balancing the scales - march 2011

balancing the scales Volume 30 Number 2 March 24, 2011

Kentucky is Rising and you are a part of the building movement! N

oN

-Pro

fitU

.S. PoSta

ge Pa

iDLexiN

gto

N, K

y.Per

mit N

o. 513

Change Service Requested

Kentuckians For T

he Com

monw

ealthP.O

. Box 1450London, K

y. 40743

Inside...KFTC’s 30th Anniversary pg. 4

Citizens continue to push for coal company accountability pg. 9

Historic towns of Benham and Lynch need support pg. 8

Common future guides work on economic justice bills pg. 17

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

is a statewide grassroots social justice orga ni-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, ChairpersonSue Tallichet, Vice-Chairperson

Dana Beasley Brown, Secretary-TreasurerK.A. Owens, Immediate Past ChairRick Handshoe, At-Large Member

Chapter RepresentativesRosanne Fitts Klarer, Scott County

Erika Skaggs, Central KentuckyTed Withrow, Rowan County

Scott Goebel, Northern KentuckyMary Love, Jefferson County

Meredith Wadlington, Bowling Green & FriendsCarl Shoupe, Harlan CountyTruman Hurt, Perry County

Megan Naseman, Madison CountyPatty Amburgey, Letcher County

Beverly May, Floyd CountyCari Moore, Knott CountyVanessa Hall, Pike County

Alternates: Matt Doolin, Matt Heil, Lisa Bryant, Antonio Mazzaro, Martha Flack, Sandi Joiner, Stanley Sturgill, McKinley Sumner, Steve Wilkins, Jeff Chapman-Crane, Bobby Hicks, and Erica Urias.

Kentuckians For The CommonwealthP.O. Box 1450 London, Kentucky 40743-1450

606-878-2161 Fax: [email protected] www.kftc.org

balancing the scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Kentucky. Reader contri butions and letters to the editor should be sent to 250 Southland Drive Suite #4, Lexington, KY. 40503 or [email protected]. Subscriptions are $20 per year.

Onthecover:BeverlyMaypresentedherpolluteddrinkingwatertoGovernorBeshearpriortotheKentuckyRising four day occupation of his offi ce. Below: Members of Kentucky rising wrote a note to a crowd that gathered outside in solidarity.

Executive Committee Cornerconvincingevidenceforthepoweroforganizing!Thisopensthewayforthemandatedcollaborativeworkinggroup — with members from EKPC and our alliedorganizations–toinvestigatetheextenttowhichenergyeffi ciency and renewable energy – clean energy solutions! – can be used effectively for the benefi t of EKPC’s roughly 500,000residentialelectricitycustomers. PlannedforApril9inFloydCountyistheconferenceGrowing Appalachia: Do-it-yourself skills for small-scale farming, forestry and saving energy.Itsintentionistobeproactive about solutions as part of theAppalachianTransition Initiative, KFTC’s effort to spur a just transition forAppalachiatoanew,sustainableeconomy. These examples concern how the future mightunfoldinKentucky,especiallyinEasternKentucky.Inthe meantime the destruction of mountains, waterresources, forests and communities continues.Howcantheregionanditseconomicdevelopmentpotentialbe protected?Organizing and strong litigation work—aimedinpartatbuildingabetterfuturebeyondcoalandstoppingMTR—hasledtosomedramaticrecentrulingsthatlookverypromising. And then there’s Kentucky Rising, the weekend sit-in at the governor’s offi ce just before I Love Mountains Day, conductedwithsuchcourage,civility,thoughtfulnessandpersistence. The resulting day-long mountain witness tour fortheGovernormaybethebeginningofadifferentlevelofongoingcommunicationaroundaccountability. There are many, many “actions” beyond the NewPower words I’ve not mentioned. Who, for example, should be voting for the elected offi cials that need to be “accountabletoalltheirconstituents?”Animportantpartof KFTC’s answer is HB 70. Momentum is building towards therestorationofvotingrightsforformerfelons. And what sort of tax structure would be fair,sustainable and adequate to support the governmentfunctionsnecessarytomakeourcommunitieshealthy,educatedandsafe?OnthreedifferentoccasionsduringthesessionexcellenttestimonycamefromKFTCmembers.One of those occasions was March 1 when HB 318 got a House committee hearing which, like that for HB 239, opens the way for the 2012 session. The time seems ripe for tax reform, and our work with this bill since 2003 certainlydeepensandenrichestheconversation. Learn more about any of these and more in the followingpages,theKFTCwebsiteandblog,orfromgoingto chapter meetings. Better yet, join one of the statewide committees. Learn from each other! All are welcome. I fi nd the range, quality, and cohesion of these interrelated actions get “beyond the words” in ahearteningandprettyamazingway.HowcanwemoreeffectivelyreachtowardthebasicNewPowergoal:allKentuckiansworkingtogetherforabrighterfuture?Howcan we fi nd the energy and resources for enough effectivelearningandplanningtosupportconstructiveactions?Theopportunitiesaregreat.Theneedisgreat.AsIsaid,Iwanttostayaroundandbepartoftheeffort.

Editor’s Note: Members of KFTC’s Executive Committee will be using this new “Executive Committee Corner” to share perspectives on such topics as how they became involved with KFTC, why they’ve stayed, or what aspects of particular issues holdspecialinterestorsignificanceforthem.

by Steve BoyceKFTC Chairperson

To start the “Executive Committee Corner,” I was at fi rst planning to talk about howeffectivelyKFTCsupports learning–learningaboutissues and how change occurs – and howimportant thatwas tome in getting started with KFTC. What I was hearing was, in effect, “Speak your mindeven if your voice shakes,” but learn about theissues fi rst and learn about how change can occur throughparticipationindemocraticprocess. But when I look at what’s been happening in the last few months, I can’t resist talking fi rst about why I wanttostayinvolvedwithKFTCandcontributewhatI can. What I see are examples of “New Power” action – of getting beyond the words. What I see leaves me saying Wow! What great “ordinary” Kentuckians in KFTC! Where could you fi nd a more dedicated, more effective staff! What critical and interrelated issues we’re taking on! What a moment we’re in! How great theopportunities!Howgreatthechallenges! What do I mean by “getting beyond the words?” Here isoneexampleofNewPowerwordsusedinlaunchingtheNewPowerPAClastfall:“NewPowermeansnewjobs for our workers and our children. New Power meansaffordableenergy forourhomesand industrywithoutdestroyingour communities, land,air,waterorhealth.NewPowermeansallKentuckiansinformedandparticipatinginthedecisionsthatshapeourlivesand our communities.New Power means electedoffi cials who are accountable to all their constituents.” All that sounds good, but what evidence is there ofmovementandgatheringmomentumthatget“beyondthe words?” Here’s a quick and incomplete sampling of recent KFTC action I see as doing just that. On March 3 our Clean Energy Opportunity Act (HB 239) got a very promising House committee hearing that opens the way for the 2012 session. This bill comes from the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance, anorganizationcofoundedandnurturedbyKFTCoverthelasttwoyears.Thebillwouldsupportlocalcleanenergyjobs with special attention to low-income households challenged by increasing power bills and older, ineffi cient homes. The roll-out for HB 239 included a very successful Kentucky Clean Energy Summit on January 31. In fall 2010, EKPC abandoned its multi-year plan to build the new coal-burning Smith power plant, very

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011 Page �

Table of ContentsExecutive Committee Corner page2

Member CommentaryCoalfield marchers bring positive conversations, reactions page5Acoming outofsorts…KristiKendallspeaksatHB70rally page6

Local UpdatesCentral Kentucky chapter has a jam-packed first quarter page 7Historic towns of Benham and Lynch need support page8

Canary Project UpdateCitizens continue push for coal company accountability page 9Kentucky Rising, I Love Mountains Day build momentum page10

Renew East Kentucky UpdateClean energy collaborative with EKPC, co-ops begins page14Owen Electric Cooperative Board hears members’concerns page14

Legislative UpdateLegislators learn about clean energy job-creating potential page 16NewopportunitiesfortheCleanEnergyOpportunityAct page16Common future guides work on economic justice bills page 17Power of a story: Linda Stettenbenz shares her testimony page 18Growing coalition brings new energy to voting rights work page 19Stage is set for 2011 election page 19

Calendar of upcoming events page 20...plus much more throughout the issue!

e-mail any staff member at [email protected] except for Jessica Hays Lucas use [email protected] and

Brittany Hunsaker use [email protected]

KFTC Offices and StaffMAIN OFFICE

Morgan Brown, Robin Daugherty & Burt Lauderdale

P.O. Box 1450London, Kentucky 40743

606-878-2161 Fax: 606-878-5714

[email protected]

FIELD OFFICESLouisville

Jessica George, Jerry Hardt,

Colette Hendersonand Nancy Reinhart901 Franklin StreetLouisville, Ky 40206

502-589-3188

WhitesburgWilla Johnson,

Tanya Turner, and Colleen Unroe P.O. Box 463

Whitesburg, Ky 41858606-632-0051

BereaLisa Abbott, Amy Hogg,

Carissa Lenfert,Sara Pennington and Kevin Pentz

140 Mini Mall DriveBerea, KY 40403

859-986-1277

BereaTeri Blanton

118 Baugh StreetBerea, Ky. 40403

859-986-1648

Central KentuckyTim Buckingham,

Jessica Hays Lucas, Erik Hungerbuhler, Brittany Hunsaker,

Heather Roe Mahoney, Dave Newton, John

Malloy and Ondine Quinn

250 Plaza Drive Suite 4Lexington, Ky 40503

859-276-0563

Northern KentuckyJoe Gallenstein859-380-6103

Floyd CountyBrittany Combs606-422-0100

Dear editor, As a Kentuckian who values and advocates forprogressive tax policies and budgeting, I am pleasedby the recent workers’ actions in Wisconsin. It is important that those of us who see our teachers, ourpolice officers and other public workers as being integral andpositiveaspectsof the communities thatweandour forbearershaveworked tirelessly tobuild liftuptheseactions,announceoursolidaritywiththepeopleof Wisconsin proudly and be prepared to take similar actions in Kentucky should our legislature make thesamebudgetingmistakesandtrytosolvethembytakingaway our people’s ability to bargain for better wages, forbetterhealthcare,forbettercommunities. Before announcing that Wisconsin was in a budget crisis, Governor Walker cut taxes for the wealthiest Wisconsinites and businesses. The cuts he made for businesses were analyzed by Wisconsin’s Fiscal Bureau, which stated that the cuts he made benefited employers financially but not enough for those businesses to hire onnewemployees. Wisconsin’s budget, before Walker’s cuts, was in surplus for 2011. But, he cut taxes, declared a crisis and usedthisopportunitytoblamepublicemployeesforthebudget“problems”thathehelpedcreate. The methods used to pass the Budget Repair bill in the Wisconsin legislature were not strategy; they were subversive actions to undermine the very process bywhichwepasslawsinthiscountry.

Rep. Hintz of Wisconsin said it best: “Doing big things is supposed to be HARD.” He was also correct when hesaidthatCongresswascreatedtobeadeliberativebody. We all grow tired of the endless campaigning and pontificating of our elected officials, but let’s not allow that frustration to be expressed through anti-democratic methodsinthenameofexpediency. I am so proud of my fellow Americans in Wisconsin. Their resolve and their stamina in the face of aninhospitable climate (temperature and politics-wise) is nothingshortofinspiring. I’m proud of their peaceful, three-week long demonstration, and I’m proud of their more aggressive “storming”of theCapitolbeforethevotethatpassedthe Budget Repair bill. The actions in Wisconsin are an echo of the unrest aroundtheworld.EveninAmerica,thepeoplehavetosometimesdefendthemselvesagainstirresponsibleandoppressive government measures, and Wisconsinites rosetotheoccasion. The word “revolution” is floating around a lot thesedays,intheTeaParty,intheliberalcamp,intheconservative camp – the word revolution is ringingin the ears of people around the world, from everybackground. Let us remember while we’re pushing for change thatweshoulddosoresponsibly,thatweshouldbuildratherthandestroy,thatweshouldmakeprogressratherthanallowingourconversationstodigressfromwhatis

reallygoodforAmerica. Let’s hold our elected officials accountable when they don’t deliver and when they don’t work hard to push for things we’ve elected them to do. But let’s not ever let anyone who represents us underminethevalueandprocessofthedemocracythosewho’ve come before us have worked so hard to establish andmaintain. While we’re whispering the word “revolution”, let’s rememberthatnotallrevolutionsareimprovementsandletuskeepinmindwhenandifwetaketothestreets,toourlegislators,toourrepresentativesandneighbors,thatarevolutionispositiveonlywhenitimprovesthelivesofindividualsandofourcommunitiesasawhole. IhopetoseemyfellowKentuckiansstandingbesideme if our elected officials threaten the rights of or try to silencethevoicesofKentuckians.

Shekinah LavalleLouisville, Kentucky

Proud of Wisconsin workersLetter to the Editor

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011Page �

25 Years Ago …• KFTC worked in the 1986 General Assembly on

bills to make unmined minerals subject to property taxation, strengthen a 1984 broad form deed law that Gov. Martha Layne Collins was not enforcing, allowlocalcontrolofthesitingofhazardouswastefacilities, and allow third-party tax assessment ap-peals.Althoughseveralbillswononvariouscom-mittee or floor votes, ultimately all were defeated by manuevering of House Speaker Don Blandford and Majority Floor Leader Greg Stumbo.

