On February 14th KFTC brought together over 1,000 Kentuckians to Frankfort to lobby for the passage ofHB 164. The bill would stop the destruction of headwater streams from mountaintop removal coal mining and valley fills. For those who don’t know about the issue burying headwater streams increases chances of flooding, and seriously degrades water quality, impacting all communities downstream including those here in Lexington.
We arrived in Frankfort early in the mourning. It was amazing to see so many Kentuckians from all parts of the Commonwealth out in full force. After a brief tutorial on the issue and on how to lobby, we broke off into groups to meet with different legislators. I had the opprotunity to talk with Representative Butler. He listened intently to what we had to say and agreed to vote in favor of the bill if it made it to the floor. It was my first time lobbying and it was a very positive experience.
After that everyone met on the front steps of the capitol, where we heard from a variety of speakers. Wendell Berry urged for the immediate passage of the bill and decried the coal companies who have done so much harm to Eastern Kentucky. The most passionate and impressive speakers were the KFTC from Eastern Kentucky who graciously shared their experiences with the issue.
After a brief break for lunch we headed to the tunnel that connects the legislative offices to the house chamber. We lined both sides in wait of the tunnel in wait of the legislators who did not want face us, but were too cowardly to brave the cold. We cheered those who supported us and we urged the other side to change their minds. We chanted things like, “164 On the floor” and “Whose mountains our mountains.” I truly feel that Frankfort heard the voice of the people that day.
I would urge anyone whose interested to lobby. Its fun, easy, and you are making a difference. Bad laws get passed because society lets them. Citizen lobbying can prevent this from happening and it may even get some good laws passed.
