country. This amazing movement has been an inspiration to many people, myself included. Recently, Occupy Lexington, joined by Occupy Louisville, put forth the first concrete demand for our state. Calling this campaign “Invest in Kentucky”, we are calling on state treasurer Todd Hollenbach to take Kentucky’s general fund out of JP Morgan
Chase Bank and place it in a locally owned bank or credit union. These funds were moved to JP Morgan Chase in 2011, a bank which contributed to the 2008 financial collapse and has taken part in numerous unethical business practices. As can be read on the website www. investinky.org, “Investing Kentucky’s public funds within the state of Kentucky will have a substantial impact on Kentucky’s economy. Last year’s General Fund was valued at $8.76 billion.
Managing this account will require additional hiring at the bank or financial institution managing those funds, creating jobs in Kentucky. In addition this will create more available funds to invest in Kentucky.” Invest in Kentucky has launched a statewide petition campaign. I encourage everyone to sign this petition and pass it on to others. This campaign is very much in line with KFTC’s values. You can sign the petition by going to www.investinky. org and click on “sign the petition” at the
top of the page. On this page you can also get more information on the campaign, JP Morgan Chase, and much more. In closing, I further quote from the web page: “There is no reason Kentucky’s funds should be out of state. Furthermore, we believe that Kentucky should invest its funds in an institution that reflects the values of Kentuckians and is guided by a strong ethical foundation.”
by Trey Moore
Trey Moore San Antonio, Texas View some of Trey’s video interviews of KFTC members and more at: www.treymoore.org/
Kentucky Occupy Wall Street works to advance ‘invest in Kentucky’
Janet Tucker Fayette County
Occupy ‘Lexington’ Wall Street early in the occupation. Occupy Lexington is still located on the corner of Main St. and Esplanade St. in downtown Lexington.
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New Power Leader Profile
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Tanya Torp, as a New Power Leader, hopes to train citizen lobbyists KFTC’s New Power Leader Program continues to grow, with members across the state engaging clusters of their friends and families in conversations about KFTC, building toward a shared vision for Kentucky. Tanya Torp is a member in Fayette County/Lexington. How/Why/How long have you been involved with KFTC? Two years. How/why did you decide to become a New Power Leader? I believe in the model that reminds me of the heart of grassroots organizing: Power to the people, power through relationships, synergy and sharing your passion with the people in your sphere of influence. How did you decide who you wanted to invite to be in your cluster of people? I looked at those I interact with on a regular basis whom I know have hearts to want to empower others or be empowered themselves. What are some of the things you have done with your cluster of folk? I have emailed them about events. Personally invited them to events. And had amazing conversations about the issues. I am always more careful to listen than to talk because I want to hear their perspective. That keeps them engaged and lets them know that I value their opinion even if it is different from mine. It is about sharing the stories
and the information and giving them the information to make informed decisions on where they stand. What are some of the outcomes you’ve seen? People are more willing to listen, and listening leads to engagement. Engagement leads to action and taking ownership. What are some of your plans or aspirations with your cluster members? I want to do some lobby training and continue to grow in our relationships together. What skills do you feel you’ve developed, and what skills would you like to continue to develop? After the KFTC Annual Meeting in 2010, I feel I have been properly trained in telling my story in a way that relays facts as well as my emotionally vested interest without being preachy or alienating. I want to continue developing lobbying skills and become more adept at talking points. What’s your vision for your community and Kentucky? A healthier more cohesive Kentucky not based on who has more money and resources but who is informed and empowered with knowledge. What do you think the impact could be of having 1,000 New Power Leaders in Kentucky? The sky is literally the limit.
New Power Leader Ivory Faeth builds power in northern KY Ivory, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself? Where did you grow up, and how did you first hear about Kentuckians For The Commonwealth? I grew up in Over-the-Rhine, a once German, urban inner city neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown Cincinnati. When I was 19, quite by accident, I moved five miles downriver from where my entire family had lived for generations. I also lived in Leslie County, Kentucky and I was right at home. After finding other folks there concerned about mountains, ecosystems, poverty, jobs and the crushing socioeconomic effects of all of these topics, I also learned that most of these folks were members or at least kept track of what KFTC was doing. When did you decide to join KFTC? I joined KFTC last year after having the privilege of working with the organization for a class grant-writing project. During the semester, I learned that KFTC got things done. It is so easy to stand around complaining and hating the other side. It is much more rewarding to be a part of the educated few that actually sit down and listen to the opposition, get educated on the topic, form an opinion and then work towards the desired outcome peacefully. In this manner, KFTC has accomplished some of the most amazing feats I have heard of happening in southern Kentucky. I am proud to be a part of it.
Why did you become a New Power Leader, and how do you intend on keeping your “cluster” informed about what KFTC is doing? I became a New Power Leader in the hopes of getting more people involved in making changes that we want in our community. I thought if I worked with my “cluster” of likeminded friends on keeping them up to date with the current struggles, laws, environmental happenings, they in turn would carry this information to their other friends and so on. My cluster and I have always kept in touch one way or another. Email is a little sterile to me for friendships, at least, so mostly phone calls and dinner parties will probably dictate how and when I and the cluster commiserate. In your opinion, what is the most important issue effecting Kentucky today? Mountaintop removal is the most awe-inspiring atrocity I have ever had the misfortune to witness. It encompasses or creates every single thing in this world I dislike. Social inequality. Poverty. Homelessness. Pollution. The irreparable loss of some of the most beautiful mountains and woods, gifts of God and heaven themselves to me. It disperses communities and loses “the old way of life” that drew me back to Kentucky originally. It takes away the independence of
small homesteaders or farmers and sends them packing to cities where the only job up for the getting are America’s minimum wage jobs; no advancement, no hope, no moral, no getting ahead and certainly not the American dream. Now this is not to say I think we don’t need some coal. We need coal to get us through until we have made the switch to sustainable energy. (And I believe for an emergency, like kept in a National Reserve). I just don’t think we ought to be blasting the heads of mountains unless we have to. And we don’t have to. There are other techniques (albeit less profitable for the select few who get a good paycheck). Mountaintop removal doesn’t provide near the amount of jobs mining once did. Kentucky needs sustainable, healthy jobs and energy. We need our communities back. We need clean air. I believe the way to accomplish all these things are to be the first state to really make the switch to alternative energy. From these good Kentucky jobs a whole local economy could be nourished.
Find KFTC on Facebook and look for local chapter pages, events and important information
KFTC
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
30 Anniversary th
KFTC turned 30 years old this year and we’re recalling some of the early history of KFTC in each issue of balancing the scales in 2011. This is the sixth in the series and looks at the first legislative session KFTC members were involved in, the 1982 General Assembly. On January 7, 1982, in preparation for the General Assembly session that had just started in Frankfort, 36 people attended KFTC’s first platform-setting meeting in Hazard. The following issue platform resulted: • support legislation for an unmined minerals tax; • adopt a modest increase in the coal severance tax while maintaining the current formula for distribution of the revenue; • support any changes in House Bill 44 (a law that restricts property tax revenue growth) that would be necessary to treat revenue generated by an unmined minerals tax as “new property” tax revenue. KFTC lobbying efforts began. Citizens from across the state, but mostly from the eastern counties, called and wrote legislators urging them to support KFTC’s platform. Rep. Clayton Little of Pike County agreed to sponsor a bill to remove the property tax exemption from unmined minerals. Later, Rep. William Donnermeyer from Campbell County, the majority caucus chair, became a cosponsor. These efforts got a boost on January 19 when the Lexington Herald-Leader printed an editorial endorsing the unmined mineral tax bill. This made many more people around the state, including legislators, aware of this injustice. On January 26, more than 250 people attended a rally at the state capitol sponsored jointly by KFTC and Kentucky Action for Human Needs, a statewide coalition with similar concerns about major cuts in human services programs (this was at a time when the new Reagan administration in Washington was slashing federal funding to states). Herb E. Smith of Letcher County told the crowd he had “good news”: taxing unmined coal at the same rate as surface land could bring in millions of dollars for human services, local government programs and education. On February 12, KFTC Chairperson Gladys Maynard and Joe Childers, coordinator of the Kentucky chapter for the Appalachian Land Ownership Study, testified
Looking Back … 25 Years Ago … • KFTC members in Harlan, Morgan and Lawrence counties host a tour for top state environmental officials to discuss concerns about coal mining and hazardous waste disposal.
20 Years Ago …
Some Pulaski County children got involved in efforts to protect their drinking water from a leaking solid waste landfill.
• Members in Pulaski County are successful in getting the local fiscal court to adopt an ordinance regulating solid waste management and disposal in the county.
Page before the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in support of KFTC’s tax reform proposals (the unmined minerals tax was not formally introduced until the following week). “We, the concerned citizens of eastern Kentucky, are willing to impose new taxes on our only industry in order to help provide for the needs of people,” said Maynard. “We challenge folks and legislators from other regions of the state to offer creative ideas that After showing up unannounced in then Speaker will generate new revenue from other of the House Bobby Richardson’s office after he sources … and other progressive tax killed KFTC-backed legislation, members wait proposals. The time to act is now.” for a promised meeting. Richardson showed a On March 19 (after three remarkable lack of knowledge about the bill. postponements), the committee finally heard the unmined minerals tax bill. All the publicity and lobbying paid off – the legislation passed the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee 11 to 1! The celebrating didn’t last long. A couple of days later, instead of allowing the bill to go to the House floor for a vote, the House Rules Committee reassigned it to another committee where it would not be allowed a hearing. House leaders killed the bill. KFTC members responded immediately. On March 23, on short notice, 40 supporters of the unmined minerals tax bill traveled three to four hours from eastern Kentucky to Frankfort for a hastily-called rally. They went to the office of Speaker of the House Bobby Richardson, chair of the Rules Committee, demanding to know why he side-tracked their bill. They were particularly curious about a letter Richardson had sent Maynard a few days earlier that stated the bill’s “chances for passage appear good … due to an estimated revenue increase of $64 million.” The KFTC members refused to leave Richardson’s office, negotiating with his staff for nearly an hour before the speaker agreed to meet for 15 minutes. When the meeting occurred it was clear that Richardson knew very little about the bill – a frustrating realization since Richardson had refused to meet with KFTC earlier in the session to discuss the bill. KFTC members later learned that Richardson’s law firm in Glasgow represented large mineral holding and mining interests. One of his top aides also was heavily involved in the coal industry. The 1982 General Assembly ended with none of KFTC’s legislative goals passing. But a lot was accomplished for this new organization. KFTC had established itself as a new and growing representative of community interests, members learned a lot about how the legislative process works, and many important relationships and connections had been made around the state. With the legislative session over, members would spend the next few months focusing on building an organization dedicated to long-term social change.
• At the annual membership meeting at Eastern Kentucky University, members adopt a KFTC platform that has 7 planks and 315 words. The 2010-11 platform includes 56 planks and 1,731 words.
15 Years Ago …
• At a series of public events, KFTC members call for welfare reform to be linked to economic development efforts. • Members in Hopkins County are honored by the White Plains City Council for their “help in protecting the drinking water and environment of White Plains.” They were involved in a five-year effort to stop a 60-acre landfill that threatened the community’s drinking water source.
10 Years Ago … • At a press conference in Louisville on the day that more than 1000 Kentucky families were losing
their public assistance, members call for more support services that would help families combat poverty, such as living wage laws, universal health care and job training. • After a campaign by KFTC members, the Letcher Fiscal Court passes an ordinance to give landowners rights in negotiations with gas pipeline companies. That came in response to an effort by Columbia Natural Resources to condemn private property in order to secure a 50-foot rightof-way for 26 miles through Letcher and Knott counties.
5 Years Ago … • The election helps highlight the Minimum Wage Issue, and KFTC members gear up for what will be a successful effort to raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour in the 2007 General Assembly.
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Local Updates
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Berea citizens and groups unite to push for fairness for all citizens by Cory Lowery
What is fairness? To most people, fairness is the idea that everyone should be treated impartially and with compassion. In a fair society, people would be treated equally before the law, without regard to their innate characteristics. For the past several weeks, fairness has taken on a special meaning for the Madison County chapter of KFTC. In Berea, an alliance of citizens and activist organizations have joined together to form the Fairness Coalition, an organization dedicated to achieving fairness in Berea. So, again, what is fairness? In Berea, fairness has come to refer to the fairness ordinance, a law that would penalize businesses and employers for discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. This would include discrimination in serving customers, in hiring employees, and in denying housing to potential residents, and would impose a fine on people who violated the law. The members of the Fairness Coalition believe that the fairness ordinance is the natural continuation of Berea’s tradition of recognizing human rights, but the Berea City Council disagreed and refused to consider the fairness ordinance, essentially killing the law. The Council’s decision to block the fairness ordinance set off a movement in Berea. The Madison County chapter— along with the local group Bereans For Fairness and the ACLU of Kentucky— joined together to organize and push for the fairness ordinance to be reconsidered. Eventually they succeeded in getting the City Council to compromise by passing a law that would establish a human rights commission in Berea. The commission would investigate claims of discrimination based on race, sex, and religion, but it would not be bound to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Fairness Coalition of Berea staged a rally on the day that the City Council was supposed to vote on the human rights commission, drawing a crowd of more than 400 fairness supporters. Several speakers took the steps of Berea’s Union Church to speak to the
crowd, evoking Berea’s tradition of equality and justice as they demanded that the City Council pass a fairness ordinance. While the City Council voted in favor of a human rights commission, the protestors gathered outside of Berea’s Municipal Building chanted “Not Enough!” as they decried the Council’s refusal to add sexual orientation as a category protected under the human rights commission. The fairness rally was the climax of several weeks of organizing by the Fairness Coalition, but members have vowed to continue fighting for fairness even as the City Council refuses to consider the law. Members of KFTC, students from Berea College, and activists from Bereans For Fairness were present at the most recent City Council meeting to show their support for fairness, and plan to be present at future meetings until the council agrees to amend the human rights commission to consider sexual orientation as a protected category. While the Madison County chapter’s efforts have focused on the fairness campaign for the past several weeks, it continued to register voters leading up to the November election. Members have been present at several local events such as the Spoonbread Festival to register voters. The chapter has also partnered with several Berea College student groups
Hundreds of Madison County citizens and allies gathered in Berea prior to a city council meeting to rally for fairness for all citizens. to help register students at the college to vote. Several student groups have agreed to help KFTC, including the recently formed Harvey Milk Society (which originally formed around the fairness issue) Bereans For Appalachia (BFA), and the Student Government Association. With the assistance of these groups, KFTC has been able to register students to vote at college events such as Mountain Day.
Partnering with the Harvey Milk Society and BFA, the Madison County chapter will also held a candidates’ forum at Berea, where candidates running for the open seat in the Berea City Council were invited to share their views on a number of Berea issues, including fairness. The Madison County chapter will continue to support the Fairness Coalition and the student groups at Berea in their fight for fairness in Berea.
Perry County members ratchet up recruitment efforts The Perry County Chapter spent their energy in September on voter empowerment and training. First, the Perry County members participated in an east Kentucky training in the new Whitesburg Office. Members were joined with staff from Letcher and Floyd counties, as well as Campaign Organizer Dave Newton, to analyze the political landscape, learn about KFTC’s long-term approach to Voter Empowerment, learned how to register voters, and planned upcoming outreach events. The very next day a hand full of members and staff tabled at the 33rd Annual Black Gold Festival in downtown
Hazard. At the table were new members (first tabling event), like Cleveland Smith, as well as long time members who share veteran experiences from similar events of the past, like Russell Oliver. As “Coal for Kids” balloons passed by the “Register To VOTE!” sign, we talked to dozens of families and individuals about voting, the local chapter campaigns and meetings, state-wide issues, the weather, and festival food. Perry County’s new Steering Committee representative Cleveland Smith registered a half a dozen voters and sold a few tee shirts that day, at a festival he has attended his whole life. “Black Gold is a festival centered
around the coal industry, so it’s important for us to use this space to introduce new and alternative perspectives,” said Smith. About a week later, members came together again to register students on their lunch breaks at Hazard Community and Technical College. Students were registered from 4 different counties: Perry, Leslie, Knox, and Knott. In the entire month of September, the chapter registered 25 voters, sold 3 green KFTC tee shirts, signed up 2 new members, and had countless important conversations about KFTC, all through voter registration tabling.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Local Updates
Members celebrate KFTC’s 30th birthday with music, poetry, prose, food and fundraising in Carlisle
KFTC member and Kentucky author George Ella Lyon spoke about her new book, “Which Side Are You On? The Story of a Song,” at a recent KFTC birthday celebration in Carlisle.
KFTC members from several counties celebrated KFTC’s 30th birthday with music and readings at an event in Carlisle on September 18. Authors Jim Lally, George Ella Lyon, Erik Reece and Mary Ann Taylor-Hall shared poems and essays that were entertaining and thoughtprovoking. Afterwards, several local musicians entertained while folks snacked on food provided by Ed Taylor and Jennifer Gleason of Sunflower Sundries (www.sunflowersundries. com). Reece talked about an economic model where workers have more ownership of their labors and products. He referred to the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia where 29 miners were killed in April 2010. “What if the workers themselves had owned that mine,” Reece asked. “Would they still be alive today?” Taylor-Hall and Reece encouraged
folks to support KFTC. “If you believe that citizens, acting together, can and must push back against the forces of exploitation and greed, then pony up. Be part of it,” Taylor-Hall urged. “In this state of Kentucky, no one is working harder to bring about this new power economy than Kentuckians For The Commonwealth,” Reece pointed out. The event was successful in raising more than $2,700 for KFTC’s work. The program was emceed by David Wagoner, who called KFTC “one of the most important things I’m actively involved in.” Sarah Wylie Van Meter helped decorate the venue with artwork and photography from a variety of artists. The pieces recognized and celebrated the importance of land, while also showing “opposite images of our Kentucky” with images ranging from
beautiful farmland to the devastation of mountaintop removal. “They are the same land,” Van Meter explained. Besides celebrating KFTC’s 30 years, the program also celebrated local culture and economic activity. Wagoner and Arwen Donahue are part of the local economy through Three Springs Farm (www.threespringsfarmky.com), central Kentucky’s longest-running Community Supported Agriculture farm. The musicians were performing as part of the community’s quarterly Musical Heritage Series, supported in part by the Nicholas County Historical Society. The venue was at the Neal Welcome Center, a restored 1883 country store building converted to a museum, arts and welcome center. And Lally’s entertaining poems, including some from Stick Tight Man, celebrated local life and rural experience.