20 Years Ago …• TheKFTCSteeringCommitteevotestofocus

more on working among low-income and minor-

KFTCis30yearsold(nearly).We’recelebrating! We’llofficiallyturn30inAugust.Butwe’restartingwiththisissuetorecall someof thehistoryofKFTCand thepeople involved.We’llhaveaninstallment in each issue of balancing the scales in 2011 where we’ll recall whatwashappening30yearsagoandduringsomeintervalyearssince. In this issue, however, we look at some of the events and situations that werepresentpriortoKFTC’sformationin1981.

There is a lot of history for the people and land of southeastern counties ofKentucky,whereKFTChasitsroots–toomuchtoeventrytosummarizehere.Oneelementthatisessentialtothehistoryandcultureistherelationshipwiththeland.Soattemptsbyothers–largelyabsenteecorporations–tocontrolthatlandanditsabundant resources have defined the history of the area for nearly 125 years. People in the area also have a strong history of organizing and working forchange– laborunions,black lungassociations,quilt circles, communityefforts tofight strip mining, welfare rights organizations and much more. Early members broughtmuchofthatexperienceandknowledgetoKFTC. Insomeways,asisevidentintheeventsrecappedbelow,notmuchhaschangedin how the companies after the huge profits to be made from the coal and timber, oil andgas,treatthelandandthepeoplewhocallthatlandhome.Itisalotofhistoryto overcome, not just in terms of ending the oppression but also in establishing the belief that vibrant and sustainable communities can flourish across the region. Hereisashortlistofnearly100yearsofeventsthatreflectwhatwashappeningtotheland,mineralsandpeopleofsoutheasternKentuckyleadinguptoKFTC’sformationin1981.

1887: John C. C. Mayo buys his first mineral rights using a broad form deed to sepa-rateownershipofthemineralsfromthesurfaceland.Hepays50centsanacre.

1888:JosephEversole,aHazardattorney,isassassinated.Hehadbeenwarningland-ownersnottosignmineraldeedsofferedbyacertainlandsyndicate.Afeudbreaksoutinvolvingsyndicatemembers.Twentyarekilled,buttherearenoconvictions.

1906:Thestatelegislaturepassesalaw,writtenbyMayo,invalidatingoldVirginialandgrantsandallowinglandwithunpaidtaxestobeclaimedbycoalcompanies.

1921: The first of many rulings that the mineral owner has dominant rights over the surface owner comes from the Court of Appeals (then Kentucky’s highest court).

Ollie Combs is arrested in November 1966 for trespassing on her own land, which was being strip mined without her permission. Photo by Bill Strode.

KFTC30 Anniversaryth

Looking Back … ity communities – constituency-based organizing rather than just issue-based organizing.

• KFTC works in a special legislative session (annual sessions had not started yet) to push for local con-trolinanewlawgoverningthedisposalofsolidwaste and the siting of landfills. Members through-out the state are working to stop a deluge of out-of-state waste into Kentucky’s unlined landfills.

• The Leadership Materials Project begins to make leadershipresourcesmoreaccessibletomembers.

15 Years Ago …• KFTC rents a “Democracy House” in Frankfort for

memberstostayinwhileintowntolobby.• KFTC defeats an attempt in the 1996 General As-

semblytorepealtheunminedmineralstaxvictorywon in 1988. Forestry legislation and bills related to low-income utility issues fail to win legislative approval.

10 Years Ago …• A bill to prohibit racial profiling by law enforce-

mentagenciesandanothersupportinghomeenergyassistanceprogramsarepassedbytheGeneralAssemblywithKFTCsupport.Membersalsolobbyonbillsrelatedtofactoryfarms,eco-nomicdisclosure,propertyrightsandhazardousdutyretirementforsolidwasteworkers.

• Students organize against sweatshop-made ap-parelsoldonuniversitycampuses.

5 Years Ago …• 125 people attend I Love Mountains Day, which fo-

cuses on lobbying. Two weeks later, KFTC holds aMusicfortheMountainseventintheCapitol.

• KFTCsupportstaxreform,coaltrucksafety,votingrightsandaffordablehousingtrustfundlegislation in the 2006 General Assembly

1945: A strip mine on 12 acres of steep land gives way in a storm, sweepingaway homes below. Russell Fork CoalisheldliablebyPikeCircuitCourt.TheCourt ofAppeals reverses the decision,declaringtheslidetobe“anactofGod.”

1955: KnottCircuit Judge JohnC.Cor-nett rules in Buchanan v.Watson that aMayo deed allows strip mining without the permission of the landowner, but thatthesurfaceownermustbecompensatedfor damage. Both sides appeal. The Court of Appeals upholds Cornett’s ruling.

1956: The Court of Appeals decidesto reconsider its ruling in Buchanan v.Watsonanddeclaresthatsurfaceownershavenorighttocompensationfordam-agetotheirpropertydonebystripmin-ingunderbroadformdeeds.

1957: After floods bring widespread de-structionandlossoflife,theU.S.ForestService finds poor logging practices and theeffectsofstripmining“clearlyevidentduringandafterthestorm,”asituationitpredictedwouldgetworse.

1965: Public opposition to the destruction of land by strip mining flares. “Uncle Dan” Gibson, an 81-year-old Knott County minister, and 61-year-old Ollie Combs are arrested for stopping the stripping of family land. Governor Ned Breathitt can-celstheminingpermitsontheGibsonandCombsland.

1970: The Knott Fiscal Court passes an ordinance, by a 3-2 vote, banning strip mining in the county. The crowd in the packed hearing room cheers for five minutes. Leslie, Henderson and McLean counties consider similar moves, but Attorney General John

Breckinridge blocks the enforcement of the ordinance.

1974: A surface owners’ rights bill introduced by Rep. RaymondOverstreetispassedbythelegislature.Ayearlater,theCourtofAppealsdeclaresitunconstitutional.

1976: Deputy Sheriff Joe Begley helps organize the Citi-zens League to Protect Surface Rights in Letcher County, one of a number of local groups to fight strip mining.

CompiledbyRev.MaynardTetreaultfromavarietyofsources.Joe Begley

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011 Page �

Member CommentaryCoalfield marchers bring positive conversations, reactions

by Russell Oliver

ThemarchfromPrestonsburgtoFrankfortwasahis-toric march from the very heart of the coalfields of east-ern Kentucky to the Capitol. Imarched becausemanyfelt that itcould not be done, and also because I amfrom eastern Kentucky. I think it was an importantmarchbecauseitshowedthatthosewhoopposemoun-taintop removal couldwalk through the coalfields,and talk with local mountain people in the coalfields. People along the way would stop in their car ortruckandaskuswhatweweredoingandwhywewerethere. We handed out literature about I Love Mountains Day in Frankfort and why we were opposed to moun-taintopremovalmining. We talked in a friendly way with local people and triedtoshowthatweweretheirfriendsanddidnotwishto harm the mining industry. We attempted to encour-agetheminersandlocalresidentstolistentoourpointofview,and let themshare theirbeliefsandconcerns,andwewouldshareourbeliefsandconcernswiththem. In Floyd and Magoffin counties, many coal trucks andcarswoulddrivebyandtoottheirhornsatus.Atfirst I thought they were being friendly and then I began tonoticethatmanyweregivingusthebird,whichmyfriendscalledthe“peacesign.” Afewcarswoulddrivebyseveral times towatchus andpeople all along the way were using their cellphonestocallothersdowntheroadthatwewerecom-ing.Peoplewerelookingoutoftheirtrailersandhomesatus. Somepeoplewouldcomeoutontheirporchesandgiveusthe“peacesign.”Onewomantoldusabouthowhergrandchildrenwouldbewithoutfoodifhersonlosthis mining job. Anotherwomanwhoworkedat thestateemploy-ment office told how miners are losing their mining jobs

and the great hardshipsthese miners are goingthrough. But many people, more than I anticipated,also tooted their horns insupport and said very en-couraging words to us.The farther we got awayfrom the coalfields the more support we were shown. Itwasamazingtomeallthe people that offered en-couragement and supportallalongthewayincludingthe coalfields counties. One Methodist ministerboughtusall coffee.Otherswoulddrive by and tell us thatthey couldn’t understand why people wanted todestroy the mountains,or how they had driventhrough and were surprised to see a mountaintopblownoffandleveled. One man along the way told us how the gas in-dustrycamebyandcoredrilledforoilandsaidthatitwouldn’t do any damage, but now all their wells were dryfromthedrilling,andthathesupportedourmarch. Manypeoplesharedwithustheirdisgustformoun-taintop removal and how they supported our march. We enjoyed the cattle, horses, llamas, donkeys, geese, roost-ers and other animals along the way. We enjoyed walk-ingthroughRedRiverGorge,andalongtheroutethatDaniel Boone came into the flat hills of central Kentucky. Ithinkthemarchisimportanttothemovementbe-causewemustinteractwithminersandlocalresidentsto understand their needs and what they think about

ourmovement to stopval-ley fills and protect the wa-ter and people’s homes and health. Itisalsoimportantthatlocal miners see us andtalk with us. Much of theangerminershavetowardsthose who oppose moun-taintop removal is thatmost of them don’t talk with us and release someof their fears and wrongbeliefsandmisunderstand-ings about our movement. I told people that forevery mining job, there was 11 green jobs, about how China was movingaheadoftheU.S.asaworldpower because China ismaking so much moneyfrom building solar pan-

KFTC members joined members of the group Foot Prints For Peace and marched from eastern Kentucky to Frankfort to participate in I Love Mountains Day, generating awareness and conversations along the way.

els and wind turbines. And how the U.S. inventedthe technology of wind turbines and solar energy; but China is making so much money from green jobs and those jobs should be in the U.S. and not China. How China is moving ahead of the U.S. industrywith energy provided by mountaintop removal coal. I told the marchers that no one person could dothismarchalone.Toomanypeoplewereopposingourmarchalong thewayandnoonepersoncoulddo themarch; but together we made the very successful march. Next year I hope more people from eastern Kentuckymake the march. Next year’s march I hope that more friendshipwillbemadebetweenthemarchersandthepeople in the coalfields and all along the way.

JAVA for Justice!

For every bag purchased of Mountain Dream Blend, KFTC

will receive $�!

Visit heinebroscoffee.com to purchase your bag today!

(or stop by one of their 7 Louisville locations)

DRINK IT (yourself)GIVE IT (as a gift)

SUPPORT IT (local)LOVE IT (KFTC!)

REPEAT!

BEN SOLLEEDONATES AN UNRELEASED TRACK TO BENEFIT KFTC

Kentucky resident and contemporary folk musician Ben Sollee has donated an exclusive song to benefit KFTC. Ben’s previously unreleased track, The Wires, is part of the just-launched Patagonia Music Collective, a division of the environmentally minded apparel company, Patagonia Inc. For more information on the Patagonia Music Collective, and to download “The Wires,” visit: http://www.patagonia.com/us/media/music


Member CommentaryA coming out of sorts … Kristi Kendall speaks at HB 70 rally

by Kristi Kendall

I’m a former felon. Yep, sure am. If you didn’t know thisbeforenow,sorryforspringingitonyouthisway.Chances are I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure how you’d react. Many, well most, of my Facebook friends already know. Some were felons like me, some wereemployedattheprison,somewerespecialpeoplewhocame into my life (Dale, Julia, Colleen, and Brittany) as a resultofmytimethere. As a result of my conviction, I am not allowed tovote. Now, many people don’t vote and couldn’t give a crap about it. But I, on the other hand, am not one of thosepeople.Iamopinionatedasmostofyouknowanddemandthatmyvoicebeheard. Kinda sucks when you can’t have your voice heard and express those opinions. It also affects me on my job. I work at a law office as a paralegal and cannot become aNotaryuntilmyrightsarerestored. Asidefrommyboss, Iamnowtheonlyotherem-ployee at the office and since he can’t (ethically) notarize his own paperwork, that leaves us notary-less. If you’ve ever worked for or know anything about legal offices, nothavinganotaryisalmostunheardof. When I was invited to go to the Lobby Day for HB 70, I was a little apprehensive. I’m a creature of habit and that certainly didn’t fit in with my “Get up, go to work, comehome”routine.Iwouldhavetotakeadayofffromwork,drivedowntherewithastranger,andbeassertivewith legislatorswhomIdidnotknowandwasscaredI’d say the wrong thing to. I mentioned it to Johna… “So I’ve been invited to this thing….” To which she said “You’re going. This is what you do. You’re going.” So, I’m going and then I was asked if I wanted to speak.TosaythatIfeltnauseouswhenIreadthatemailwould be an understatement. Johna said, “You’re doing it.” Chance said, “You’re doing it.” Crap…why is my

family more confident in me than I am of myself? They werenotcontent,asIwas,toletmesitintheshadowsand go about my day-to-day life. I tried to write a speech. I’m not a speech writer, so it goes without saying that I didn’t get any farther than “Hi,mynameisKristi.”IthoughtImightwriteapoem.“You can write a poem. You’ve done that. You have a

The Price of Freedom

Let me tell ya somethin’Freedom ain’t cheap…I knowBecause I bought mineI bought my freedomBy keeping my head downAnd my eyes forward.

