HELP SAVE TENNESSEE’S MOUNTAINS!

To find out additional information about LEAF and view a video on mountaintop removal mining click here http://www.tnleaf.org/

Dear LEAF supporters,

First and foremost, Wow! Several of the Senators we listed as key last week told me you rang their phones off the hook!! That is exactly what it takes to get to the top of the giant pile of bills on their desks. The mountains are now on the top of those piles, right where they belong! Thank you.

So, the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act is off and running. LEAF had four folks on the ground talking with legislators this week and the National Parks Conservation Association had one. All made bits of progress that really added up. Due to that progress and your calls, I think we have the votes in the Senate Committee. However, a vote will not be scheduled in the Senate Committee until we prevail in the House Sub Committee; a scheduling matter beyond our control.

A summary for the week is that your contacts to the Senate worked. We lined up the votes. We will, of course, revisit those folks just before the Senate vote, but for now, on to the House!
The House sponsor (Rep. Bill Dunn) has put the bill “On Notice,” meaning that it is ready for the Sub Committee to consider. He has requested that it be placed on the Sub Committee calendar for Tuesday, March 17. It is not uncommon for a bill to be “rolled,” or moved to a future date for a variety of reasons; however, we will likely have a vote in the Sub Committee, if not on March 17, within a few weeks after. We can’t ever promise that something important will happen at a particular committee hearing, but if you want to come to Nashville and watch, that could be a good one.

This Sub Committee defeated the bill last year by two votes. Everyone knows this committee is the pinch point, the toughest of our five big votes. The members of this House Sub Committee will decide the fate of the mountains. The Sub Committee has some of the same folks as last year, but enough new ones to make the difference. Also some of last year’s “no” votes could change.

If it is voted out of this Sub Committee, it will be hard to stop. So the action for this week is to contact the House Environment Sub Committee members. They are listed at the end of this alert.

As usual, if you live in the Representative’s district, say so. If you know folks who do, send them this action alert. Encourage them to contact the legislator. Whether you live in the district or not, the methods of contact from the most effective to the least are: personal contact, paper letters, faxed letters, phone calls, and emails. LEAF has received copies of lovely emails in support of the bill. If you are going to compose a letter, we’d love it if you would print it out and mail it to the representative and copy us at http://www.tnleaf.org/@gmail.com. Hard copies can be mailed to Pat Chastain, 663 Gulfwood Rd. Knoxville, TN 37923. A quick, hand written card carries more weight than 20 emails. But do whatever you can.

One legislator said he has gotten a contact or two that called him, “UnChristian” for his opposition to the bill last year. Making judgments about the standing of others before God is not only counter-productive, there is Scriptural authority against it. We are all children of God with spiritual journeys unfolding before us. Let’s begin with that baseline. Stay positive and keep the dialog open.

LEAF has been hesitant to prepare a form letter. The variety of contacts has been a strength. However, after several requests, we are providing something to get you started:

Dear Representative ____:
I live in ______, Tennessee. I am a ____________. ( whatever you think would help identify you in a meaningful way. I.e. retired teacher, high school student, environmental engineer, local chair of your party, minister, a United Methodist, your mother’s hairdresser ,your former scout leader. etc. )I voted for you. (If you really did.)

Please support the Tennessee Scenic Vista’s Protection Act. HB 899/SB1406. I oppose mountain top removal coal mining because…( A beautiful essay or just a sentence or two could go here. If your faith is part of the reason, say so. )

I appreciate your service and consideration of my views.
Sincerely,

Vary that some, and include your name and return address. Print the addresses and put paper and envelopes on your kitchen table, or where you pay your bills, so you can write letters as you have time this next week. We have made considerable progress as a group of Christians doing small acts with great love. If this bill passes, that is how it will happen.

Please pray for every policy maker in the state, for the coal industry leaders, for the coalfield communities, for the emerging creation care community, all of the worker bees at LEAF, and for our mountains.