Northern Kentucky’s chapter has used their voter empowerment work in 2011 to build and expand upon some of the relationships they have built over the past year. Members have registered voters in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell county
public libraries, and worked closely with student volunteers from Boone County High School’s National Honor Society to help with these voter registration drives. Additionally, the chapter has developed a relationship with the
Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and worked closely with students representing NKU College Democrats, NKU College Republicans, NKU Students for Liberty to register more than 200 students to vote. NKU is not the only college members are working with, as they did voter registration drives with the office of Student Affairs at Thomas More College and the Thomas Moore College Political Science Club. Several members also took an opportunity to register voters at the Gateway Community and Technical College Urban Campus in Covington. In addition to registering voters, the chapter has continued to build upon their relationship with the Covington Farmers Market and the Covington Renaissance Project, and used those opportunities to register, inform and become more informed by the communities in Covington. To top off the chapter voter empowerment work members held their 2nd Annual Northern Kentucky
Loves Mountains at the Beer Sellar in Newport, Kentucky. The event featured 6 bands who helped raise awareness about mountaintop removal coal mining, and helped the chapter build upon the successes from last year and the big Music for the Mountains in February. Three of those bands (Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers, The Tillers, and the Red Cedars) were featured at the Music for the Mountains, and on the accompanying cd (available for $10) that benefited Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and Ohio Citizen Action. Two of the other bands were also from the Northern Kentucky area, Zella Whelms and Hazari. The remaining band, Appalatin, is a staple at Louisville Loves Mountains and put on a great show in Northern Kentucky. The chapter has been thrilled to build upon all of the great work they did last year to have an even more successful year this year. The chapter hopes to build upon these successes to achieve great things in the coming year.
Northern Kentucky members spread grassroots democracy
Northern Kentucky members held their 2nd Annual NKY Loves Mountains at the Beer Sellar as part of their voter madness. Performing bands included Zella Whelms, Red Cedars, Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers, Appalatin, The Tillers, and Hazari.
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balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Voting Rights Update
Election day voter turnout numbers low at 28%; KFTC members’ voter empowerment numbers soar during buildup KFTC members worked hard to register voters up to the October 11 voter registration deadline, with events throughout the state, ranging from extensive festival tabling in eastern Kentucky chapters, campus voter registration in northern Kentucky, tabling at the Festival of the Horse in Georgetown, and much more. KFTC also had a solid Voter Empowerment workshop for eastern Kentucky members, and hosted a powerful candidate training with Wellstone Action in mid-November. Eighteen thousand of the nonpartisan KFTC Voter Guides were distributed to members and registered voters across the state. This guide is created to let people
know where candidates stand on issues. The same information was available at: www.KentuckyElection.org. KFTC members mobilized a base of voters to vote on November 8. All KFTC chapters organized local phone banks to call KFTC members and friends leading up to the elction Additional ways members helped with voter turnout were distributing voter guides, giving rides to the polls, running turnout events, and even driving a sound car on election day. Get-Out-the-Vote campaign is an excellent opportunity for members to demonstrate KFTC’s electoral power leading into the General Assembly which starts in early 2012.
Singing for Democracy travels to Northern KY to raise awareness about voting rights
The Northern Kentucky chapter held a Singing For Democracy on September 18 at the Madison Avenue Christian Church, attended by more than 40 people. Mike Barry and Tayna Fogle, as masters of ceremony, discussed the issues of voting rights for former felons. Several regional Gospel performers were featured. The event was a collaboration between PeopleAdvocating Recovery (PAR) and KFTC, and included speakers from recovery programs in Lexington, Louisville, Covington, and Florence. Their stories, which dealt with their personal relationships with addiction in their lives and the lives around them, served as a reminder of the inequities and
stereotypes faced by people who suffer from the disease. Each of the speakers on the program spoke about what made them become an activist on voting rights and recovery. Charlotte Wethington recounted the loss of her son Casey, and how she was able to memorialize him through working to enact reforms in drug treatment laws. Fogle told her story of not only fighting to recover, but then having to fight to get her voting rights restored twice due to a clerical error. Kim Moore of CHANGE Recovery House for Women spoke of the difficulty of dealing with reentry for one of your children after fighting for your own recovery so hard.
KFTC’s voter registration, education and mobilization campaign: • 10 - Candidates responded to this year’s candidate survey (14 candidates were on the ballot). • 18,000 - Voter KFTC guides distributed. • 9,000 - Voter turnout calls made to registered KFTC members and friends. • 37 - Letters to the editor written by KFTC members and friends leading up to the election • 31,492 - Page views received at www.KentuckyElection.org this election cycle. • 12,721 - Page views received at www.KentuckyElection.org in the last 36 hours before the election. • 1,100 - Voters registered by KFTC. • 2,500 - Zombie handbills passed out leading up to Halloween. • 7,200 - KFTC members who all did their part - voting, volunteering, donating, and/or spreading the word.
New Power PAC’s Voting Rights campaign focused on the Secretary of State’s race • 5 - Strategic newspaper ads • 18,000 - Mailers sent out to key voters • 937 - Number of times people “shared” the web link to www. GoodDemocracyKY.org on Facebook • 6,862 – Page views on www.GoodDemocracyKY.org website in just the 7 days leading to the election. Averaging almost 1,000 per day. • 3.6 million - Times the Good Democracy KY ad was shown on Facebook. Of course these numbers are skewed towards things that are easy to count and quantify. There have been so many intangible, powerful results to KFTC’s work in this election that aren’t nearly so easy enumerate – like leadership development, conversations with neighbors, the power of a former felon telling their story for the first time, or a student casting their first ballot. Members and attendees were hopeful that Northern Kentucky politicians would take notice of the movement in Northern Kentucky, and realize the resource that many people who are in long-term
recovery are for the community. The organizations hope to work together again soon to continue to highlight the need to expand and protect Kentucky’s democracy.
Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) and voter mobilization takes on different forms among KFTC members. In central Kentucky, Zombies (members) took to the street during the Halloween festivities with the message of, “Zombies can’t vote, but you can.” Even the next generation got in on some voter mobilization on election day. Scott County members hosted a tried-and-true grassroots phone bank.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Voting Rights Update
Former Felon Voices: April Browning, Lexington To share more of the stories from former felons across the commonwealth, this is one part of a series of short interviews that will run in balancing the scales.
“First and foremost, I’m a mom,” said April Browning, after mulling over a vague introductory question asking her to talk about herself. “My son Elijah is in the 4th grade and he’s a pretty brilliant kid. He makes every day worth living and special,” she said, smiling. “That’s the first and most important thing you need to know about me. “But after that, it’s really important to me to take initiative to make my community a better place – for Elijah and everyone else.”
April moved to Kentucky 22 years ago when she was little, coming from Flint, Michigan, a community eroded by economic hardship and crime. She doesn’t want Lexington to have to fall on hard times like Flint. “I look for ways to get involved in my community, and organizing has become a passion of mine, especially in the last year. I’ve helped to organize rallies and have found a lot of outlets to make my community stronger.” In addition to being a mom, a community activist and so much more, Browning is a former felon, having been convicted of a nonviolent crime many years ago. Kentucky is one of just a handful of states that takes away the right to vote
“I am politically active and I feel that my voice as well as thousands of other Kentuckians’ voices should be heard. We are not second-rate citizens. Like all other people we are capable of change and can only become productive members of society if that society will allow us to be a part of it. I’m fighting for progress across the board and this fight is personal. “The ballot box isn’t the only way to make a political impact; I’ve been able to find plenty of other ways to organize and make a difference, too. “There are a lot of changes we need to make to make things better for the next generation. But this is one of them and I’m going to fight for the right to vote of citizens who have paid their debts to society. It’s only fair.”
“I went to UK during a time when we didn’t yet have any African American professors or administrators and that was a very hard time. There was a lot of racism and it took a lot to fight that,” Bond explained. Bond went on after college to work in the Washington, D.C. school system and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 to 1967. He has worked a lot of other jobs throughout his life, but says that the economy is in pretty bad shape right now, even for someone with experience. “This country isn’t in very good economic situation,” he says. “I see more homeless people on the street every month and a lot of them were middle class not long before that. “Homelessness is coming. I’m afraid it’s coming to more people than anyone expects – and not a lot of people who end up on the streets are going to see it coming.” When asked about recent pushes to make it harder for people without a legal address to register to vote, Bond had a lot to say. “Being involved in the political process is important to me,” he said. “I’ve been a Republican for most of my life and I even ran for city council in Lexington once. I’ve always voted in the same location on the street that I grew up on here in Lexington. “When you don’t have a home, it’s hard to get food, it’s hard to get shelter, sometimes it’s hard to stay warm or get
healthy. Let’s not make it harder to vote, too. “Like me, a lot of people living on the street have served this country in the military. You should let everyone vote, but it seems especially harsh to target us.”
Homelessness and voting: An attempt to disenfranchise more voters Recognizing that homelessness is becoming more and more of a problem in the U.S. and that voting rights for people without homes have been challenged by some politicians in Kentucky and around the nation, here is a series of short interviews from people who are or have been homeless. Ben Bond
“I’m a lot of things. I’m a father, a son, a brother, and I’m educated. And yeah – not too long ago I didn’t have a home.” Ben Bond was one of the actors – and a particularly good one – in the play Please Don’t Call Me Homeless, I Don’t Call You Homed organized by the Catholic Action Center in Lexington at the Kentucky Theater. Most of the actors in the play are people who previously have lived on the street.
Don Blakeley “To be honest, I was born in Ohio, but I moved to Kentucky when I was 11. I’m 59 now, so you do the math. I’ve been a Kentuckian almost since I can remember and I’m proud to be one. “I never in this world imagined that I would end up homeless. “I’ve had a long life and I’ve done a lot of different things – over a decade of service in a military career as an Army Platoon Sgt., I owned a 25-acre farm and made a living as a farmer, was in the construction business for a while, and even owned a computer business. “I’ve been a respected leader with technical skills and a lot of experience, so like I said, I didn’t think I’d end up homeless. But I ended up on the street just the same. “Lots of people might be closer to that than they think. Just losing your job might make you homeless. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but we’re a lot closer to being in the same boat than some of us think. “Life is looking up for me, though. I’ve been able to get off the street and
into the St. Michael Veterans’ House – a community that serves some of the thousands of homeless vets in this state. “Lately, I’ve heard that some politicians are pushing to make it harder for homeless folks to vote. To be blunt, I think that’s pretty asinine. I can’t imagine that taking my right to vote away benefits anyone and I just can’t relate to anyone who thinks otherwise. “I was an Army Platoon Sgt, serving from 1972 to 1983, and I’ve done my time to protect this Democracy. Questioning my right to participate in it just doesn’t seem right. “I think it’s extremely important for people to vote, especially in local elections. It’s your duty. If you don’t vote, you lose your voice. Now I’ve generally got a pretty loud voice, but I don’t like the idea of losing any part of it.”
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Grassroots Fundraising Update
KFTC raising the bar again: annual fall fundraising campaign underway with $160,000 goal by year-end by Steve Boyce
In August, KFTC celebrated 30 years of action for justice. In 30 years, we’ve grown from a handful of folks in eastern Kentucky to a strong statewide organization. Yet we’ve held onto some fundramental values and practices. Community organizing is still at the heart of our strategy for change. Impacted people working at the local level and rooted in communities have the insight and determination to find lasting solutions to our state’s problems. Communities in eastern Kentucky are still organizing to confront abuses of the coal industry, just as we did 30 years ago, and we’ll be working together long after the coal is gone. In communities across the state, members are working together for economic justice, clean
energy, voting rights, fair housing and more. This commitment to local organizing and building relationships is what distinguishes KFTC from other organizations with similar goals. It’s also what makes us successful. This fall we need to cap off a successful year by raising $160,000 between November 1 and the end of the year. The money we raise allows us to sustain our organization and the local organizing that is so critical in every community across Kentucky – like keeping organizers in the field to support an active base of leaders across the state. And when our membership is actively giving, elected officials and foundations notice, giving us more resources and power in places that make a big difference. If all of our members give according
to our means – at the same level we have given in the past – we will easily reach our goal. Meeting this goal means all of us pitching in. By now many of you have received a letter from Ivy Brashear inviting you to join with thousands of other KFTC members by making a contribution. Local chapters are planning house parties, phone banks and events — every gift will help us reach our goal. It takes all of us, giving what we can in the form of time and money, to build KFTC and achieve our vision for Kentucky. Working together, we can do so much more than any of us could do alone. When all of us in KFTC invest in our vision, we are our best hope for change.
Get involved in the Fall Fundraising campaign! 1) Make a contribution 2) Join a phone bank or make calls from home 3) Raise some money and have fun doing it by throwing a bake sale, selling homemade crafts in time for the holidays, or having a small gathering with a pitch for donations.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Economic Justice Update
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Message to Rep. Hal Rogers: Kentucky deserves better About 50 KFTC members rallied in tal Protection Agency from enforcing the front of the Somerset office of U.S. Rep. law. Hal Rogers on October 14 to send a mes All while also supporting costly tax sage to Rep. Rogers: Kentucky Deserves cuts for the wealthy (see sidebar). Better! “I have a vision for my future that’s “We want good jobs, clean water and air, and safe and healthy fami“Now that I’m grown and ready to start lies. We want competent, a family, I learned of a study released honest, and transparent representation in our govnot too long ago that showed a dramatic ernment,” said rally emcee increase in birth defects in areas Doug Doerrfeld of the where mountaintop removal occurs. A Rowan County chapter. “Right now we don’t have different study was released that showed these things. But we have an increase in cancer rates in areas with the opportunity to demand them and make a good surface mining. How am I supposed to future for ourselves.” plan a life here when 600,000 acres The speakers from the th of eastern Kentucky have been surface 5 District shared their visions for an east Kentucky mined, and valley fills are leaching toxic where they can stay and metals into our creeks?” where people can raise families and work and -Cody Montgomery, live, and how they aim to Magoffin County contribute to that vision. Then they described how Rep Rogers’ policies have been standing in the way. harder and harder to realize,” said Cody Rogers is the new chair of the House Montgomery, a non-traditional student at Appropriations Committee, and has been Morehead State University from Magofusing that powerful position to push cuts fin County. “The reason that I am having in the budgets of a host of good programs doubts about not only my future, but – child nutrition, weatherization, job trainthat of the entire 5th District, is directly ing, safeguards for the air and water, and related to Rep. Rogers. Over the past 30 college affordability to name a few – and years Rep. Rogers has pushed an agenda to attach damaging riders to those budget that has fallen far short of nurturing the bills that further prevent the Environmenpeople of the 5th District.”
Montgomery talked of the government assistance that helped his grandmother raise him, programs such as food stamps, SSI and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) that are now threatened with severe cuts under Rogers’ leadership. “Now that I’m grown and ready to start a family, I learned of a study released not too long Erica Urias of Pike County brought a bottle of her house’s ago that showed a well water that she and her family cannot drink because of dramatic increase in damage to the well by mining. Rogers’ aide Bob Mitchell birth defects in areas suggested that Urias and others experiencing damaged where mountaintop water call the Kentucky Division of Water. removal occurs. A voting against alternative energy and different study was released that showed efficiency programs, and for consistently an increase in cancer rates in areas with failing to stand with the families, workers surface mining,” Montgomery said. “How and mountains of east Kentucky. am I supposed to plan a life here when Sturgill asked, “Do you think our 5th 600,000 acres of eastern Kentucky have District deserves better? I surely do!” been surface mined, and valley fills are leaching toxic metals into our creeks?” (continued on page 15) Ada Smith of Letcher County said she wants to create communities where young people feel like they can stay, and where real economic development initiatives create good jobs. “I’m not surprised when my friends tell me they’re moving away,” she said, noting that several of the poorest counties Kentuckians from all over the in the nation are in Rogers’ district, and state are chiming in, send a that his district was recently rated 435th – or next to last in the nation – on a broad message to Rep. Hal Rogers variety of quality of life indicators. about what you think Kentucky “Rogers has shown little concern deserves. If you haven’t yet, about the long-term poverty of the recheck out these messages at gion,” Smith said. Noting the emptiness http://kydeservesbetter.tumblr. of Rep. Rogers’ strategy of creating jobs by building a federal prison (where the com, and add your own! We’ll jobs have all sorts of restrictions, including be growing the site over the next age restrictions and a credit check) Smith several months because we want asserted, “We need to bring real solutions to offer a good representation of to the table.” what Kentuckians are working Stanley Sturgill, a retired coal miner from Harlan County, said that he was for, and the kind of future there for his children and grandchildren, we deserve. Check them out because “they deserve better.” and leave your own message: Sturgill called out Rep. Rogers for What do you think Kentucky supporting cuts in more than 30 educadeserves? tion programs “when your own district suffers in all aspects of education,” for
ADD YOUR VOICE! WHAT DOES KENTUCKY DESERVE?
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Kentucky congressional reps have an influential role Right now in Congress policies are being debated that directly impact the quality of life in Kentucky and across the nation. Questions about job creation, economic policy and who should pay taxes are being debated. The ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce clean air and clean water laws is on the line. Programs for child nutrition, affordable housing, health care, job training and maintaining our infrastructure are on the chopping block. Support for renewable energy is up in the air while fossil fuel subsidies grow. Even the role of government to help create a better society is being challenged. Kentucky’s two senators and six congressmen (yes, they are all men) are playing an out-sized
Rep. Ed Whitfield, Republican, 1st District
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Elected to current position in: 1994 Committee assignments: - House Energy and Commerce Committee, which focuses on energy, health care, tele-communications and consumer product safety policies. - Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power Member of Subcommittee on Environment and Economy Member of Subcommittee on Health
Recent actions/positions: § a consistent opponent of the EPA; as chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, he guided several anti-EPA bills (HR 2681 and HR 2250) through his committee. § sponsor of an amendment to HR 2401 that delays indefinitely (meaning forever) the EPA’s ability to limit toxic air emissions.
Rep. Geoff Davis
Republican, 4th District Elected to current position in: 2004 Committee assignments - House Ways and Means Committee (budget & tax policy, including Social Security, health care, Medicare, Medicaid and social welfare issues.) § Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Resources Recent actions/positions § the leading sponsor of a bill to effectively block environmental and consumer protection reforms that have already been enacted by Congress. § a consistent opponent of the EPA
role in these decisions. Sen. Mitch McConnell, as the minority floor leader in the Senate, and Rep. Hal Rogers, as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, are in very public positions of power. Sen. Rand Paul, although in his first term, is a dominant voice in the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. Other House members have influential committee positions. KFTC wants to keep our members informed about positions taken by our federal representatives. This page and the next include a short introduction of each member, their committee positions and some key recent votes. We’ll do more in future issues about actions or votes they take related to KFTC’s issues and priorities.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, Republican, 2nd District
Elected to current position in: 2008 Committee assignments: - House Energy and Commerce Committee (energy, healthcare, telecommunications and consumer product safety policies)
Rep. John Yarmuth, Democrat, 3rd District Elected to current position: 2006 Committee Assignments - Committee on Budget - Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - Committee on Ethics
Recent actions/positions: § a leading opponent of the EPA § Several of the anti-EPA bills described below started in the Energy and Commerce Committee on which Guthrie serves.
Recent actions/positions: § sponsor of an amendment (killed in committee) to protect the voting rights of military personnel serving overseas by preserving funding to the postal service for mailing absentee ballots to soldiers. Rep. Ben Chandler, Democrat, 6th District § a consistent defender of the EPA Elected to current position: 2004 § supporter of the Big Oil Welfare Committee Assignments: Repeal Act to revoke nearly - Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and $13 billion in subsidies for the Foreign Affairs Committee the nation’s five largest oil companies. Recent actions/positions: § a sometimes defender but mostly opponent of EPA enforcement programs Rep. Hal Rogers, Republican, § supporter of the JOBS Act proposed by President Barack Obama 5th District Elected to current position: 1980 Committee Assignments: Four of Kentucky’s House members (Reps. Hal Rogers, Brett Guthrie, Geoff - House ApproDavis and Ed Whitfield) recently voted FOR a series of bills to block the EPA priations Comfrom issuing long-overdue health protections or enforcing existing air and water mittee (chair) quality laws. They voted to: - House Republican Steering Committee § Block the EPA from regulating toxic coal ash disposal (HR 2273). Passed the
Most Ky. reps attack clean air and water
House October 14. § Delay/prevent the EPA from controlling pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators (HR 2250). Passed the House on October 13, 2011. § Delay/prevent EPA from controlling pollution from cement facilities (HR 2681). Passed the House on October 6, 2011. § Gut the EPA’s authority to enforce major provisions of the Clean Air Act (HR 2401). Passed the House on September 23, 2011. § Block EPA’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act and transfer enforcement responsibility to states (HR 2018). Passed the House on July 13, 2011. Rep. Ben Chandler’s voting record on these bills was nearly as terrible. He did oppose HR 2018, a bill to prevent the EPA from enforcing the Clean Water Act. However, he voted FOR every one of these other anti-EPA bills. Rep. John Yarmuth is the only member of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation who consistently stood up for clean water and clean air. He missed the vote on HR 2401, but voted “no” on all the others.
Recent actions/positions § leader on the Appropriation Committee to cut more than $1 trillion from labor, health, education, transportation, clean energy, housing and environmental protection programs. § a leading opponent of the EPA’s efforts to enforce existing laws designed to protect public health § chief supporter of the Department of Interior appropriations bill that slashes the EPA’s budget by 18% and contains more than 100 antienvironmental policy riders.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Economic Justice Update
Message to Rep. Hal Rogers: Kentucky deserves better
(continued from page 13) Shekinah Lavalle made the trip to Somerset from Louisville in solidarity with the 5th District, and because of the reach of Rep. Rogers and Sen. Mitch McConnell. Lavalle spoke of the important role that the Earned Income Tax Credit, WIC, and Pell Grants have played in her life.
Cody Montgomery, a non-traditional student at Morehead State University from Magoffin County, took the opportunity at the rally to speak a simple message to Rep. Hal Rogers, “Kentucky Deserves Better.”
“Tax cuts, lack of regulation of the financial industry, and attacks on family planning and environmental safety regulations are endangering the lives and well-being of all Americans,” Lavalle explained. “Kentuckians are in a unique position to be hurt by these policies, and we are in a unique position to hold powerful Congressmen accountable for these policies.” She reminded folks of Rogers’ position as chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, and McConnell’s position as Senate minority leader. “Shouldn’t that mean that Kentuckians have a voice in the budgetary policies currently under discussion?” Lavalle asked. Kentuckians do have a voice, and wanted to make sure that Rep. Rogers heard their message. After the rally, participants entered Rogers’ office to deliver letters to Rogers and other items that symbolize what’s important to them about Kentucky or their community. Erica Urias of Pike County left a bottle of her family’s well water, while others left books and photographs of loved ones and loved places. As members filed in, they talked about what they’d like to hear from Rep. Rogers, often noting that Rogers has presented no proposals for creating jobs or helping the economy. “I want to know why he’s not working for jobs,” said Lee Ann Paynter, of
Danville. It’s clear that Rep. Rogers heard members’ message that Kentucky Deserves Better. He issued a statement defending his record that one member summed up
as “hogwash.” After the demonstration, participants went to a local member’s home for a soup bean supper and to debrief the day.
KFTC members participate in and support Occupy Wall Street
Standing together as the “other 99%,” protesters around the country are showing their displeasure with corporate greed and wealth disparity. And KFTC members have been showing their solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement by getting involved in smaller Occupy movements around Kentucky. Lexington had the third Occupy movement in the nation, based at JP Morgan Chase Bank downtown, and there has been a consistent 24-hour presence since the beginning. KFTC member Greg Capillo is one of the original organizers of the Lexington occupation, while many other KFTC members including Janet Tucker and Enku Ide have become very involved in the Occupy group. Occupy Lexington has a website , www.occupylexky.org, a Facebook page, a Declaration of Community standards, and a set of working groups. Jefferson County members have
been visiting Occupy Louisville at 7th and Jefferson Street periodically. Abby Miller visited one day to talk with folks about KFTC’s Kentucky Deserves Better rally at Hal Rogers’ office on October 14. And member Linda Stettenbenz hopes to connect some of KFTC’s Economic Justice work to one of the upcoming Occupy events. Some Northern Kentucky members, including Scott Goebel, Linda Nesbitt, and Andy Long, have supported the Occupy Cincinnati movement. The small community of Seco in Letcher County is even building an Occupy movement. At the KFTC annual meeting in October, members talked about the movement and what it means. They agreed that people are frustrated, energized, tired of the widening gap between rich and poor, and ready to step up and do what elected leaders are failing to do.
Kentucky senators vote against hiring teachers, responders Senator Mitch McConnell Elected to current position: 1984 Committees/Leadership Roles: - Senate Republican Leader - Appropriations Committee - Agriculture Committee - Rules Committee
Recent actions/positions: § McConnell led a successful effort on October 20 in the Senate to block S. 1723, a bill to provide about $35 billion to states to prevent layoffs of teachers and first responders. The bill proposed to pay for this expense by ending tax breaks for some of the wealthiest Americans. § McConnell also led the effort to defeat the American Jobs Act (S. 1660) in the Senate on October 11. The vote was 50 to 49 in favor of the bill, but according to Senate procedural rules, the bill needed 60 votes.
Senator Rand Paul
Elected to current position: 2010 Assigned Committees: - Energy and Natural Resources - Health, Education, Labor and Pensions - Homeland Security and Government Affairs - Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Recent actions/positions: § On October 20, Paul voted to block S. 1723, a bill to provide about $35 billion to states to prevent layoffs of teachers and first responders. The bill proposed to pay for this expense by ending tax breaks for some of the wealthiest Americans. § Paul also voted to defeat the American Jobs Act (S. 1660) in the Senate on October 11. The vote was 50 to 49 in favor of the bill, but according to Senate procedural rules, the bill needed 60 votes.
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balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Canary Project Update
Coal industry fights regulations; communities lose protection A coal industry coalition led by the National Mining Association received an initial and partial court ruling in its favor in its challenge to efforts by the Obama administration to better enforce mining and water quality laws. A U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia ruled that an “enhanced coordination” process outlined in 2009 memoranda between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overstepped the EPA’s Clean Water Act authority. In these memoranda, the agencies had agreed to coordinate their review of 108 then-backlogged permit applications for mountaintop removal mine waste disposal, or valley fills. EPA issued a statement calling the court ruling a “procedural decision” and vowed to continue working to en-
force the law. “We will work under the law to meet our Clean Water Act responsibilities to keep Appalachian streams clean for drinking, fishing, and swimming and to assure environmentally responsible coal mining proceeds,” said the EPA statement. At the time of the court’s ruling, there were only 21 permit applications still pending under agency review through this coordination process, including 13 in Kentucky and 8 in West Virginia. More than 50 miles of mountain streams are slated for destruction by these pending permits if the Corps and EPA do not exercise their legal authority and responsibility to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act. The early October ruling is part of a larger case that also includes challenges
to EPA’s Final Guidance on conductivity and related issues. Arguments on that part of the case are not scheduled until next June, and that guidance remains in effect. “We all want healthy people and healthy communities, and those start with clean water and a safe environment,” said Suzanne Tallichet, KFTC vice-chair, in a press release issued by Earthjustice on behalf of groups that have intervened in the case in support of EPA. “So far, the EPA is the only governmental agency that has been willing to acknowledge these threats to our land and people. That’s why we need them to do their job and enforce clean water laws – and why we will continue supporting EPA’s efforts to protect our local communities and our waters.”
Voter Empowerment
Important dates for 2012 election cycle Now that the General Election is over, we can lift our eyes up a bit to see some longer-term Voter Empowerment opportunities and updates coming up. Here are a few to be thinking about and to get on your calendar. Party Change Deadline December 31, 2011 is the date by which you must be registered to vote as a member of the political party whose primary election you want to vote in 2011. Note that Independents and Democrats cannot vote in partisan Republican primaries and Independents and Republicans cannot vote in partisan Democratic primaries. If you wish to change your political party affiliation so that you can vote in partisan primaries, visit your local County Clerk by the end of their business day Friday December 30, or get a voter registration card postmarked by the 31st. To check what party you are currently registered as, visit https://cdcbp. ky.gov/VICWeb/index.jsp
time to think about running for public office — or about people you know that you can encourage to run. Jan 31- Candidate filing deadline April 23 - Primary Voter Registration Deadline May 22 - Primary Oct 9 - Primary Voter Registration Deadline Nov 6 - General Election Vice Presidential Debates in 2012
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate will be held in Ken-
tucky – on Oct. 11, 2012 on Centre College’s campus in Danville.
Special Election in 5 weeks There will be a special election for Kentucky’s 82nd state house seat (Whitley and part of Laurel County) on Tuesday, December 20. KFTC will be mobilizing members in this area to make sure they’re getting out to vote. The seat became vacant recently after the resignation of first-term Republican Rep. DeWayne Bunch, who was injured breaking up a fight at the school where he taught.