I bought my freedomWith self-help classesAnd slave wages.

I bought my freedomWith“Yes Sir”and swallowed sarcasm.

I bought my freedomWith humiliationIsolationAnd alienation.

I bought my freedomWith every handcuff

ShackleAnd chainYou put around my body.

I bought my freedomWhen you strip-searchedMeIn front of 200 people.

I bought my freedomWhen I stood up for othersAnd suffered for it

I bought my freedomWhen your officerOffered candyTo touch me

I bought my freedomWhen I taught othersTo read.

I bought my freedomWith lost timeLost lovesAnd lost respect.

I bought my freedomBy turning my cheek,Doing the right thing,And letting go.

I bought my freedomBy keeping my mouth shut….sometimes.

I bought my freedomFrom youAnd it took me years to payYou back.

I bought my freedom“Paid in Full” he saidwhen I walked out the gates.

I bought my freedomI paid for itIt’s mine.So why are you trying to collect interestOn a debt I already paid?

folderfull.” For days, the blank Word document stared right back at me, the cursor even seemed to laugh at mywriter’s block. Wednesday night, 6 hours before I was scheduled to meetmytravelingpartner,thewordscame,sodidtheanger and the sadness. Here’s what I wrote….

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 & Vanco Services, LLS to debit my account or charge my credit card in accordance with the information provided. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until cancelled or changed by reasonable notification to KFTC/KY Coalition.

Who asked you to join KFTC?

Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually.____ One-time Gift: Amount $_________________ Pledger: I will contribute $___ every (check one): __Month__3Months__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 Ken-tucky Coalition and mail to: KFTC • P.O. Box 1450 • London, Ky. 40743-1450.


Local UpdatesCentral Kentucky chapter has a jam-packed fi rst quarter These fi rst couple of months of 2011 have been extremely busy for the Cen-tral Kentucky chapter. Here is a snap-shot of what they’ve been up to:Lexington Loves Mountains Thisyear thechapterorganizedanentire week of events leading up to ILove Mountains Day including a radio spotlight on WRFL 88.1, an old time music show, a legislative letter-writing party and author event, a poster-making party and an I Love Mountains happy hour.Tonsofpeople cameoutand theenergywasamazing.Membershadtheopportunity to come together and dis-cusstheirworkandstrategyforendingmountaintop removal mining and forbringing green jobs to Kentucky. The chapter also raised more than$2,000 from the week’s events and gained atleast50newmemberstoKFTC!

The following businesses/organiza-tions/people helped make these events possible: Cricket Press, WRFL 88.1FM,Al’sBar,TheMorrisBookShop,3rd St. Stuff Coffee Shop, Julie andAdrian Shepherd Powell, Rich andthePo’Folks,ClackMountainStringBand,TheReelWorld StringBand,Silas House, Maurice Manning,EricSutherland,WhitneyBaker, theLafayetteHighSchoolYoungDemo-crats and all of KFTC’s amazing, amazingvolunteersandmembers!

Local economic justice work The chapter’s economic justice work team has been surveying Lexington residentstogetasenseofwhattheyfeelwould make their communities betterand how KFTC might be able to orga-nize locally around economic justice concerns. The committee identifi ed 13 pre-cincts, prioritized them by medianincomestartingwiththelowestincomeareas and working upwards. Once iden-tifi ed, chapter members began a door-to-door campaign. So far they’ve surveyed folks in the Ohio-Walnut, Aylesford and Fairlawnprecincts.

Thesurveycontainsamixofbroadand direct questions ranging from,“What do you think your community needs to make it better?” and “What do you look for in a good job?” while others get more specifi c about the cost ofhouseholdutilitiesandwhethertheywereregisteredtovote. In Ohio-Walnut, a consistent theme amongresidentsistheproblemofcrimeand the lack of positive activities foryoungpeople. One woman on Ohio Street talkedabouthowterriblyblessedshewasthather 22-year-old son never got involved withdrugsandcrimebecause it seemslike most of the young people in theneighborhooddo. In the Aylesford precinct, which ispredominantly made up of Universityof Kentucky students, members hearda lot of complaints about absentee land-lords and run-down rental property. Additionally, members walked theFairlawn precinct, which is off of N.Limestone near La Roca United Meth-odist Church, where folks had a lot ofcomplaints about people driving dan-gerously around kids and fl ying down thestreetat50+mph. In addition to these (likely not so) unique problems, just about everyone who had been surveyed regardless ofwhichneighborhood isstrugglingwithextremely high utility bills (i.e. $500 per month electric and gas, $300 water bills) and feel like it’s nearly impossible to gain access to the few good-paying jobs thatareleft. Additionally, when people wereasked what they felt the role of city gov-ernmentwas,mostfolksseemedliketheyeither weren’t exactly sure but whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be happening. One woman in the Fairlawn pre-cinct told members that she had votedformostofher lifebut threeyearsagostoppedbecauseshefeltlikepoliticianswereoutforthemselvesandforwealthypeople and didn’t have her or her fami-ly’s interests in mind. The chapter work team members

periodicallycheckinwitheachothertodiscuss their fi ndings and what oppor-tunitiesexistforthechaptertodosomegood local economic justice work.

Local fairness work The chapter’s fairness work team hasbeenverybusyoverthelastcoupleof weeks surveying restrooms and get-tingsignaturesonpetitions. So far they’ve surveyed restrooms in the Carnegie Center, the Living Arts and Science Center, the Main Library, Third Street Stuff, Doodles, Giacommos Deli, the Marathon station on Martin Luther King and Third Street, Alfalfa restaurant, Jonathon’s at Gratz Park, Six FriendsCafé, theStarbucksatAshlandand High Streets, Chevy Chase CoinLaundry, the Beer Trappe, Rincon Mexi-cano, Common Grounds Coffee Houseand the Lexington History Museum. Membersusedachecklistdevelopedby a student group at UC Santa Barbara called P.I.S.S.A.R (People In Search of Safe and Accessible Restrooms) to con-ductthesurvey. The checklist is broken down intothree sections. The fi rst addresses access forpeoplewithdisabilities.Thisrequiresthe person doing the surveying to mea-sure things like the width of the bath-room door, the distance from the grabbar to the fl oor and height of the sink. The second section of the checklistis regarding transgender and gendervariantfolksandasksquestionslike,“Istherestroominasafeandwelllitarea?”and“Arethedoorsmarkedwithgenderspecifi c signs or gender neutral ones?” The last section of the checklists per-tains to childcare and aims to fi nd out if

therearechangingtablesintherestroom(regardless of whether they’re male or female restrooms). The teams also carried with thempetitions they’d designed and asked folks they met to support their efforts,which resulted in several really greatconversationsabouthowthiscampaignfi ts into KFTC’s overall goals to chal-lenge and change unjust institutions, overcomediscrimination,helppeopletoparticipate and to communicate a mes-sageofwhatispossible.

Voting Rights The UK-KFTC students held a screeningoncampusofthedocumentaryDemocracy’s Ghosts followed by a letter-writing event. The chapter also wroteletterstothelegislatorsontheStateandLocal Government Committee in the Senate,wherethebillhasbeenstalled. Gearing up for the voting rightsrally in Frankfort, KFTC membersMatthew Heil and Tayna Fogle joined Department of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Kim Potter-Blair on UK’s student radio station, WRFL 88.1, to talk about obstacles that former felons facewhentheyreentersociety. Chapter members will soon be get-ting together to talk about a strategyfor getting the Lexington city council to pass a resolution in favor of restoringvotingrightstoformerfelons.

As you can see, there has been a lot going on – and this isn’t even everything! If you’reinterested in getting involved with any of these efforts please contact Ondine Quinn, the Central Kentucky organizer, at [email protected].

Members of the Safe Bathroom campaign surveyed local bathrooms.

Find KFTC on Facebook and look for local chapter pages, events and

important information

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011Page �

notadduptoourmainresource,water.Itisworthmorethananylumpofcoal.” While contesting both of these proposed permits as well as others,residents also filed a Lands Unsuitable for Miningpetitionthatwouldputmostoftheareatargetedformininginthesepermitsofflimits.TheKentuckyEnergyCabinetrejected this petition as “frivolous” but residentsareappealingthisruling.

Local UpdatesHistoric towns of Benham and Lynch need support

byRoySilver

Twoproposed stripmines threatenthe historic cities of Lynch and Benham in Harlan County. Local residents are asking for help to protect not just their homes and water, but also the local economythayhavespentyearsbuilding. TheA&GandNally&Hamiltonstripminesendangerthehighqualitypublicwater plus homes and buildings listedon the National Historic Register. TheNationalTrustforHistoricPreservationhasacknowledgedthethreatbythelistingBlack Mountain as one of “America’s 11 MostEndangeredHistoricPlaces.” Createdalmost100yearsagoascoaltowns, Lynch (U.S. Steel) and Benham (International Harvester) continue to serveaslivingexamplesofanimportantera. By the end of World War II, Lynch wasthelargestcoalcampintheworld. Today one can visit the KentuckyCoal Mining Museum in the old Benham Commissary,orstayintheSchoolHouseInn, housed in what once was the Benham “White” School. Tourists can then travel to Lynch and meet the good people at the EasternKentuckySocialClub, in theold“Black” school. You can tour the state-of-the-art underground coal mine, Portal 31. The proposed A & G strip minewould destroy part of Looney Ridge above Lynch. The company wants to mine through streams that feed into the Lynch public water system. (U.S. Steel sealed an undergroundminetocreatethereservoirthat now provides high quality water.The Benham water supply originates in Lynch. Tests show that it can support a water bottling plant.) A & G mines in West Virginia have amassed more than one-million dollars in fines. The view from the top of Black Mountain into Virginia gives a pictureof the destruction that its mine would

bring to Kentucky. In 2005, in Virginia, a three-year-old boy was killed in his sleep whenaboulderrolledoffanA&Gmineandcrashedthroughhisbedroomwall. “It is so disheartening to see thedestruction on the Virginia side of Black Mountain. We cannot allow that to happen to our side!” said Anne Carr, a Lynch City Council member and coal miner’s daughter. Besides mining through streams that feed the Lynch reservoir, the companies want to place scores of coal sedimentimpoundments above Lynch. “Myconcernistheamountofwaterineachimpoundment[and]thelikelihoodthat the larger ones would overfill or rupture and wreak havoc on the townsbelow,” said Mike O’Bradovich, a lifelong resident of Lynch who worked 21 years as a supervisorforU.S.SteelandArchCoal. “Theotherconcernisthedamagetothe historic homes and buildings in Lynch, especiallytheMethodistChurch,CatholicChurch,CityHallandthehomesthatareclosesttotheboundarypermitsandtheblasting,” O’Bradovich continued. “I am surethatduetotherunoffthereisgoingtobecontaminantsputintoourstreams.” TheproposedNally&HamiltonstripminebuttsupagainsttheA&Gstripmineon Looney Ridge above Lynch. It will be directly above Portal 31. Experiencedundergroundminersareconcerned when strip mining is activeand above their heads. This conditionlikely would frighten tourists fromentering Portal 31, and could destroy the multimillion dollar investment in thisundergroundexhibitioncoalmine. Former underground mine shuttlecar operator and Lynch resident Rutland Meltonfearsthatthemineswill“destroyour homes. The mountains are ourprotection.” Retiredfederalcoalmineinspectorand

coal miner StanleySturgill expressed aview held by manywhenhesaid, “Ilovethese mountains.God put me herein the mountains. Iwant to die in themountainsandIdonotwanttoseethemgoaway.” Nally & Hamil-tonwasrecentlysenta 60-day notice of intent to sue by KFTC and others for its nearly 12,000 violations of the Clean Water Act. They have been chargedwithfalsifyingrecords,exceedingpollutionlimitsandotherviolations. Bennie Massey served on Lynch City Council for 16 terms and worked underground.Hebelievesthat,“Thisisthebestplaceintheworldtolive,”andthatthe“littlecoaltheyaretalkingaboutdoes

Len Peters, Cabinet SecretaryEnergy and Environment Cabinet5th Floor, Capital Plaza TowerFrankfort, Ky. 40601502-564-5525, ext. 214Fax: [email protected]

ACTIONPlease tell Governor Steve Beshear and Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters that you support the Lands Unsuitable for Mining Petition, LUM-10-1. Say you oppose A & G permit 848-0287 and Nally & Hamilton permit 867-0472.

Talking Points

1. Based on a vision for their future that included building an economic base not dependent on mining, millions of dollars were spent to create Portal 31, the Coal Mining Museum and other tourist attractions, and preserve local landmarks. By supporting the Lands Unsuitable petition, Gov. Beshear would help protect this investment and affirm local initiatives.

2. The A & G mine will damage the streams that provide water for the city of Lynch. The Kentucky Division of Water has a “Five Mile Rule.” It is supposed to prevent discharges from strip mines “within five miles upstream from any public water supply intake.” It should follow this rule.

3. The proposed Nally & Hamilton strip mine would destroy Looney Ridge directly above Portal 31.

4. The A & G and Nally & Hamilton strip mines would place scores of sediment ponds above Lynch. Blasting would be near homes and historic buildings.

5. A & G and Nally & Hamilton would strip mine through existing gas wells.6. The A & G and Nally & Hamilton strip mines would destroy the views from

the historic cities of Lynch and Benham.

Contact Send a copy to

Governor Steve Beshear700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100Frankfort, Ky. 40601(502) 564-2611Fax: (502) 564-2517Online email: www.governor.ky.gov/ contact/contact.htm

“I walked the streets that were filled with 11,000 people, 40 nationalities. The compa-

nies came, got what they wanted and left. It is a great testament to the people who are try-

ing their best to not only keep their story alive, but to preserve the integrity of their space and place. They do not want to see it destroyed.”

Bill Turner, a Berea College Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Studies, reflecting on growing up in Lynch

Historic buildings residents want to preserve include the Lynch Church of God and the Lynch City Hall. Both would likely suffer damage if mining is allowed.


Canary Project UpdateCitizens continue push for coal company accountabilityState officials resist intervention to protect public’s right in Clean Water Act case, courts rule otherwise ResidentsofeasternKentuckycon-tinue to push for accountability fromcoalcompaniesforthousandsofviola-tions of the Clean Water Act. The Beshear administration con-tinues to resist thoseefforts,providingcoverforthecompanieswhiledenyingitsownfailuretoenforcethelaw. So far, the court has agreed withcoalfield residents, supporting theirright to intervene in enforcement ac-tions related to keeping the water intheircommunitiessafe. On February 11, Franklin CircuitCourt Judge Phillip Shepherd ruledthat four coalfield residents, plus KFTC andthreeallygroups,mayinterveneina case against New York-based Inter-national Coal Group (ICG) and India-based Frasure Creek Mining. Both com-paniesareguiltyofthousandsofCleanWater Act violations related to the pol-lutionofeasternKentuckywaters. Those violations were made pub-lic by Appalachian Voices, KentuckyRiverkeeper, the Waterkeeper Alliance andKFTClastOctober.Therevelationswere an embarrassment to state officials whohadignoredampleevidenceoftheviolationsthatwasliterallyundertheirnoses. The Energy Cabinet began itsown enforcement action against ICGand Frasure Creek, filing an action in FranklinCircuitCourt.Thatpreventedfederal litigation by the citizens’ groups fromgoingforward.

So the groups asked to intervene inthe cabinet’s lawsuit. They said the cabinet’s proposed settlement with the companies did little to discourage fur-therviolations. Cabinet officials, siding with the companies, opposed citizen interven-tion.Theyclaimedcitizenshadnolegalright to clean water and that it wouldbean“unwarrantedburden”tohavetodealwiththepublic. In disagreeing, Judge Shepherdwrote:

“The Cabinet, by its own admission, has ignored these admitted violations for years. The citizens who broughtthese violations to light through their own efforts have the legal right to be heard when the Cabinet seeks judicial approval of a resolution of the environ-mental violations that were exposed through the efforts of these citizens.In these circumstances, it would be an abuse of discretion to deny those citizens and environmental groups the right to participate in this action, and to test whether the proposed consent decree is ‘fair, adequate, and reasonable, as well as consistent with the public interest.’”

“Enforcement of clean water laws,enacted to protect the public fromharmful pollution, was intended to bea transparent process,” said AttorneyMary Cromer of theAppalachian Citi-zens’ Law Center and counsel for the interveners. “By allowing intervention, the Court has made sure that will bethe case. This is a major victory for the citizensofKentucky.” State officials were quick to chal-lengetheruling,andevenaskedtheap-pealscourt foranemergencyruling toblockdiscoverybytheintervenersfromgoingforward. But the state Court of Appeals was quicktodenytherequestforemergencyrelief.“Insum,thefactthatpetitionerswould prefer to settle their differenceswithout submitting to the additionaldiscovery requested by AppalachianVoices (and other groups) simply does notwarrant interventionby thisCourtonanemergencybasis.Accordingly,therequestedstaymustbedenied.” Even though the appeal is still

Preventing Clean Water Act violations is not the only time citizens have had to protect themselves and their communities from ICG. KFTC member McKinley Sumner has battled the company since 2006, when they trespassed and illegally mined his land. It took more than four years to get ICG to “replace” the land and trees, pictured above.

Canary Brief: House uses budget process to attack EPA

In a series of votes on a federal budget bill, members of the U.S. House adopted a series of amendments to free the coal industry from accountability for poisoning the nation’s land, air and water. Among the amendments were one that would de-fund or prohibit the use of funds by the EPA to: 1) implement its new conductivity stan-dards (which coal companies are having a hard time meeting); 2) veto any valley fill permits; 3) classify and treat coal as a hazardous waste; and 4) improve air quality standards related to the burning of coal. Rep. John Yarmuth voted against all of these amendments. Rep. Ben Chandler opposed the first two related to mountaintop removal, but supported limiting EPA’s ability to control coal ash exposure and dirty air. All four Kentucky Republican representatives – Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie, Geoff Davis and Hal Rogers – supported the attack on the EPA. The House budget bill did not pass the Senate. However, these is-sues are likely to come up again as Congress continues trying to pass a budget.

“Enforcement of clean water laws, enacted to protect the public from harmful pollution, was intended to be a trans-parent process. By al-

lowing intervention, the Court has made sure that will be the case. This is a major victory for the citizens of Kentucky.”

Attorney Mary CromerAppalachian Citizens’ Law Center

pending, the groups have been able toproceed with discovery. Discovery is the pre-trial phase in a lawsuit in which each partycanobtainevidence fromtheop-posingpartythroughinterrogations,re-questsfordocumentsanddepositions. Current discovery is focused onwhether the proposed consent judg-

ments between the cabinet and coalcompaniesarefair,adequate,reasonableandinthepublicinterest. So far, state officials have objected to almost everything the interveners haverequested. AhearingbeforeJudgeShepherdissetforJune.


Canary Project UpdateKentucky Rising, I Love Mountains Day build momentum Events include a four-day occupation of the governor’s office and record turnout at Valentine’s Day rally KFTC members are determinedto maintain the pressure on GovernorSteve Beshear and other elected leaders in the wake of the high-profile Kentucky Rising and I Love Mountains Day events inFebruary. Kentucky Rising turned into aweekend sit-in by a group of seasoned KFTCleaderstodemandaccountabilityof Gov. Beshear and draw attention to hiscomplicitywiththecoalindustry. In January, Beshear had publicly told the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) to “get off our backs.” In the past twoyears,withpressurefrommountainresidents,KFTCmembersandallies,theEPAhassteppedupitseffortstoenforcethe Clean Water Act and stop routine violationsbythecoalindustry.

The Kentucky Rising group metwith the governor on Friday, February11,andmadeseveralrequests,includingthat he: visit eastern Kentucky and seethedevastationofmountaintopremovalfor himself; foster a sincere, public discussion about the urgent need for asustainableeconomictransitionforcoalworkers and mountain communities; and withdraw from an October 2010 lawsuit against the EPA. In this suit,the Beshear administration has actually joined with the National Mining Asso-ciation to try and block the EPA’s plan to protect the health and water of coalfield residents. Beshear agreed to visit eastern Kentuckyandfosterapublicdiscussionabout transition, but not to withdrawfromtheEPAlawsuit.Sothegroupde-

cided to stay in his office until they got a moresatisfactoryanswer.Theyexpectedto be forcibly removed, but when thegovernor’s staff realized they were not violatinganylawsandcouldstay,theystayedthroughtheweekendinprotest. After three days, they emerged onthe capitol steps on February 14 during the I Love Mountains Day rally, greeted by nearly 1,300 cheering KFTC mem-bers,alliesandfriends. Author Wendell Berry, a member of Kentucky Rising,urged thosegatheredtotakeupthecharge. “If the adventure of the last fewdays,bythissmallcompanyoffriends,is to be more than a symbolic gesture,thatcanbeonlybecauseallofyouwhoarehere,andmanyofour friendswho

are not here, will takeit up, make it your ad-venture and your cause,untilthisgreathousewillbecomethetruehomeofjustice to all the people of this state, and of faithfulcare for the divine giftsoflandandwater,andoflife itself,” Berry said. The theme of uphold-ing the EPA’s obligation and authority to protectpeople from pollutioncontinued throughoutthe rally, with speak-ers including U.S. Rep.John Yarmuth urging the

crowd to keep pushing for justice. Ivy Brashear, a young woman from eastern Kentucky who spoke, said herAppalachia isbrokenbutnotdefeated.“Thisisourrevolution.” One KFTC member in the crowdwas William “Bopper” Minton, who at-tended his first I Love Mountains Day. HishomeinClayCountyisnearacoalprocessing plant, and his 7-year-old daughter, Madison, has severe chronicasthmaandallergies. “My eyes just opened one day and Isaid,‘Thiscoaldustissmotheringherto death,’” Minton said in a recent inter-view. He brought Madison to I Love Mountains Day because he wanted her to be involved in the fight for clean air andwater.

“The destruction of our land andthe poisoning of our water and air, it’s wrong,” he said. “And I wish anotherthousand people would stand up anddowhatwedid.” Citizens in this movement havespent years pressuring EPA to enforcemining laws, and now the EPA hasstarted doing its job, Minton said. But elected officials don’t like it, “and that is absolutelywrong.” “They definitely need to back off the EPAandlettheEPAdowhattheyweredesigned to do, put the public’s best in-terestsforward,”hesaid. Kentucky Rising and I Love Moun-tains Day were important because they showedelected leaders that thepeoplewon’t back down, Minton said. “We’re standinghereeyebrowtoeyebrowwithyou, and we’re asking for your help for agoodcause,”hesaid. Minton said some people in hiscommunity think he’s crazy for standing up tothecoalindustrybecause“if you threaten a pieceofcoal,youthreatentheirwayoflife. “When you live in the black filth we have to live inandyouwatchachildsmother to death, youwilllookatitdifferently,”hesaid. Steve Wilkins, a Mad-isonCountyKFTCmem-ber who’s been active in the work to prevent acoal-burning power plant in central Kentucky andreform the rural electricco-ops, also came to I Love Mountains Day. “I marched for thehealth of our mountaincommunities,” Wilkins said.“Imarchedtowakeuplegislatorswhoareonauto-pilot when it comes to bowing before shiny,black coal. I marched toremind legislators thatwe are a commonwealth.I marched to celebratevictoriespast,presentand

James and Liane Woodhead march and rally at I love Mountains Day for their son’s future.

William “Bopper” Minton and family get ready to march and rally to protect their home and community.

Zoe Wilcher spoke at Berea Loves Mountains. More than 12� Madison County members and friends came out on February 1� for the second annual Berea Loves Mountains held at the Black Feather Café. There was great food, music by local favorite Mudpi, Valentine card-making to send to Governor Beshear, and fun reflections from the statewide I Love Mountains Day experience. The chapter raised more than $300 and collected 75 Valentines for the Mountains to deliver to Governor Beshear.

(continued on next page)


future. I marched to rally ever largernumbers of folks to do the daily, nitty-grittyworkthatwillultimatelybringourmountainsandherpeoplebacktohealthandvibrancy.” One of KFTC’s biggest victories in the past year was preventing EastKentucky Power Cooperative frombuilding a new coal-burning power plant inClarkCounty.AsKFTCrep-resentative on a new collaborativeamong EKPC, KFTC, Kentucky En-vironmental Foundation and the Si-erra Club, Wilkins is excited about the potential for new jobs in energy effi-

I Love Mountains momentum growing …ciencyandrenewableenergythroughEKPC’s rural electric co-ops. “Doing home energy efficiency check-ups; installing insulation, win-dows, heat pumps, solar water heat-ers; educating homeowners on main-taining highly efficient homes – all represent potential, local-community jobs,” Wilkins said. “This could add one solution to the many that are

neededtoaddressthehighunemploy-mentnumbers inourmountaincom-munities.” Members of the Kentucky Risingdelegation and other KFTC leadersare planning next steps to maintainthe momentum and keep pressureon elected officials including Beshear, who promised to visit eastern Ken-tuckywithKFTCmembersinApril.

(continued from previous page)

Canary Project UpdateMembers energized by Kentucky Rising events, make plans Tobuilduponthesuccessfulcapitolsit-in and I Love Mountains Day, more than 30 KFTC leaders gathered in Lon-don in lateFebruaryforastrategyses-sion. “We’ve got the sense that this is con-tinuing,” said Mary Love. “It didn’t end on the 14th.” The leaders present representedall of KFTC’s major campaigns. Steve Boyce said that the New Power frame – rooted in values and a shared visionforKentucky–helpedfolkssee“aunityamongissues.” Afterseveralhoursofwork,severalkeygoalsemergedfromthestrategyses-sion:

• Hold Governor Beshear account-ableforfailurestoenforcemininglaws; get him to change his posi-tion on mountaintop removal;

• Build a campaign to hold U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers accountablefor his dual role of promotingdestructive mining while attack-ing the U.S EPA, and of slashingfederal spending on programsimportant to the health and well-being of people in his district;

• Protect the communities of Ben-ham and Lynch, and make this a high profile campaign due to the opportunity and the threat;

•Promote the Renew East Ken-tucky Strategy;

•Providecreativewaysfor thou-sands of people to learn andtake action around all of KFTC’s issues;

•Promote and educate about theClean Energy Opportunity Act;

•Make health impacts akeypartofourmessag-ing.

Manyofthesegoalsarereflective of KFTC’s exist-ing work, and next stepswillbeplannedbyvariouswork teams and commit-tees. Other goals expandthe work or provide newemphasis, reflecting theopportunities to make long-lastingchange. “There have been somany inspirational thingslately. They represent somany years of hard work,not just the last couple of weeks,” said Janet Tucker.“Peoplearegoingtohavetobeheard.”

Marty Mudd and Stanley Strugill hold signs with demands of Governor Beshear at the initial occupa-tion of the governor’s office on February 11.

Canary Briefs: Bev May travels northwest for a Deep Down tour

KFTC member Beverly May trav-eled to Oregon and Washington from March 19 through the 21 on a discussion tour about Deep Down, a film in which her personal and her community’s struggle in resisting mountain-top removal is featured. Film screenings were sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper and the CRAG Law Center. Watch a film about Bev in Chicago: www.workingflims.org/impact.

Young KFTC leaders hosted a “People’s Hearing” after I Love Moun-tains Day. This “committee” of young Kentuckians, all between the ages ofsix and 25, took testimony from citizen experts, asked questions, and offeredtheirperspectiveasyouthontheenergychallengesfacingKentucky.Morethan100audiencememberswerepresenttoobserve the People’s Hearing. “We are here today to do what some

“People’s Hearing” does what legislature chooses not tolegislatorshavenotbeenwillingtodo,”said KFTC youth leader Megan Nase-man at the beginning of the hearing.“In a state among the most impactedfrommountaintopremovalcoalminingpractices,our legislatorshavebeenun-willingtohearthevoicesofthepeopleon the other side of their lawmakingpens...webringyouourownhearing,aPeople’s Hearing, a grassroots effort by young KFTC members across the statewhobelievetheseissuesaretooimpor-tanttostayburied.”

Seven-year old Makayla Urias said during the hearing, “I used to havestreams outside my house. Now theyare not as flowing. I would like to play inthecreekbymyhousebutIcannotbecauseitisnotsafethere.Therearenolivingthingsthere.” In the committee’s final conclusion, Nikita Perumal, a high-school junior from Louisville, said, “These mountains areourheritage,andtheyouthofKen-tucky have a right to enjoy them—in fact itisadirectviolationofhumanrightsto

Keep up with Kentucky Rising at www.facebook.com/KentuckyRising

wrecksuchhavoconcoalcommunitiesin which so many youth live.And yetfor each day we wait, more communi-tiesaredisintegrating,morehomesarebeingdevastated.Thisisnotthelegacywe wish to leave to the youth of Ken-tucky—so let it not be. We owe it to the new generation, and all future genera-tions,toadoptsustainableenergyandtopreserveourenvironment,sothatitcanbetheirsaswell.Thetimetoact isnotan indefinite moment in the future, but now.”


Kentucky is Rising and you are a part of the building movement!

•Ourfamiliesandfriendsathome• An anonymous friend (first

name Jeff) who drove from Lou-isvilletodelivercoffeeearlyonSaturdaymorning

•Anonymousfriendswhobroughtessentials,includingcoffee,blankets,biscuits,towels,browniesandearplugs!

• Rep. Tom Riner, who joined us foramomentofprayerandfel-lowship

•SenatorKathyStein•SaraPennington

•JerryHardt• Burt Lauderdale• Lauren McGrath•KentuckyCoalitionforImmi-

grantandRefugeeRights• Jeff Biggers•FriendswhogatheredattheMor-

ris Book Shop, Al’s Bar, and the MusicfortheMountainseventinNorthernKentucky

•JimandSaraCalloftheMeekHouse Bed and Breakfast in Frankfort

•ElRanchoTapatioRestaurantin

Lexington•ChristianandTanyaTorp•KentuckyCoffeeTreeCafé•Friendswhoofferedamassage

aftermultiplenightsonmarblefloors

•MaxThomas•MargaretStewart• Lisa Fithian•SamAvery•FreddiePeralta•JoeChilders• Margaret O’Donnell•NishaanSandhu•CarrieTraud•FriendsinFloridawhohadpizza

delivered,aswellaseveryoneelsewhosentfruit,veggies,blue-berry muffins, ham and biscuits, Mexicanquiche,burritos,pandulceandsomuchmore.

• KFTC members in Frankfort (and their neighbors) who went out of their way to ensure that ourextra food was shared with localshelters

• The Governor’s staff, including receptionistsandchiefofstaffMikeHaydon.

• All of the state police officers whoworkedovertimetoprovidesecurityandensureourrighttopeacefulprotestandfreespeech

•GailRobinson•KevinMcNally• Dobree Adams• Bill McKibben• Wes Jackson•SilasHouse•JasonHoward• Lora Smith•GregCapillo•ErikReece• Carissa Lenfert•ColleenUnroe• Myles Benham Buckingham,

whose fight for life inspired us.•Everyonewhocametothesoli-

darity rally on Sunday and I Love Mountains Day.

• All those who work hard on these importantissueseachandeveryday.

Front to back (L-R): Row 1: Silas House, Patty Wallace, Teri Blanton, Jason How-ard. Row 2: Herb E. Smith, John Hennen, Tanya Turner, Mickey McCoy, Stanley Sturgill, Lora Smith, Lisa Abbott. Row 3: Doug Doerrfeld, Rick Handshoe, Kevin Pentz, Wendell Berry, Chad Berry, Martin Mudd

The following poem was delivered to the 14 members of Kentucky Rising on Sunday morning, February 13, along with the most incredible supply of fresh ham and biscuits. We read it aloud and everyone agreed it was as fine a sermon as we’d ever heard.

and earlier still, bravely stood on the deck of the Mayflower.

These biscuits come from ances-tors who were sold as slaves when they were mere children.

These biscuits come from genera-

tions that span over two hundred years in the mountains we call home.

These biscuits come from hollers where the place is as much a part of the family as the people.

These biscuits come from the love of children, our hope of the fu-ture.

These biscuits come from the

KFTC member Rick Handshoe took the opportunity to show his love and support to those who attended a solidarity rally on Sunday February 13.

mountains God built where we can see His glory in every leaf, rock, minnow, and stream.

And on this Sunday morning,

These biscuits come to you with love for standing up for those moun-tains we call home, those places that are part of our family, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.

God bless you.

THANK YOUThe group of citizens who took part in the sit-in at the Capitol was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that came from friends all across the commonwealth andaroundthecountry, includingfriendswedidn’tevenknowwehad.It isimpossibletoadequatelythankyouallforthekindnesseswewereshown.Belowisan incomplete list of those who went out of their way to offer food, supplies, support andlovethatweekend.Evenifwehavemissedyournameonthislist,pleaseknowthatyoursupportliftedourspiritsandmadeanimportantdifference.

These Biscuits

These biscuits come from Pike, Jackson, Letcher, Clay, Harlan, and Owsley Counties.

These biscuits come from ances-tors who fought at Kings Mountain

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011 Page 1�

Canary Project UpdateAnother coal company on notice for water quality violationsMore than 12,000 violations cited in legal action Nally & Hamilton, the 4th largest coal producer of surface mined coal in Ken-tucky,wasputonnoticeMarch9thatciti-zens plan to sue the company for 12,000 violations of the Clean Water Act. The violations occurred from May2008 through June 2010 and happened at more than a dozen of the company’s mines in Bell, Harlan, Knott, Knox, Perry, Letcher and Leslie counties. Theallegationsinvolvefailingtoper-form accurate testing and monitoring ofpollution dumped into local waterways,and repeatedly misreporting dischargesofiron,manganese,andotherpollutants. As in a similar ongoing case againstICG and Frasure Creek Mining, the re-sultsofmanyreportswerecopiedexactlyfromonereportingperiodtothenextandfalselysubmittedasnewreports. “Before our collective vision for renewable energy resources, a renewedeconomy and a new politics that reflect a true democracy can be realized, thedestruction of our air, water and landmust be stopped,” said KFTC Vice-Chair Suzanne Tallichet in a telephone pressconference announcing the action. “Thatcollective vision explains why we areinvolvedinlegalactionsagainstcoalcom-panies such as ICG, Frasure Creek andtoday,Nally&Hamilton.” “We don’t know what’s being dumped into our waters. We can’t trust the reported data,” said Pat Banks of KentuckyRiverkeeper,whichisalsopartof the citizen enforcement actions. “Sub-

mitting a false report is an irresponsibleand dangerous act – and so is failure toenforce”thelaw. TheothergroupsinvolvedareAppa-lachian Voices, the Waterkeeper Alliance and the Natural Resources Defense Coun-cil. The required pollution monitoringreports Nally and Hamilton did submit“were piled in dust-covered stacks and had not been reviewed for compliancein years,” explained Donna Lisenby with AppalachianVoices.Theyreviewedthosepermits at the London office of the Ken-tucky Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement. After filing the ICG and Frasure Creek claims last October, the groups “waitedfive months to see if [state officials] would makegoodontheirpromisetoenforcetheClean Water Act,” Lisenby continued. Instead, the Beshear administration has done just the opposite, forcing the needforadditionallegalaction. Nally & Hamilton owners and em-ployees donated $7,500 to Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s 2007 election campaign and $4,000 to Beshear’s 2011 campaign, ac-cording to the Kentucky Registry ofElection Finance, reported the Lexington Herald-Leader. “If the government fails to pros-ecute then we are going to do it and doitvigorously,”saidRobertF.KennedyJr.,representing the Waterkeeper Alliance. He called on the U.S. Attorney and theKentuckyAttorney General to prosecute

Harvard study takes a new stab at quantifying the true cost of coal

A new study quantifies many of the externalities for mining and burning coal that the coal industry and utility companies don’t pay, such as the costs people pay to treat asthma attacks that result from exposure to coal-burning pollution. The study included some of the external costs of mountaintop removal mining. Study authors conclude that the estimated costs of using coal for electricity add up to $345.3 billion, adding close to 17.8¢/kWh of electricity generated from coal. If this cost were added, it would triple the cost of electricity in Kentucky. Among other things, study authors recommended a transition to cleaner energy sources, and an immediate end to mountaintop remov-al coal mining. The study, entitled Full Cost Accounting for the Life Cycle of Coal, was authored by Dr. Paul Epstein of Harvard and co-authored by KFTC member Beverly May. It was published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences this month.

EPA delays issuing coal ash safeguards until 2012

On March 3, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told federal legisla-tors that the EPA wouldn’t be finalizing new regulations to regulate coal combustion waste (coal ash) until next year. She told lawmakers that EPA needs more time to review 450,000 public comments agency officials received on their regulatory proposal. The majority of those comments urged EPA to classify coal ash as a toxic substance and control public exposure to it. “The health of our communities is dependant upon clean air and water and our health is too important for us to delay any longer. The EPA has a duty to protect the people of this nation now by keeping coal ash toxins out of our water and air,” said Tim Darst of Louisville.

thecompaniesforfraud. The speakers noted that water pol-lution carries a cost for human health.Tallichet pointed out that Kentucky’s 5th Congressional district, represented byRep.HalRogersandwherealltheseviola-tionsoccurred,rankslastinthenationinlifeexpectancy,physicalhealthandover-all well-being. Rogers recently used his position inCongresstoattempttoblockeffortsbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencytomake coal companies comply with theClean Water Act. “Miningcompaniesdischargingtoxicpollutantsinourwaterisnothingnewtoour coalfield citizens,” Tallichet said. “Too manyofushavebeengettingsickanddy-

ing for too long. It’s high time that mining companiesareheldaccountable for theiractions. “Atthesametime,whynotinvestinwindandsolarenergy sourcesasneigh-boring states have? Energy efficiency is also a very important step in ensuringour energy future. A more vigorous state-wideweatherizationprogramwouldcre-ate hundreds of jobs.” Nally and Hamilton has 60 days to correct the violations or the groups maysueforreliefinfederalcourt. In the ICG / Frasure Creek case (see update on page 9), the Beshear adminis-tration filed its own action on the 59thdaytoprotectthecompaniesbypreventingafederallawsuit.

The Frankfort PineIt stood, tall above the crowd.Beside the Capital steps.The needles reflecting the early spring sun.It was not the first time it had seen this very blood boil.Generations beaten down by the black, bastard, gringo com-panies.The King of a foreign land.A subtle reminderof the forested spirit.

If these walls could talk?If these trees could see!Alive and growing,Conscious and knowing?What would they say after all?The aged noble pine.On which side would fall the divine?

Derek Brown is a student at the University of Kentucky and wrote “The Frankfort Pine” after attending his first I Love Mountains Day this year.

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011Page 1�

Renew East Kentucky UpdateClean energy collaborative with EKPC, co-ops begins

AttheJanuarymeetingoftheOwenElectric Cooperative Board of Directors, five KFTC members presented andasked the board to adopt into the co-op’s bylaws a Members’ Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a short and simple document that contains provi-sions such as the right for membersto a postage-paid, mail-in ballot for board elections (rather than the current in-person voting policy) to ensure all co-op members have the ability to vote; the right for any co-op member to at-tendboardmeetingsandtoplaceissueson the board meeting agenda; and the right toexamineandhaveeasyaccessto co-op records. The members felt their presenta-tion was well received by the boardandmanagement,andboardmemberssaidtheywouldconsiderwhatwasputbeforethem. A month later, after the board’s February meeting, the members wereinformedthat theboardwants to takeactionontheissuesandwasforminganadvisorycommitteecomposedofthreeboard members and four customer-members from throughout the servicearea to study each item in the Bill of Rights and give recommendations totheboard. KFTC and Owen Electric memberTona Barkley is excited about this prog-ress and the great organizing work ofmembersofhercommunity.“Ibelieve

AgreatsteptowardNewPowerwilltakeplaceat theendofMarchwith thefirst meeting of the Demand-Side Man-agement/RenewableEnergyCollabora-tive–aneffortcalledforintheagreementbetween the East Kentucky Power Co-operative (EKPC) and KFTC and allies who worked to cancel the $900 millionproposed coal-burning Smith plant. The Collaborative will conduct itsinitial meeting March 29, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort Hotel on Newtown Pike in Lexington. Collaborative meetings are open tothe public, and KFTC members are en-couragedtoattend.

The Collaborative is a joint project of EKPC, its 16 member cooperatives, the SierraClub,theKentuckyEnvironmentalFoundationandKFTC. Additional groups with expertise inenergy efficiency, low-income housing, andrenewableenergyinKentuckyhavebeen invited to become members of theCollaborative and will participate aswell. The group will meet quarterly forthe next two years to evaluate and rec-ommend actions for EKPC to expanddeployment of renewable energy andenergy efficiency. Additionally, the Col-laborative will also look to find ways

membersofthegroupcanworktogetherto implement energy efficiency and re-newable energy in the co-op areas. David Mitchell, EKPC’s vice-presi-dent for construction and engineering,will chair the Collaborative. Owen Elec-tric co-op and KFTC member Tona Bark-leywillserveasvicechair. KFTC and each ally will have arepresentative on the Collaborative, asdoes EKPC and all 16 of the distribution co-ops. KFTC’s representative to the Col-laborative is Madison County chaptermember Steve Wilkins. Ted Withrow, a member of the Rowan County chapter,willserveasalternate.

In addition to supporting KFTCmembers who are serving as part ofthe Collaborative, KFTC will organizethroughout the co-op service area to en-suretheoverallsuccessofthisgroup. Additionally, KFTC will increasework to promote existing and new pro-grams that save co-op members energy andmoney–especiallypeoplemostvul-nerabletorisingrates. Both of these areas of work are key strategies of KFTC’s new Renew East Kentucky Project – an effort to kick-start the Appalachian Transition to create amoresustainableandstrongeconomyforeasternKentucky.

Owen Electric Cooperative Board hears members’ concerns

wearegoing toseechangescomeoutoftheworkwedid,”shesaid. Co-op managers indicated that they wantedtomoveonthisissue,andfeltitwas important enough that they didn’t want it to linger. So, stay tuned to fu-tureissuesofbalancing the scales andtothe KFTC blog to follow the progressof the Owen Electric Members’ Bill of Rightscampaign.

An Owen Electric Co-op member signs a petition in support of a Members’ Bill of Rights. Co-op members presented their petition to the board of directors in January.

Workshop #1 10:15 a.m.• Growing your own edible

mushrooms • What it takes to get your farm

certified organic in Kentucky• How to get a community garden or

community orchard going

Workshop #2 11:15 a.m.• Setting up Community Supported

Agriculture to benefit local growers and consumers

• How$mart: An exciting new approach to home weatherization offered by the Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative

• Transition Town: ideas and strategies for working as a community to support more local and sustainable practices

Workshop #3 1:30 p.m.

• Opportunities for sustainable forestry and agriculture

• Beginning gardening: tips and best practices for small spaces

• How$mart: An exciting new approach to home weatherization offered by the Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative

Workshop #4 2:30 p.m.

• Horse-drawn logging• Putting solar energy solutions to

work for families and businesses in eastern Kentucky

• Extending the growing season: Hoop-Houses and Cold Frames

Join us for a day of workshops by local experts about ways to save and earn money through small-scale farming, forestry, and energy solutions!

There is no cost for the conference. Pre-registration is appreciated.

register online at www.kftc.org/growing or call 606-878-2161

Saturday, April 9 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Jenny Wiley State Park

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011 Page 1�

Announcing a beautiful new book …

Saving Kentucky is about preserving not only land and historic property, but also a way of life. It tellsthestoriesofaneclecticgroupofKentuckians–including KFTC member Daymon Morgan – both intheirownwordsandthroughtheextraordinaryphotographs of Thomas Hart Shelby. From tenant farmers to urban revivalists, they have one thing in common: a deep connectiontotheirheritageandafierce determination to preserve it for future generations.

In these pages you will meet families who see, with uncommon clarity, the human value of the land. You will meet leaders, innovators and visionaries—people who are thinking about forever, not just tomorrow.Sally Van Winkle Campbell has traveled Kentucky, driving the roads of the Bluegrass, seeing first-hand the majesty, as well as the heartbreak of the eastern Appalachian Mountains, and witnessing the renewal of the commonwealth’s urban centers.More than a warning, it is an invitation – a call to each of us to embrace the future with hope and, most of all, imagination, even as we hold tight to the past.

Pick up a copy at a local independent bookstore or order online at: www.savingkentucky.com

A portion of the proceeds from this book will support the work of KFTC to save the mountains and heritage of Eastern Kentucky from mountaintop removal and valley fills.

CarlenPippin isa retiredveterinarian living inShelbyCountyandanewmemberofKFTCworkingto reform his rural electric co-op. He says his great-est satisfaction is being able to help someone. He’s doctoredtheanimalsofmembersofhiscommunity,sometimeswhetherornottheycouldaffordtopay.He’s felt a dedication to helping everyone, including thosemostvulnerable. It is this same concern for his community thathasbroughthim,andotherfolksintheShelbyCoun-ty area, into the work of reforming Shelby EnergyCooperative. “If we watch what they’re doing, making them more accountable, they’re going to make better choices,andhelpsavemoneyforallthosewhohavenochoicebuttousetheirelectricity,”Pippinsaidofthe work to open up the co-op’s records and board meetings. Afewyearsago,afterthemalfeasanceofprevi-ous co-op managers was brought to light, the co-op

Renew East Kentucky UpdateNew KFTC members help open up Shelby Energy Co-op

hirednewmanagers,includinganewCEO. Still,theboardremainedthesameandpositivechangeswereslowincoming. “IbecameveryunhappywhenIwastoldbytheCEOthatIcouldnotviewanyoftheboardmeetingminutes and that I must have the board’s approval to attendmeetings,”Pippinsaid,echoingtheconcernsof other KFTC members about their rural electric co-ops. “I was concerned about a proposed 12 percent rate increase request along with the pass-through rateincreasesfromEKPC.” Pippinthenbeganattendingeachboardmeetingstarting in March 2010 and organized members of his community to join him. At each meeting, he sub-mittedquestions to theboard,requestingthat theyrespond to him in writing in 14 days. Additionally,hebegandevelopingarelationshipwiththelocalnewspapereditor.Ofthisphaseofthework, he said, “It was difficult initially to get the lo-calmediainvolvedbutafterinvitingareportertoat-

tendaspecialmeetingtoanswerquestions,wehavehad the editor’s full support. Our questions and their answershavebeenpublishedonaregularbasis.” Since that time, “The number of members ex-pressing concerns are increasing and some goodchangeshavebeenmade,”hesaid. With the recent retirement of a board member, the board sought applicants from among co-op members for the first time. Membersnowonlyneedtogivefourdaysnoticeiftheywouldliketoattendaboardmeeting,ratherthan the previous policy of 30 days notice and board approval. Pippinnotesotherimprovements. “The Board has become much more receptive of ourattendanceandwould ratheranswerourques-tionsinthemeetingthantoanswertheminwritingand see them in the newspaper,” he said. “Severaladvertisementsforbiddingcontractshavebeguntoappearinthenewspaperandontheirwebsiteinthepastthreemonths.” The organizing of the Shelby County co-op membershascreatedarealopportunityforchange,for engaging the co-op board, for becoming more in-formed about co-op decisions, and for helping press the board to make the right decisions to protect allco-op members. Still, there is much work to do, and Pippin isexcitedtobeanewKFTCmemberandtoworkwithother KFTC and co-op members to forward the co-op reformwork. TheyareworkingtowardsthegoalsoutlinedinKFTC’s Platform of Co-op Reforms.

• We want Board members to be elected by ballot voting; proxy voting must go.• We want the meetings to be open and the min-utesavailableformemberviewing.• We want transparency and accountability from theboardandmanagementwithfairopportunityandtreatmentofallemployees.

Havingthesamevaluesoftransparency,democ-racy,andconcernforcommunitybroughtPippintoKFTC, as well as one other thing: "We believe in the samevalues,butwehavetohavenumberstoprovethat." He knows it takes a group of active folks– numbers – organizing locally to bring about last-ingchange,andthisiswhathelikesaboutKFTC:"Agroupwiththesamevaluesthatsays,'Hey,we'vegottospeakup!'"

IfyouliveinShelbyCountyorareaShelbyEnergyCoop-erative member and would like to get involved in the co-op reformwork in your area, [email protected].

Daymon Morgan


Legislative UpdateLegislators learn about clean energy job-creating potential

New opportunities for the Clean Energy Opportunity Act

by Mary Love The outlook for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Kentucky is muchbrighterthisspringthanithaseverbeen.TheEKPCCollaborativeisgetting off to a positive start and progress was made in this year’s short leg-islative session with the Clean Energy Opportunity Act (HB 239). HB 239 found a great bill sponsor in Rep. Mary Lou Marzian of Louis-ville. House leadership assigned the bill to the Tourism Development and EnergyCommittee,whereitbelonged,insteadoftotheNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentCommittee,whereitwasassignedlastyearanddidnotreceiveahearing. Rep. Marzian was able to get Rep. Leslie Combs (committee chair) to agree to a no-vote hearing at the committee’s last regular meeting of the ses-sion. Unlike a similar hearing in that committee last summer, there was a non-adversarialatmosphereatthismeeting.Thiswaslargelyduetothefactthatthestrongopponentsonthisbillchosenottoattendthehearingatall. The opportunities for job creation and the reduction of energy bills through energy efficiency and weatherization were the points stressed in the testimonygivenbeforethecommittee. These topics createda lotof interestandpositiveenergy in themeet-ing. Two representatives proudly pointed to job increases in their districts directlyattributedtorenewableenergymanufacturing. Perhaps the most important outcome of this hearing is that the com-mitteememberswhoweretheredidnotseethisbillasathreattothecoalindustry. Instead they saw it as an opportunity for jobs and savings on electric bills that would be a benefit to all of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Thestrategymovingforwardintherestofthisyearisformemberstohavemoremeetingswithlegislatorsthatwillenhancesupportandenthusi-asm for this bill, which is a win-win for all Kentuckians.

KFTCmemberswerepartofNewPower at work on March 3 as testi-mony was heard on House Bill 239, the CleanEnergyOpportunityAct. Theroominthecapitolannexwasfilled with clean energy supporters ready for the economic justice and development opportunities offeredthrough HB 239. And legislators got themessage. “All options on the table is whatwe’re going for,” responded Rep. Jill York to testimony provided by HB 239 sponsor Rep. Mary Lou Marzian and KentuckySustainableEnergyAlliancemembersinsupportofthebill. Rep. Leslie Combs, chair of the House Tourism Development and EnergyCommitteewherethebillwaspresented for a discussion-only hear-ing,setapositivetoneinheropeningstatement. “I like to consider myselfopen-minded and I am open to all ideas that are for the benefit of the people.” Jeff Chapman-Crane, a KFTC member and a constituent of Combsfrom Letcher County, was one of those present. He praised Combs’s efforts. “Iwaspleasedthatshewaswillingtohearthisbillanditisagoodsignforany legislator from eastern Kentuckyto do this,” Chapman-Crane said. “I complimentherleadership.” If enacted, the Clean Energy Op-portunityActwouldestablishgradualrenewable and efficiency targets that utilities would meet over time, andlong-term renewable energy price guarantees for renewableenergypro-ducers. Thebillwouldalsorequireinvest-ments to improve housing efficiency for low-income families. Jim King, president and CEO oftheFederationforAppalachianHous-ing Enterprises (FAHE), testified about whyaffordablehousinggroupsacrossthestatesupportthebill. “The current course of energy inthecommonwealthisathreattofami-lies in need of affordable housing. Ifenergycontinues to riseat thecourseitisrisingnow,assumingnochanges,theaverageutilitybillwilldoubleby2015. This is a high burden for low-in-comefamilies–thesamefamiliesthatlive in thehomes thatare thebiggestenergyusers.Peoplearefacingan‘eat

or heat’ situation.” King said that the bill wouldimprove energy affordability for thefamilies that FAHE and other afford-able housing groups serve and createlocal jobs in Appalachian Kentucky. Matt Partymiller, operating man-ager of Solar Energy Solutions, toldlegislators just how many jobs would becreatedandhowmuchmoneyKen-tuckycouldattractifthisbillwereen-acted. He stated that implementing astateRenewableEnergyPortfolioStan-dard (REPS) is a signal to national and international renewable energy pro-ductionandmanufacturingcompaniesthat Kentucky is making a long-term commitmenttoanewenergymarket.And this signal will bring jobs. Partymiller noted that millionsof dollar in contracts for renewableenergy installation in Kentucky wereawarded to out-of-state companies in 2010. He expects to see the same thing happenthisyear. He also pointed out that due tocommitments to renewable energythatexistatthestatelevelinOhioandwithin the TVA utility service area inTennessee, both states had attractedbillionsinmanufacturinginvestmentsinthelasttwoyears. “When you look at the jobs we’ve lost in construction and manufactur-ing,thisisanopportunitytogivesomeof these workers jobs,” Rep. Marzian said. “We will continue to see jobs going to other states,” if Kentucky takes noaction,Partymillersaid.“Forallthein-stallationsIhavedone,IhaveboughtpartsfromOhio,IndianaandTennes-see. It’s unfortunate that we don’t see the development of these productshereinKentucky.” A couple of committee membersalready have seen the benefits of re-newable manufacturing investmentsintheirdistricts.RepresentativesMikeHarmon,TomMcKee,KimKing,Mar-tha Jane King and Jill York pointed out connectionstheyhadintheirowndis-trictstotheissuesraisedbythespeak-ers. “I like to brag on Corning in mydistrict,” Rep. Kim King said. “Theyare now making glass for solar pan-els.”Aglassandceramicmakingcom-pany,CorningInc.isheadquarteredin

Harrodsburg. “I am excited for you all to behere,”echoedRep.MarthaJaneKing.“Hemlock Semiconductor, whichmakesarawmaterialforsolarpanels,is just over the county line from us. Their $2.5 billion dollar investment is spilling over into our counties andbringing jobs and investment. I think weneedtolooktothefuture.” Hemlock Semiconductor openedup operations in Clarksville, TN inJanuary 2009 and is expected to create 900 jobs when fully operational. They were attracted to Clarksville in partbecause TVA, the electric utility thatserves the area, offers 10-year price guarantees for renewableenergypro-duction.

These price guarantees – similartooneof thepolicymechanismscon-tained in House Bill 239 – are driving up the use of solar panels in the re-gion. Rep. York said that she had not re-alized the manufacturing job potential ofenactingthistypeoflegislationpriortothehearing.Shealsosaidsheappre-ciatedthetonesetbyReps.CombsandMarzianduringtheproceedings. Leading up to the hearing, 40 people, mostly KFTC members, par-ticipated in a clean energy lobby dayand press conference in Frankfort onFebruary 10. Participants met withmore than 20 legislators and secured two new co-sponsors for House Bill 239.


Legislative UpdateCommon future guides work on economic justice bills KFTC’s Economic Justice Commit-tee provided leadership to KFTC’s work onsixbillsduringthispastsession.

KFTC opposed • the anti-immigrant bill (SB6)•elementsofabilltocreateapro-

cess for changing our tax struc-turebydisempoweringcommu-nity representatives (SB 1),

•a bill that would have forcedanyone who applies for publicassistance to take a drug test (HB 208), and

• the Senate’s bill of across-the-board cuts to our state govern-ment.

KFTC endorsed •ourKentuckyForwardRevenue

Plan (HB 318),•abilltocappaydaylendingrates

(HB 318), and •studyoftheimpactonKentuck-

iansacross income levelsofanytaxpolicythatgetsintroducedbythelegislature.

If it looks like a lot, it was. But a lot wasatstake.Memberssawthesepiecesof legislation as central to KFTC’s work tobringabouttheKentuckythatmem-bersenvision,where“thelivesofpeopleand communities matter” and “dis-crimination is wiped out of our laws,habits, and hearts.” (from KFTC’s vision statement) At a meeting with immigrants’ rights allies, Scott County memberHomer White urged, “We can use this moment to help create a different cli-mate in the state … We all share a com-monfuture.” Here are some of the ways thatKFTCmembersmadeanimpactduringthissession:

“After so many years of food and cloth-ing drives, I became more interested in structural change.” – JoAnn Schwartz

Members’ work on these bills lifted uphoweconomicpolicieshavealastingimpact on Kentucky’s families and com-munities. JoAnn Schwartz, a memberfrom northern Kentucky, said that sheseesherworkon thesebillsas integralto creating long-term change. “Over the years, I have headed up

many Habitat for Humanity projects, served on boards, done fund-raising for housing/homelessness agencies.Inmyparishcommunity, Iwasalwaysinvolved in social justice. And, after so manyyearsoffoodandclothingdrives,I became more interested in structuralchange. Iguessyoumightsay,delvinginto justice rather than charity. After you work with people who are strugglingandwhoarehamstrungbythesystem,oneiscompelledtospeakup.”

“It is important for our legislators to hear from their constituents not only about their feelings on particular bills, but about how they envision the future of Kentucky.” – Shekinah Lavalle

Lavalle is a Jefferson County mem-ber who’s on KFTC’s Economic Justice Committee and lobbied for the first time thisyear.Shefoundlobbyingempower-ing in a way she didn’t expect. “It is important for our legislatorstohearfromtheirconstituentsnotonlyabout their feelings on particular bills,but about how they envision the fu-ture of Kentucky. It’s exhausting, but I loveit–likewaymorethanIthoughtIwould.” Lavalle is also a New Power Leader, and brought her friends to the Im-migrants’ Rights Lobby Day because they’d been talking with her about KFTC’s approach to lobbying. “Theyhadalotoffun!Theyallwanttocomebackanddoitagain.Kristahhasofficially joined KFTC, and Emily wants to join as well. Rae had a great time too. Iwasreallyimpressedwitheveryone.” Lavalle will continue to invite her friends toworkon these issues,and tosharetheirvisionforKentuckywithleg-islatorstochallengethemtomakebetterchoicesforKentucky.

“Telling my story helped me realize how important it is to speak in my own voice.” – Linda Stettenbenz

Linda Stettenbenz is a Jefferson Countymember.Herstaterepresentativeis Rep. Jim Wayne, who sponsors KFTC’s KentuckyForwardRevenuePlan. Stettenbenz spoke up at a pressconference and at the hearing for theKentucky Forward Revenue Plan, assomeonewhohadbeenimpactedbythe

long-standing need for revenue reform. She testified about how the lack of revenue reform prevented her from get-ting financial aid when she went back to get her college degree – even thoughshe met all the qualifications and got her materialsinwellbeforethedeadline,thestatehadrunoutofmoneyandStetten-benz was turned away. She also testified aboutspendinga lotof timelookingforwork,orlookingformorework,andhowmaking better investments in our com-munitieswouldopenthedoorsformorejobs and better jobs. Telling her own story wasn’t easy for Stettenbenz,andsheadmitstobeing“re-ally super nervous.” But she also knows how helpful it is for others to hear herstory, and how helpful it’s become for her totellit. “This was another step toward find-ingconnectionsbetweenhowmyperson-al life is impacted by Frankfort withouthidingbehindstatistics,”sheobserved. Stettenbenzhasfoundwaystocarryherexperience forward to thework that

she’s doing for tax justice in her own community. “Telling my story helped me realizehowimportant it is tospeak inmyownvoice,andItakethatwithmeinmyev-erydayconversations.” And these everyday conversationshelpgetpeopleinvolvedinthework. “I was called for jury duty – which I’m glad to do as part of my civic duty – and the judge told us that they’d been lobbyingforyearstoallocatemoremoneyto subsidize jurors for missed work and childcare. [Kentucky only offers $12.50 a day, far less than a day’s work or the cost ofasitter,andotherstatesofferasmuchas$50aday.]Thatisarevenueproblem,and we were able to talk about that. I’m goingtotrytogethiminvolvedwithourwork.” “We need more, we expect more, we demandmore.Themorewelearnandthemorewehold themaccountable, itdoesmake a difference. Every day you just show up, you just learn, and you just do whatyoucan.”

KFTC members and allies gathered in Frankfort on February � to support fair immigration rights in response to the proposed Senate Bill 6.

“It is important for our legislators to hear from their constitu-ents not only about their feelings on particular bills, but about how they envision the future of Kentucky. It’s exhausting, but I love it – like way more than I thought I would.”

KFTC member Shekinah Lavalle

balancing the scales, March 24, 2011Page 1�

Legislative UpdatePower of a story: Linda Stettenbenz shares her testimony

by Linda Stettenbenz (testimony delivered to legislators)

I’m Linda Stettenbenz, a member oftheEconomicJusticeCommitteeforKentuckians For The Commonwealth– a grassroots citizens’ organization of regularpeopleworking forabetterKentucky. We have worked for years to help guide this piece of legislationso that it serves the economic needsof ordinary Kentuckians. As someonewho has been struggling, like manyKentuckians, to find a good job, and as a proud constituent of Rep. JimWayne, I’d like to speak with you today about the importance of the KentuckyForward Bill – a plan that helps build a path for ordinary people like me tomoveforward. IwasbornandraisedinKentucky,andthoughIhavelivedinotherplaces,Kentucky is my home and I love it. Inow live in the Louisville neighborhood of Germantown. My neighborhood islikea lotofothers inKentuckywherepeoplelikemetryandworkhard,butcan’t always make ends meet. I’m one of many in my community andinthisstatewhohasspentalotoftime looking for a job. I’ve spent my share of time in the unemploymentline, and I’ve spent my share of time beingunderemployed. I had a good job and lost it when thebusinessclosed–inlargepartdueto the declining spending ability ofour customers, the vast majority of who were not wealthy, but just regular workingpeople. I’ve also spent a lot of time try-ing to go back to school. This timelast year, I was one of 16,000 low-in-come students who qualified for, but was denied, financial aid for school because the state ran out of money. Ihadboughtasmall,andwhatwasat the time a very affordable, housethe year before losing my job. So now I struggle a lot to find a job, to pay my bills,tokeepmytinyhouse,andtoaf-ford higher education, which wouldgivemealegup. We need to start thinking about what kind of Kentucky we want. Ifwe’re going to get serious about attract-ing new jobs, we have to get serious aboutmakinginvestmentsinourinfra-structure. I want to see a Kentucky with

plentifulaccesstogoodeducationanda thriving quality of life; and so do em-ployers. Researchinthepastcoupleofyearshas shown that most new jobs will re-quire at least two years of college. What arewedoingtosupportthat? Research also shows that employ-ers are drawn to states with educatedworkersandahighqualityoflife,andthatthestatetaxclimateismuchlessofafactorintheirdecisiontobringgoodjobs in. Ourpeopleareworthinvestingin.We can be the kind of smart and cre-ative workers that businesses need. We don’t need to be especially cheap, when wecanbeespeciallygood. I came back to Kentucky to staybecausemyfamilyishere,andbecauseI’ve come to see that this state is what we make of it. Rolling hills, beautifulmountains,clearstreams,talentedwrit-ers, artists, and musicians, inspiringheroes and sheroes, colorful and kindneighbors –Kentucky has amazingresources,andweareallintimatelyin-terconnectedwiththemandwitheachother. I want to see a Kentucky wherenecessary government functions thathelp keep everyone safe and healthy–likethePoisonControlHotline,men-talhealthclinics,anddrugcourts–arenotcontinuallyfacingcuts,butinsteadare properly maintained for ourselvesand protected for future generations.Where our smart and innovative work-ers,acrossthestate,attractanew,greeneconomy, one of the fastest growingeconomic sectors with some of thebrightest potential for good jobs. We have the opportunity right now to bring ourselves closer to the Ken-tuckythatwewant.Therevenueraisedin Rep. Wayne’s bill will help us move closer to the Kentucky that lives uptoourvalues,andwill strengthenoureconomy by strengthening what wehavetooffertoemployers,andbyeas-ing the financial strain of Kentuckians whoarestrugglingthemost. I know that you all have to maketoughchoicessittingonthiscommittee.But I’m asking you to stop choosing cuts that give people reasons to losefaithinourcommonwealth. Instead, make the choice to investin moving us all forward. Learn about

this bill. Talk with your constituentsabout it. I believe that when you ar-ticulate a vision that includes good jobs and a higher quality of life, with a fair-mindedandsensiblewaytoget there,

KFTC members Linda Stettenbenz and Mary Love continue to fight for a better way to move Kentucky forward regarding tax reform and energy policy. Both lob-bied and testified on economic justice issues before the General Assembly.

itwillbeappreciated.Ibelievewecanget there, and change the course ofKentucky,tohelpmakealastingimpactthat brings us closer to the Kentuckythatwewant.

KFTC members Mary Love and Stanley Sturgill recently made a trip to D.C. to talk with Rep. Hal Rogers’ staff about moving Kentucky toward a green energy economy, protecting our water, investing in our people and job opportunities, and about H.R. 1, the U.S. House’s starting point for a federal budget through the rest of the year. Through H.R. 1, Rep. Rogers advocated cutting $1 billion from community health centers, and eliminating funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcast-ing and the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income ho-meowners make their homes more energy efficient and protect against rising energy prices. H.R. 1 would have also weakened the EPA’s budget for cleaning up Ken-tucky’s water, opening the door wide for more mountaintop removal mines, coal ash storage ponds, and emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy released a report that shows how H.R. 1 would have had the following impact in Kentucky:

• Keep 3,806 Kentucky kids from Head Start and cut 137,000 students from Pell Grants.

• Cut job training for 45,000 Kentuckians• Cut $25 million from clean water programs in Kentucky;• Cut Kentucky’s grants for housing, homelessness, senior and youth cen-

ters, social services and more by $31.2 million• Cut $1.3 million in Kentucky’s drug treatment• Cut $21.2 million to Kentucky’s public and affordable housing.

Congress’s debate over the federal budget has been impacted by the severity of H.R. 1; these would have been the largest one-year cuts in U.S. history.

Not so good in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood


Legislative UpdateGrowing coalition brings new energy to voting rights workBut Senate leaders refuse to allow vote on HB 70 KFTC’s campaign to restore voting rightstoformerfelonswhohaveservedtheir debt to society had an intensemonth in February, with letter-writ-ing events, call-in days, movie nights, mediawork,thousandsofpostcardstolegislators,smalllobbydays,andlotsoffield work all aimed at passing House Bill 70, a bill that would restore voting rightstomostformerfelons. The highlight of the work was theFebruary 24 Voting Rights Lobby Day and Rally at the General Assembly.Working with allies like People Advo-cating Recovery, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and others, KFTC helped bring 250-300 people to Frank-fort to talk with legislators and takepartinapowerfulrallythatfocusedonformer felons and family members offormerfelonstellingtheirstories.

Many participants were first-time lobbyists,takingtheirmessagesandsto-ries to legislators for the first time. “People are afraid to speak up.They’re intimidated by legislators. But we have a right to be here and a rightto speak. They’re humans just like us,” saidRosa Jackson,a former felon fromLexington and a first time lobbyist. “I like being able to be heard. We work with communities that strugglewith this issue. People turn their livesaround and this remains an obstacle.Itneeds to change,” saidMarcCortinofrom Louisville, another first time lob-byist. Members had some exceptionallygood in-person meetings with key sena-tors and a lot of other good outcomesfromthebigdayinFrankfort. One new fixture of the day was a

live streaming video camera operatedthroughouttheday,givingKFTCmem-bersathomeawayto“ridealong”withcitizenlobbyistsandfeelconnected. One interesting aspect of KFTC’s work in the General Assembly aroundthis issuewasworkingwithsomenewallies that we might not generally seeeye-to-eye with on other issues. Take Back Kentucky and folks from KentuckyTeaPartygroupssawvotingrights as an important issue that fits into theirideology,callingforgreaterlibertyand a stronger voice of the people ingovernment. KFTC members have cultivatedthese relationships in the past, but thisis the first year of working together to bringpressureonlegislatorsandtoco-ordinateourlobbyingstrategies. “Isupporttwothings–libertyandtruth. We have God-given rights and whether you’re a felon or not, you still have those rights,” said Adrienne Gil-bert of Larue County. “I’m a little disap-pointedinsomeofmyfriends,socalledconservatives,whohavenotsupportedthisbill.” “I’m here to tell you right now, this is not a black or white issue. It’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. It is a humanrightsissue,”saidTaynaFogle,aformer felon from Lexington. Working across these substantial linesofpoliticaldifferencehasbeenaninterestinggrowingexperienceforalotof members. They plan on continuingconversationsthroughouttheyear. As for HB 70, it passed the House Elections&ConstitutionalAmendmentsCommittee early in the session nearlyunanimously,thenpassedavoteontheHouse floor 77 to 21, with a majority of both Democrats and Republicans voting Yes. In the Senate, however, SenatorDavid Williams and Senator Damon Thayerrefusedtoallowthebilltohaveahearing.Theydidthisagainthisyeareven though lobbying efforts with allsenators indicate the strong bipartisansupportneededforpassage. Undaunted, KFTC members andalliesaredeterminedtocontinuebuild-ingsupportfortheissuethroughouttheyear, to come back and win it duringnext year’s much longer legislative ses-sion. KFTC will host a statewide Voter

Quick Hits On Voting

All voter registrations for the May Primary Election must be received at the County Clerk’s office or post-marked by Monday, April 18. Anyone not registered, or need-ing to update their address, may do so at their local County Clerk’s office or may download a mail-in voter registration card from www.elect.ky.gov/register.htm. Only registered Democrats can vote in Democratic Party primaries and only registered Republicans can vote in Republican Party primaries in Kentucky.

Some rules to remember

• Seventeen-year-olds may also reg-ister and vote in the May Primary as long as they will turn 18 on or before November 8.

• You cannot change your political party now and still vote in the May primary. The deadline to change political parties for purposes of voting in their primary elections was December 31. If you’re a reg-istered Democrat and you turn in an updated voter registration card with the Republican box checked (or vice-versa), you will lose the right to vote in either party’s pri-mary.

• The above applies if you’re already registered in Kentucky. If you’re not already registered in Kentucky, you may register by the April 18 as whatever party and be able to vote in the primary election.

• To find where you are currently registered and what party you’re registered as, visit www.Kentucky-Election.org (right column) or call your local County Clerk.

Twenty-four candidates are running for six statewide constitutional offices in the electionslaterthisyear.Incaseswherethere is more than one candidate fromthe same party filed for the same office, the Primary Election on May 17 will determine which candidate goes on toappear on the November 8 General Elec-tion ballot. Eighteen of the candidateshaveprimaries,notedbyanasterisk.

GovernorSteve Beshear (D)Barbara Holsclaw (R)*Phil Moffett (R)*David Williams (R)*Gatewood Galbraith (I)

SecretaryofStateAlison Grimes (D)*Elaine Walker (D)*Bill Johnson (R)*Hilda Legg (R)*

AttorneyGeneralJack Conway (D)Todd P’Pool (R)

AuditorAdam Edelen (D)John Kemper (R)*Addia Wuchner (R)*

StateTreasurerSteve Hamrick (D)*Todd Hollenbach (D)*K.C. Crosbie (R)

AgricultureCommissionerRobert Farmer (D)*Stewart Gritton (D)*John Lackey (D)*David Lynn Williams (D)*B.D. Wilson (D)*James Comer (R)*Rob Rothenburger (R)*

There will be contested primaries inboth parties for Secretary of State andAgricultureCommissioner,butonlyRe-publicanswillhaveacontestedprimaryfor Governor or Auditor, only Demo-cratswillhaveacontestedprimary forState Treasurer, and neither party willhave a contested primary forAttorneyGeneral. Independentcandidatesbypasstheprimarysystemandmightbeaddedtothislistlaterintheyear.

KFTCwillbecreatingcandidatesurveysforeachoftheseracesandwillpublishthe candidates’ responses in our Voter Guide and online at www.Kentucky-Election.orgclosertothePrimary.

Stage is set for 2011 election

Empowerment Strategy Team meetingon Saturday, April 30 from noon to 4 p.m., somewhere in Central Kentucky.RepresentativesfromallKFTCchaptersarewelcome.AVotingRightsCoalitionmeetingamongthebroadgroupofalliesis tentatively set for Saturday, June 11.Watch the KFTC website for updates.


Calendar of EventsMar. 28 Madison County chapter meeting with special presentation from Ken-

tuckyHeartwood,7p.m.atChildDevelopmentLabonJeffersonSt.,inBerea.

March 29 CleanEnergyCollaborationMeeting,1pm-4:30pm,MarriottGriffinGateHotel,[email protected].

April 1-4 PowerShiftinWashington,D.C.;infoat:energyactioncoalition.org.

April 2-7 WeekinWashingtonwiththeAllianceforAppalachia.

April 7 HarlanCountychaptermeeting,6p.m.inRoom219ofSoutheastCommunityCollege’sAppalachianCenterinCumberland.

April 9 GrowingAppalachiaConference,JennyWileyStatePark9:30am-4pm,FREE,[email protected].

April 11 JeffersonCountychaptermeeting,6:30p.m.attheMainPublicLi-braryintheBoardRoom.(301YorkStreet).

April 11 FloydCountychaptermeeting,7p.m.atSt.MarthaCatholicChurchnearPrestonsburg.

April 16 GeorgetownKitefest,noon-5pmSaturdayandSunday. [email protected]

volunteer.

April 18 PrimaryVoterRegistrationDeadline.EmailDave@KFTC.orgorcall859-420-8919.

April 19 NorthernKentuckychaptermeeting,7pm,25W7thStreetCovington,[email protected].

April 19 PerryCountychaptermeeting,6pminHazard;contactColleenUnroeformoreinformation,[email protected].

April 21 CentralKentuckychaptermeeting,7p.m.attheEpiscopalDioceseMissionHouse(onthecornerofMartinLutherKingBlvd.and4th Street)inLexington.

April 21 RowanCountychaptermeeting,6p.m.atSt.Alban’sEpiscopalChurchon5thStreetinMorehead.

April 25 MadisonCountychaptermeeting,7p.m.atChildDevelopmentLabonJeffersonSt.,inBerea,[email protected].

April 26 Western Kentucky chapter meeting,6:30pm-8pmUniversalUni-tarianChurch,2033NashvilleRd.

April 29 “GiveIntoTheGroove”acommunitybenefitfeaturingliveandelectronicmusic,multimediaartandfashion.KFTCwillbefeaturedatthisevent,alongwithseveralotheramazingorganizations.Buster’sBilliards&BackroominLexington,thiseventisfreetothepublic.

April 30 VoterEmpowermentStrategyMeeting,Noon-4pm.LocationTBD [email protected].

May 5 ScottCountychaptermeeting,7p.m.,attheGeorgetownPublicLi-brary.EmailDave@KFTC.orgor859-420-8919formoreinformationortovolunteer.

Musicinthemountainshasalwaysbeenusedasawaytobringpeopleto-gether,tocelebrateandtotellstories. Mountainmusichasbecomeama-jor tool to help organize citizens who do notliveinthemountainsbutwhowanttocelebrate,honor,andhelpprotecttheculture and community which moun-taintopremovalcoalminingisdestroy-ing. As a part of a statewide scheduleof events leading up to I Love Moun-tains Day, Northern Kentucky members aimed to help create awareness of thedestructivepracticeofmountaintopre-moval. On February 12, (the Friday before I Love Mountains Day), the Northern Kentucky Chapter joined with Ohio CitizenAction, Intercommunity Justiceand Peace Committee, Northern Ken-tucky University students, and SierraClubmembersfromnorthernKentuckyto Miami, OH to bring Mari-Lynn Evans to the University of Cincinnati’s Main-StreetCinematopresentherdocumen-tariesLowCoalandCoal Countrytomorethan 75 people. On the following Saturday, thechapter helped various musicians andmost notably members of the band“MagnoliaMountain”hostaconcertattheSouthgateHouseinNewport. The concert was a joint fundraiser between KFTC and Ohio Citizens Ac-tion, featured a new CD to benefit both organizations, and limited prints fromNorthern Kentucky artist Keith Nelt-ner. Asa Roberts, who heard about theevent from City Beat (a free local alter-native paper in the Cincinnati area), described the event as a ‘godsend’ for givinghimtheopportunitytoplugintothe fight to stop mountaintop removal. Thoughalreadyfamiliarwiththeissue,he described Jeff Biggers of the Huffing-ton Post’s speech about the issue abso-lutely inspiring, telling other membershewishedhecouldhavehadtheeventon DVD to watch it over again. Alongside Biggers, Melissa English spokeonbehalfofOhioCitizenAction,and KFTC member Ben Baker told his story of how he came to learn aboutthe destruction in Appalachia. Eachshared their experiences, but Baker’s unique story of discovering mountain-

Northern Kentucky chapter and allies sellout Music for the Mountains at Southgate House

top removal while learning to fly was heartfelt,andmanyofthepeopleinat-tendance heeded his call to join him at I Love Mountains Day. Jeff Hampton spent most of hisnight helping with the merchandisetableintheparlor.Hesaidthatforthosewhowerenotable toget into theball-room,andseeanyofthebands,theystill“allsoundedincredible.” While everyone enjoyed the music, therewasnoclear favorite.RickTraudpickedJakeSpeedandtheFreddies,AsaRobertspickedTheTillersandMagnoliaMountain, but Melissa English pickedBob Dionisi and Mike Oberst for their liveperformanceofCoalCreekMarch. All of the members enjoyed work-ingalongsideOhioCitizenAction,andthe people tabling each booth spenta lot of time helping each other out.Alex Searles said, “I love Ohio CitizenAction. Their members were so full ofenergyandpassion,andwerereallyfunto work with. More importantly, theywere very helpful. They kept helpingKFTC’s table, and kept sending people whocametospeaktothemovertoourtable.Itwasawesome.” Everyonewassurprisedbythehugesuccess, as no one expected the showto sell out, let alone before 10 o’clock. Somemembersheardthepeopleatthedoor had to turn away more than 100people,andmanyattendeeswerekeenontheideaofcomingbacktoasimilarconcert. While this may or may not happen, Jeff Hampton reflected that it was such a shame to turn away so many peoplewho were willing to learn more aboutthe issueofmountaintop removal, andthatthereisacleardesireinthecommu-nitytolearnhowtostopthispractice. Organizers had hoped to raisearound $6,000 to be split 50-50 between Ohio Citizen Action and KFTC. Between ticket sales, CD sales, sales of the prints designed by Keith Neltner, the eventinstead raised close to $12,000! CDs are still available for sale from KFTCforasuggestedpriceof$10.TheCD features songs performed only for this musical project, and were donated by each of the artists featured. You can contact your local organizer or call theNorthern Kentucky organizer, Joe Gal-lenstein, at 859-380-6103.

balancing the scales - march 2011

Documents

members of kentucky

nonviolent change

scales volume

funkftc membership dues

matt doolin

common welfare

common future guides

economic justice bills