Thank you for your letters, prayers and support,
Dawn Coppock,
Legislative Director, LEAF

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HOUSE CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEES
House Committee & House Sub-committee

McCord, Joe, 4504 Montvale Road Maryville, TN 37803
Phone: 865-984-5881
House Committee Chairman, House Sub-committee
Episcopalian, Republican, 8th District
For: Parts of Blount & Sevier Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 214 War Memorial Bldg.,Nashville, TN 37243-0108, 615-741-5481, 615-253-0220 Fax; Staff: Phyllis Piercy
Rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov

Tidwell, John C., 158 Harbor Circle, New Johnsonville, TN 37134
Phone: 931-535-2619
House Committee Vice Chair, House Sub-committee Chair
Methodist, Democrat, 74th District
For: Houston, Humphreys, Perry & Parts of Hickman and Maury Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 22 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0174, 615-741-7098, 615-741-4324 Fax; Staff: Debra Webb
Rep.john.tidwell@capitol.tn.gov

Floyd, Richard, 306 Altoona Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
House Committee Secretary
Baptist, Republican, 27th District
For: Part of Hamilton County
Nashville Address/Contact: 205 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0127, 615-741-2746, 615-253-0304 Fax; Staff: Jennifer Young
Rep.richard.floyd@capitol.tn.gov

Rowland, Donna, P.O. Box 10355, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
House Committee
House Sub-Committee Vice Chair
Baptist, Republican, 34th District
For: Part of Rutherford County
Nashville Address/Contact: 209 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0134, 615-741-2804, 615-253-0322 Fax; Staff: Sherry Smith
Rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov

Borchert, Willie Butch, 120 Post Oak Road, Camden, TN 38320
House Committee
House Sub-Committee
Baptist, Democrat, 75th District
For: Henry, Benton & Stewart Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 23 Legislative Plaza,Nashville, TN 37243-0175, 615-741-6804, 615-741-2405 Fax; Staff: Connie Murray
Rep.willie.borchert@capitol.tn.gov

Kernell, Mike, 3583 Allandale Lane, Memphis, TN 38111-5601
Phone: 901-454-1113
House Committee
Unknown, Democrat, 93rd District
For: Part of Shelby County
Nashville Address/Contact: 38 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0193, 615-741-3726, 615-253-0320 Fax; Staff: Kyle Faulkner
Rep.mike.kernell@capitol.tn.gov

Fraley, George, 1350 Bible Crossing Road, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: 931-967-3564
House Committee
House Sub-Committee
Church of Christ, Democrat, 39th District
For: Franklin, Moore Counties & Part of Lincoln County
Nashville Address/Contact: 24 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0139, 615-741-8695, 615-741-5759 Fax; Staff: Stephanie Peterson
Rep.george.fraley@capitol.tn.gov

Gilmore, Brenda, 3009 Vista Valley Court, Nashville, TN 37218
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Baptist, Democrat, 54th District
For: Part of Davidson County
Nashville Address/Contact: 22 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0154, 615-741-1997, 615-253-0361 Fax; Staff: Lenekra Starnes-Hill
Rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov

McDonald, Michael, 1695 A. B. Wade Road, Portland, TN 37148
Phone: 615-888-3081
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Church of Christ, Democrat, 44th District
For: Part of Sumner County
Nashville Address/Contact: 37 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0144, 615-741-1980, 615-741-4322 Fax; Staff: Kristin Smith
Rep.michael.mcdonald@capitol.tn.gov

Hawk, David, 407 Crockett Avenue, Greeneville, TN 37745
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Lutheran, Republican, 5th District
For: Unicoi County & Part of Greene County
Nashville Address/Contact: 219 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0105, 615-741-7482; Staff: Brenda Moore
Rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov

Lollar, Ron, 7559 Olivia Hill Drive, Bartlett, TN 38133
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Baptist, Republican, 99th District
For: Part of Shelby County
Nashville Address/Contact: 209 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0199, 615-741-7084; Staff: Phyllis Piercy
Rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov

Niceley, Frank, 1023 Creek Road, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Methodist, Republican, 17th District
For: Part of Jefferson & Knox Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 113 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0117, 615-741-4419, 615-253-0347 Fax; Staff: Ruth Adams
Rep.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov