Mountaintop removal ban update from LEAF

Dawn Coppock of LEAF says that the Senate rolled the bill this week hoping it gets killed in a House subcommittee next week so the Senate doesn't have to go on record. She also runs down the House subcommittee votes. Read more after the jump...

From Dawn Coppock of LEAF:

In true Nashville fashion, the “last” day of committee hearings wasn’t the real last day. Once again we have been delayed a week. Last week I gave you the vote count for the Senate Environment committee. This week I’ll do that for the House Environment Sub-Committee. But first, the legislative strategy between the two. The Senate apparently wants to avoid a vote the most. The vote is closer in the Senate where the bill only needs one more “yes” vote. The deal among the legislators seems to be to go slow in the Senate and fast in the House so that the House votes first, kills the bill, and spares the Senators a difficult vote. Both committees meet at the same hour of the same day, 10:30 on Tuesday.

This dynamic creates tension and more than a little drama. In a nutshell, our legislators must choose between coal industry influence (as well as donations) and the opinions of a large number of their constituents. Even the politicians who do not have a heart for creation care recognize the political damage that can be done if they disregard the will of people of faith and ignore their growing concern for stewardship of what God has created.

The vote next week in the House Environment Sub Committee is critical and, frankly, very tough. We have 3 votes and we need 5. Here’s the count:

* Rep. Joe McCord No (Entrenched)
* Rep. Mike McDonald Yes (Sponsor)
* Rep Charles Tidwell No
* Rep. Mike Bell Not publicly committed
* Rep. Willie “Butch” Borchert Yes (Cosponsor)
* Rep. George Fraley Yes
* Rep. Brenda Gilmore Yes (Cosponsor)
* Rep. David Hawk Not publicly committed
* Rep. Ron Lollar Likely No
* Frank Niceley No

All of the undecided legislators need to hear from you BY MONDAY. Because we don’t know which committee will actually vote first, we also ask that you continue contacting the three uncommitted Senators, Senator Jamie Woodson, Senator Jack Johnson and Senator Steve Southerland. None of these three have publicly committed yet. Contact information for both committees can be found here:

* House Environmental Committee members contact information
* Senate Environmental Committee members contact information

Last week, the National Council of Churches released a statement signed by 28 Christian groups, representing a broad range of denominations, calling for an end to mountain top removal mining. LEAF is a proud signatory of this statement. (link...) Over the past two days, the reason why the TN Scenic Vistas Protection Act has been bogged down in the TN legislature for three years has become a major news story, as well as a growing issue in this year’s Governor’s race. This press coverage has helped raise awareness of the issue of mountain top mining in our state. A link to this coverage is below and will be of interest to those of you who are following either the bill, or the Governor’s race, closely. (link...) We are on the legwork committee and God has the outcomes committee. We, LEAFlets are trying to count votes, work the bill, and remember things happen in God’s time. Thank you for all you do in this effort.

Dawn

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