2012 Election Dates It’s not too early to get these on your calendar — particularly the filing deadline on January 31. There are a lot of state legislative and local county and city seats up next year and now is a great
Floyd County Members Brad Owens and Connie Brooks registered voters at the Kentucky Apple Festival in Prestonsburg.
Canary Brief: Alliance for Appalachia MiniLobby in Washington KFTC members Erika Skaggs, Cleveland Smith and Psera Newman participated in the Alliance for Appalachia’s mini-lobby week in Washington, DC in early October. “It was really excellent. It was one of the biggest mini-lobbies we’ve done,” reported Skaggs. Alliance members from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia participated. “It was really wonderful to have all four Alliance states there,” Skaggs said. Split into several lobbying teams, the members met with key staff from 17 House offices and six Senate offices. They were educating lawmakers and seeking cosponsors for the Clean Water Protection Act, which would make it illegal for coal companies to dump their toxic mining wastes into streams. While most of the lobbying visits were with staff members, they were able to talk briefly with Rep. Brett Guthrie, whose district covers parts of western and central Kentucky. Skaggs and Newman both have family connections in this district. Although the conversation was short, Guthrie did ask to go on a tour of a mountaintop removal site. It was the first lobbying experience for Newman and Smith. “Psera and Cleveland were new to lobbying and both did an incredible job,” Skaggs said. During the mini-lobby, the Alliance sponsored a showing of the film The Last Mountain for members of Congress and their staffers.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Canary Project Update
Secret negotiations with coal company expose Energy Cabinet’s protection of company; violations still occur
KFTC and allies have challenged an agreement negotiated in secret between state Energy Cabinet officials and Nally & Hamilton that allows the coal company to pay minimal fines for thousands of violations of the Clean Water Act, gives pre-approval to vague remedial actions and does nothing to prevent continued violations of the law. The charges were outlined in a letter delivered to Cabinet Secretary Len Peters in early October, backed by nearly 200 pages of exhibits. “Basically, this agreement is a get-outof-jail-free card,” for Nally and Hamilton, explained Ted Withrow, a member of KFTC’s litigation team. “The cabinet is sweeping tens of thousands of violations under the rug.” For at least the past five years, Nally & Hamilton has been submitting false and incomplete water discharge reports to the cabinet regarding pollution from its eastern Kentucky mines. Appalachian Voices, Kentucky Riverkeeper, the Natural Resources Defense Council and KFTC brought these violations to the cabinet’s and public’s attention in March. The cabinet, which had previously ignored these reports, investigated and filed an administrative enforcement action. The cabinet did this to protect Nally & Hamilton, in hopes of pre-empting a federal lawsuit the groups planned to file. KFTC and our allies asked to intervene in the administrative proceeding, and in July the hearing officer granted the groups intervenor status. That made the groups full parties in the case. However, cabinet officials ignored the hearing of-
ficer’s order and negotiated a settlement with Nally & Hamilton without notifying or involving the intervening parties. “We weren’t in the negotiations and the cabinet refused our discovery,” Withrow said. “The cabinet is once again shielding the coal company and not letting the public know what’s going on.” Once the intervenors got a copy of the agreement, it was easy to understand why citizens’ groups were excluded from the negotiations. As stated in the letter to Peters:
• The cabinet seems not to have investigated the possibility that Nally & Hamilton’s violations were the result of intentional fraud; evidence submitted suggests they were; • There is no evidence that the cabinet calculated what civil penalty amount is necessary to deter future violations (the fines were less than 1% of what they could have been); • The agreement does not list or even describe what violations are being resolved; it isn’t clear the cabinet even knows what violations this settlement would resolve; • But the agreement also gives absolution for tens of thousands of additional, unspecified violations; • The agreement leaves most remedial measures completely undefined, requiring only that Nally submit proposed remedial measures only after
the agreement is signed; this makes it impossible to determine whether those remedial measures will fix Nally’s violations. “Kentucky citizens deserve to know the truth about the cause of these viola-
tions, and how a coal company could get away with filing patently false discharge reports year after year,” stated the letter, sent by attorneys with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The cabinet never prosecuted the case.”
EPA objects to 19 water pollution permits; Division of Water disagrees The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has objected to 19 water pollution discharge permits that state officials want to grant. The 19 are for coal mining operations in eastern Kentucky and have the potential to cause violations of the state’s water quality laws. “We have significant concerns that these permits will allow discharges that may cause significant water quality impacts,” the EPA wrote in a September 28 letter to the Kentucky Division of Water. The letter noted that the permits were missing basic information on the potential impacts of the proposed pollution, and that state officials did not set discharge limits necessary to protect public health. The state cannot issue those permits without changes that address these concerns. “My understanding is, these permits that they’ve objected to, they’re in close proximity to water intakes, or community water supplies, so it’s a direct impact from these chemicals that come from these mining operations on human health,” KFTC member Doug Doerrfeld told the Hazard Herald. “There has been a wealth of science in the past 10 years that have shown that the impact of large surface mines, like the ones that are in question here with these permits, do put off these kinds of chemicals, they do enter the streams, and they are negatively impacting streams and aquatic health.” Arsenic and selenium, known toxins, are among the chemic a l s t h a t h a v e p o i s o n e d s t re a m s b e l o w m i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s . The EPA sent a second letter to the Division of Water expressing similar concerns about 35 other water discharge permits for mining operations. This letter does not prevent state officials from issuing those permits, but encourages them to address these concerns and make sure the information provided is complete and accurate before doing so.
Day
2012
Details are still emerging about what shape I Love Mountains Day 2012 will take. Keep an eye open and your ear to the ground in early December for more details and date.
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balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
New Energy and Transition Update
KFTC members stand up for clean energy during the governor’s energy conference; EPA shows public support
On September 26 -27, more than 10 KFTC members promoted the need for increased investment in clean energy solutions at the Kentucky Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment. After hearing a speaker state that Kentucky doesn’t have the resources necessary to generate electricity from renewable energy, member Tona Barkely stood up and asked, “Why do I keep hearing this mantra – that Kentucky doesn’t have what we need to generate clean energy? It simply isn’t true and I don’t know why it continues to be repeated.” Several audience members cheered. Conference participants also had the chance to hear EPA Region 4 Director Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming tout the values of clean energy during her speech as well. “We all recognize the need for clean energy and fuel, green housing, sustainable infrastructures, weaving public health protections into our decisions
proactively. And, we have constitutional rights – our laws don’t say clean water for some and not for others,” Keyes Fleming said. She went on to say that listening to the solutions brought forth by the people who are most affected by the problems of old energy and most underserved is a main focus of the EPA’s agenda in the coming year. Keyes Fleming named KFTC as an important partner in creating these solutions and talked about how much she learned on the tour of eastern Kentucky KFTC members hosted for EPA officials just a couple of months ago. Taking the conference as a whole, there were signs that the statewide discussion about clean energy solutions is advancing. While not the dominant talk of the day, there was some discussion about the opportunity to use renewable energy forms in Kentucky. Paul Doloff, senior engineer for East Kentucky Power Cooperative, said that
use of small-scale solar generation in the EKPC service district and in Kentucky at large is growing. Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter was invited to speak in a plenary session about the advances his state saw in job creation and renewable energy production during his tenure. He credited the success to the implementation of statewide energy policies that encouraged such growth. There was even more talk about the promise of energy efficiency solutions. While dismissive of Kentucky’s ability to generate energy from renewable sources, State Energy Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Dave Adkisson both said that energy efficiency contains a lot of promise and seems to be the most likely common ground among many interests. “There’s a quiet revolution going on in conservation,” Adkisson said. “Several speakers in separate sessions emphasized that the current political climate makes any near-term
progress on subsidizing renewable energy nearly impossible,” KFTC member Steve Wilkins noted. “However, energy efficiency enjoys bipartisan support. So, energy efficiency initiatives should meet much less resistance.”
by Nick Mullins
reform our electric co-ops to better benefit the people they serve and the environment. A loose association of groups working on utility reform across the country organized the event and brought together people from all over the nation who, like us, were interested in seeking ways to reform our electric power cooperatives, public utility districts (PUDs), and municipal utilities. It was a unique opportunity to meet with other organizers, progressive coop board members, and industry experts, all wishing to change our nation’s energy usage and transition away from fossil fuels. Having only been a member of Bluegrass Energy for three months I had much to learn. Energy co-ops brought electricity to thousands of rural households where investor operated utilities (IOUs) would not spend the extra capital needed to run electric lines. Through government loans and a desire to have electricity (and not necessarily profit) electric cooperatives
became the best example of progressive economics within our country. Sadly, apathy within the ranks of members/customers has left the democratically elected board members within these utilities to do as they please. “Some members of the Shelby Energy Cooperative have been on the board for over 40 years,” Carlen Pippin said as he addressed the room, speaking in reference to the problems his community faces with the Shelby Energy Co-op. “You can’t get anything done. I go to every meeting and get kicked out of just about all of them.” During the two-day conference, presentations were given by a variety of speakers who covered topics from the organizational structures of co-ops and their electricity suppliers known as G & Ts (Generation and Transmission utilities) to the reduction of fossil fuel powered electric generation through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Many examples of successful organizing were given including the reform
of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative in Texas, and the renewable energy programs taken on by Kit Carson Electric in New Mexico. Organizers from Georgia spoke of their progress with Cobb Electric and some of our Kentucky delegation spoke about the fight against the proposed Winchester, Kentucky coal-burning power plant. As the conference came to a close we couldn’t help but feel empowered. “I felt honored to be with other Kentuckians and to meet those from many other states that have worked so hard in bringing about positive changes in electrical cooperatives’ operations and their thinking processes,” Carlen later told me. “I left Atlanta wanting to be an even better steward of our natural resources and with high hopes that united we can and will make a difference in our community and Kentucky.”
Renewable energy systems already installed in the EKPC service area: 85 installed distributed generation systems – 80 solar, 4 wind, 1 “other” Total installed capacity: 283.92 kW
Public Power Reform Conference: energy co-op reform For a moment I stared upwards at the ceiling of the large conference room and my mind drifted back to the days I spent staring at the roof of a coal mine. Here there were no roof bolts, no loose draw rock. There were no parallel grooves giving evidence to the continuous miner’s power as mining bit met rock and coal. There were no sounds of machinery, no loaded shuttle cars making their way to the feeder in the next entry over. I was instead listening to the voices of change in the warm, spacious and well-lit room of the Melia Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. I was as distant from the coal mines as I could be, physically, socially, and economically. My journey started with an invitation by KFTC to attend the Public Power Reform Conference being held in Atlanta. Along with KFTC organizers and Carlen Pippin, a member from Shelbyville, we attended the two-day event, eager to learn how we could
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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New Energy Transition Update
Sustainable home energy systems benefitting two Louisville families featured during KFTC house party and tour
KFTC members Tim Darst and Angela Lincoln have been working towards energy sustainability for quite some time. They care about it for many reasons – because of their faith, their commitment to social justice, and their concern about global climate change and mountaintop removal coal mining. Ten years ago, they began efforts to reduce their home electricity usage through lifestyle changes and energy efficiency measures. They built awnings to block excess sunlight, put lower-watt bulbs in their lamps and began using sunlight to dry their clothes, among other things. “We looked into electricity in Kentucky and found out that more than 90 percent comes from coal – the dirtiest of all the fossil fuels,” Darst said. “We wanted to make some changes in our life and we started with electricity because it made the most sense.” These efforts yielded a 70 percent reduction in home electricity use over time, he told a crowd of 25 who gathered at a KFTC house party that he, Lincoln and neighbors Rus Funk and Amy Mudd co-hosted on October 18. Once their usage was down, Darst and Lincoln invested in solar panels to provide most of their remaining electricity use.
The crowd saw Darst and Lincoln’s solar panel array and then toured Funk and Mudd’s home geothermal heating and cooling system. Geothermal systems run water through pipes deep into the ground to keep it a steady temperature and then use a highly efficient indoor machine to heat or cool the water, which in turn heats or cools the air to the desired temperature. Ron Neal, of Allgeier Air – the company that installed Funk and Mudd’s system – told the crowd that residential and commercial use of geothermal heating and cooling is really taking off in Kentucky. “With a 7-to-10-year average payback, geothermal is catching on quickly. A few years ago, we saw a steady 1-2 percent increase in our installations every year. In 2009, our business increased 20 percent. In 2010, 30 percent and 2011, 40 percent.” He went on to describe the success that 50 Kentucky schools have using geothermal systems. One school built a new building four times the size of the previous one. With efficiency measures and a geothermal system, energy bills in the bigger building are just one-fourth of the school’s previous costs. KFTC member Jane Walsh brought
her two kids to tour the homes. “We were inspired,” Walsh said. Her daughter, Mae Alice Harrell , is a reporter for the Bloom Elementary “Bloom Report,” a weekly program of her school’s media club. She filmed the event to help educate her schoolmates about how families can use less energy. The party raised both friends and funds for KFTC – eleven new members joined, and the event motivated many people present to lobby their legislators in Frankfort to make these clean energy systems more affordable for Kentuckians. “I love the idea of solar panel and geothermal technology. I would love to save money on my utilities and minimize my carbon footprint, but these projects are expensive for the average middle-income household,” said participant and property manager Debbie Rosenstein. “This is why it is so important for us to contact our legislators regarding the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. Clean energy needs to be an affordable alternative for everyone.” If you are interested in telling your legislator that you want affordable, clean energy solutions in Kentucky, contact Nancy Reinhart at 502-589-3188 or nancy@kftc.org
Darst & Lincoln’s House Statistics 770 kilowatt usage per month baseline • 545 kilowatts saved from efficiency updates • 150 kilowatts generated from solar panels = 75 kilowatts of home electricity usage remains “on the grid” Solar Panel System Cost (@2006 prices) = $20,000* *Note: The same size system@ today’s prices = $13,000
KySEA.org
Sustainable Energy Briefs Kentucky’s Green Schools save money and gain national fame
In August, Millbrooke Elementary School in Christian County hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the certification of the 100th Energy Star school in the state. Kentucky is a national leader in the total number of schools certified as highly energy efficient. State Representative Mary Lou Marzian, chief sponsor of the Clean Energy Opportunity Act that KFTC supports, is a leader in this “Green Schools” effort.
Clean Energy Job Growth
A recent report on green jobs in Kentucky indicates that green employment in the state is expected to grow at a more rapid pace than the workforce as a whole, with anticipated growth of 6.8 percent over the next two years. (Source: Brookings Institution)
2-megawatt Solar Field Comes Online in Bowling Green Ron Neal (Allgeier Air) showed off Rus Funk and Amy Mudd’s home geothermal system at a recent house party. The party also highlighted Tim Darst and Angela Lincoln’s home solar panel array.
David Burt of Star Harvest is building a 2-megawatt solar field in Bowling Green at Scotty’s Warehousing. This is the first system of any type to produce power while utilizing tax incentives passed in 2007 through Kentucky House Bill 1, “Incentives for Energy Independence Act,” sponsored by Representative Rocky Adkins.
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New Energy Transition Update
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
Solar electric classes attract participants from across Kentucky by Andy McDonald In August the Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) hosted four days of trainings in Frankfort on solar photovoltaic (pv) system design and installation. Thirty-two participants attended the first two-day class, “Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics.” Eighteen participants stayed for day three, “Solar Site Assessments and PV System Design,” and 14 people attended the final day, “PV and the National Electric Code.” The classes were taught by Chris LaForge of Great Northern Solar, a NABCEP-certified solar PV installer and an ISPQ-certified PV instructor. Participants included electrical contractors, solar electric contractors, recent college graduates, engineers, and others exploring solar energy as a potential career path. Two students from the University of Louisville will use the knowledge they gained as they help design U of L’s entry in the International Solar Decathlon Solar Home Design competition. Four participants will receive Continuing Education Units from the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction to support their electrician’s licenses. Participants came from a wide
geographic area, ranging from Paducah to Prestonsburg to the Cincinnati Metro area. One person came all the way from Missouri and another from Evansville, Indiana. On the second day of the training the class made a field trip to my home to view my recently-installed grid-tied solar PV system. This five-panel, 1.125 kW array is a ground-mounted, battery-free system that was sized to meet 100 percent of my family’s annual electricity needs. Participants also had a chance to view KSP’s Solar Trailer, which demonstrates an off-grid, battery-based PV system. The chance to view operational PV systems in real-world applications was a highlight of the trainings for many participants. Nine of the participants were able to attend thanks to financial support offered by the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED). MACED supports the development of small businesses in eastern Kentucky and has a special emphasis on supporting sustainable energy enterprises. In addition to financial assistance to attend Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest’s (ASPI) workshops, MACED also offers financing for business development investments, “energy micro-loans” for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments for eastern Kentucky
Instructor Chris LaForge speaks with students outside Kentucky Solar Partnership’s Solar Trailer.
KSP instructor Andy McDonald discusses his home’s solar PV installation with class participants. businesses, and technical assistance to building trade contractors. MACED has a Certified Energy Manager on-staff to provide energy consulting. In October KSP will be host a fiveday, hands-on installation training. Many participants from August will be returning to gain hands-on skills as we install an
off-grid solar electric system on a mobile trailer. To learn more about MACED’s Energy Efficient Enterprises project, contact Elizabeth Graves at 859-986-2373 or egraves@maced.org. Andy McDonald is a KFTC member and Director of the Kentucky Solar Partnership.
Purchase your copy of this wonderful album to support the work of Appalachian Voices (ilovemountains.org) and to support two Kentucky musicians. Purchase the album from your local independent music store.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Annual membership meeting reflects on 30 years of action while empowering and planning for the next 30 years KFTC’s Annual Membership Meeting is equal parts family reunion, education, and celebration. This year’s meeting proved to stay true to form but deviated just enough. For more than a third of the participants, this year was their first annual meeting. Those in attendance for the first time were students and long-time activists, further bolstering the theme, “A generation of working for change and a vision for tomorrow.” Coming off the heels of the Kentucky Deserves Better rally that was held on Friday afternoon outside of Rep. Hal Rogers’ Somerset office, many participants turned their focus to the annual meeting. However, Kentucky Deserves Better was a common thread throughout many conversations over the course of the weekend. Shekinah Lavalle made a simple statement during the opening session that many youth and elders can relate to, “I would love to see a Kentucky that keeps its young people.” Celebrating KFTC’s 30th Birthday brought many long-time members to the annual meeting to share their thoughts and a feeling about what Kentucky is because of KFTC (similarly what Kentucky is not because of KFTC). “This organization from the very getgo has been about getting things done,” said Jeff Chapman-Crane. When asked about his favorite KFTC moment Chapman-Crane said, “None of them compare to the night we routed the coal industry,” speaking about the successful campaign
to stop the use of the Broad Form Deed. Jefferson County chapter member Beth Bissmeyer explained her passion for KFTC: “KFTC – we’re not just about talk. We get things done. We’re about action.” Jennifer Wurts shared her personal connection to KFTC: “I feel empowered because of you all.” The annual meeting was held over the weekend of October 14-16 at the Kentucky Leadership Center in Jabez. The location dubbed by many is “equally inconvenient for everyone” but hosts the perfect backdrop for a weekend of plenary sessions, conversations, bonfires, music, etc. The focus of the annual meeting this year was on intergenerational organizing; many of the workshops were skills based, bridging knowledge gaps on issues while also creating space for individuals to learn new skills. Workshops ranged from Strengthening Democracy, Intergenerational Organizing, KFTC’s Economic Justice work, KFTC’s Energy and Canary work, Communicating Our Vision, Who KFTC is and How We Organize for Change. Tanya Torp reflected on her years as a KFTC member and said that one thing she has learned from KFTC is that, “I found and I learned that nobody can argue with your story.” Many participants used the skills they learned at the 2010 annual meeting, which focused on the “Story of Self,” to set the groundwork for this year and continued to use the prompt “Kentucky Deserves Better” to help fine tune their story.
I want to help KFTC build power! Name: Address: City, State Zip: Phone: Email: I wish to make my donation to the following organization (check one): ____ KFTC (not tax-deductible) ____ Kentucky Coalition (tax-deductible) Bank Withdrawal/Credit Card Payment 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.
Socializing and celebrating are anchors during the weekend. At the Saturday evening banquet, more than 60 people and organizations were recognized for outstanding work at the local, state and national levels during the past year (see page 22 for names). Additionally, members screened the documentary I Was There: The First 30 Years of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Between workshops, members hiked the grounds around the leadership center, jumped in the lake, and picked music on the porch. Saturday night members cut loose for another bonfire and for a Latin
dance party, which melded into an all out everything-goes dance party. Before wrapping up on Sunday, members got down to business: electing statewide officers, approving new and returning chapters, and adopting changes to the issue platform. The platform discussion proved to be an exercise in both participatory democracy and intergenerational organizing, as members discussed the addition of various terms and planks to the platform. In the end, the members were left with a very strong guiding document for 2012.
The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. The theme this year for the annual membership meeting was “A generation of working for change and a vision for tomorrow.” More than a third of the crowd were youth who were attending their first annual meeting. Who asked you to join KFTC? Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually. ____ One-time Gift: Amount $_____________ ____ Pledger: I will contribute $___ every (check one): __ Month __ 3 Months __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. For checks, please make payable to KFTC or the Kentucky Coalition and mail to: KFTC • P.O. Box 1450 • London, Ky. 40743-1450.
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Awards from the 2011 Annual membership meeting Special Friends Awards: Katey Lauer, Melissa Ahern and Michael Hendryx, Gaye Evans, Caroline Taylor-Webb, Chris Schimmoeller, Connie Lemley, Casey Sterr, and UK Chapter of KFTC!
Daniel Thompson Bridge Builder Award: To the members who have diligently and faithfully worked to bring together diverse groups of people within KFTC: Christian and LaTanya Torp
Membership Recruitment Award: the Northern Kentucky Chapter, one of our newest chapters, which recruited 82 new members and experienced 48% growth in the past year.
Evelyn Williams Award: To the member who persevered against great obstacles and over time to win an important victory: Randy Wilson
Grassroots Fundraising Award: the Jefferson County Chapter, which raised more than $15,000 in the past year. Sister Marie Gangwish Award: To the member who has worked steadily and creatively to raise the grassroots funds that support KFTC’s success: Wanda Humphrey Alice O. Martin Award: To the member who has done the most work behind the scenes to strengthen KFTC as an organization: Mary Love
Joyce Wise Award: To the KFTC member who has overcome personal adversity to help others: Rick Handshoe Ally of the Year Award: To the ally that has done the most over the past year to support KFTC’s work: Cordia School and Alice Whitaker, for advancing the work of the Perry County Chapter and the Canary Project by hosting calls and visits from the EPA, submitting student artwork to the EPA, and sending students to the Week in Washington lobby event, among other contributions.
Gladys Maynard “The Start of Something Big” Award: To the member(s) whose commitment and action leads to the development of a major movement or event in the cause for justice: Kentucky Rising: Stanley Sturgill, Herb E Smith, Martin Mudd, Wendell Berry, Chad Berry, Mickey McCoy, Rick Handshoe, Bev May, Lisa Abbott, Tanya Turner, Kevin Pentz, John Hennen, Doug Doerrfeld, Teri Blanton. We also honor these six others who provided exceptional support on the first day of the sit-in and from afar throughout the weekend: Patty Wallace, Randy Wilson, Silas House, Lora Smith, Jason Howard, Greg Capillo. Joe Begley and Everett Akers Award: To the member who is jailed, loses a job, or faces some other major adversity because of their work for social justice: Teri Blanton, Mickey McCoy and Colleen Unroe.
Funder of the Year Award: To the individual or organization that has provided exceptional guidance and resources to KFTC in its struggle for social justice: Mertz Gilmore Foundation, for providing critical funding for the Stop Smith campaign and then pivoting with us to the next important step, Renew East Kentucky. Hazel King Lifetime Achievement Award: To the KFTC member who has committed his or her life in the service of others by working for social justice: Truman Hurt and McKinley Sumner The “Long Hot Summer” Award for Ground breaking Litigation: Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Appalachian Voices, Waterkeeper Alliance, Kentucky Riverkeepers, PACE Legal Team, Natural Resources Defense Council Legal Team, Lauren Waterworth, Burke Christensen, Pat Banks, Lanny Evans, Tom Bonny, KFTC’s Litigation Team: Sue Tallichet, Doug Doerrfeld, Ted Withrow, Rick Handshoe, and Antonio Mazzaro.
balancing the scales, November 17 , 2011
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Not sure what to give that special person this holiday season?
Calendar of Events
How about giving them a gift that really makes a difference? Make a donation to an organization that is helping to make Kentucky a better place for them and everyone else.
Nov. 22 Western Kentucky chapter meeting, 6:30- 8 p.m. Unitarian Universal Church, 2033 Nashville Road in Bowling Green. Nov. 28 Madison County chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at Berea College Appalachian Center (205 N. Main St., Berea). Nov. 30 University of Kentucky KFTC meeting, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Rm. 111 of the UK Student Center. Dec. 1
Harlan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. in Room 219 of Southeast Community College’s Appalachian Center in Cumberland. For more information contact Tanya@KFTC.org or call 606-632-0051.
Dec. 1
Scott County chapter meeting, 7 p.m., at the Georgetown Public Library. Email Dave@KFTC.org or 859-420-8919 for more information or to volunteer.
Simply send us a donation in the name of a friend, family member, or co-worker. We will send them a lovely card telling them about your gift. We will put them on our mailing list to receive our regular newsletter. Next year, we will ask them if they want to renew their involvement by making their own gift. They will receive no other solicitations from us unless they then make their own gift to our group. I would like to give the following people a gift in the form of a contribution to Kentuckians For The Commonwealth: 1.
Name
______________________________________
Dec. 6
Letcher County chapter meeting. 6-7 p.m., Jenkins City Lake Picnic Shed, contact Willa@KFTC.org or 606-632-0051 for more information.
Address ______________________________________
City ____________________ State _______ Zip ______
Dec. 6
NKY Fundraiser at Fort Thomas Pub from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Located at 1017 South Fort Thomas Avenue, Fort Thomas, KY. Contact Joe@kftc.org or call 859-380-6103.
Please circle which holiday is being celebrated: Chanukah Christmas Kwanzaa Winter Solstice Other____ If you don’t specify, we will use the generic “Holiday Season.”
Dec. 10 Land Reform Committee meeting, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Contact Kevin Pentz at Kevin@KFTC.org or 606-335-0764 for location and more information. Dec. 12 Jefferson County chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 809 South 4th Street in Louisville. Dec. 12 Floyd County chapter meeting, 7 - 8:30 p.m., St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Prestonburg. For more information contact Kristi@kftc.org or call 859-986-1277. Dec. 15 Central Kentucky chapter HOLIDAY PARTY meeting, 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Diocese Mission House (on the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and 4th Street) in Lexington. Dec. 15 Rowan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on 5th Street in Morehead. Dec. 20 Northern Kentucky chapter HOLIDAY PARTY POT LUCK meeting, 7 p.m. at 25 W 7th Street in Covington. Contact Joe@kftc.org or call 859380-6103. Dec. 20 Perry County chapter HOLIDAY PARTY meeting, 6 p.m. in Hazard. Contact Tanya Turner for more information, Tanya@kftc.org or 606-6320051. Dec. 31 This is the date by which you must be registered to vote as a member of the political party whose primary election you want to vote in in 2011. Note that Independents and Democrats cannot vote in partisan Republican primaries and Independents and Republicans cannot vote in partisan Democratic primaries. To check what party you are currently registered as, visit www.KFTC.org/voterinfo.
2.
Name ______________________________________ Address ______________________________________ City ____________________ State _______ Zip ______
Please circle which holiday is being celebrated: Chanukah Christmas Kwanzaa Winter Solstice Other____ If you don’t specify, we will use the generic “Holiday Season.” Make check payable to: KFTC Your Name Address City Phone
State
Zip
Perfect Holiday GIFT! For every bag purchased of Mountain Dream Blend, KFTC will receive $5! Visit heinebroscoffee.com to purchase your bag today! (or stop by one of their Louisville locations)
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Proceeds benefit the work of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth: KFTC is a 30-year-old grassroots organization that believes in the power of people, working together, to challenge injustices, right wrongs, and improve the quality of life for all Kentuckians.
Visit us online at www.KFTC.org