The Political Bridge

SenatorChrisDoddforPresidentEventinLouisville,KY

BelowisaninvitationtoafundraiserforChrisDoddforPresident. Ifyoucouldletpeopleknowaboutit,Iwouldappreciateit. Sen.DoddisanalumniofUofL.

Theaskingpriceis$250percouple,butIcangetpeopleincheaperiftheycancontactmeat270-799-2362orat[email protected]

Thanks!

KyleGott

JimandCatherineSmithinviteyoutoareception

TOINTRODUCEANDMEETChristopherJ.Dodd

UNITEDSTATESSENATOR·CONNECTICUT

INSUPPORTOFHISCAMPAIGNFORPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

Friday,June29,2007

6:00–8:00p.m.

TheresidenceofJimandCatherineSmith

5234MoccasinTrail

Louisville,KY

PleasejoinusforauniqueopportunitytolistentoSenatorDodd’svisionforourcountryandpositionsontheissues

ContributionLevels:

Host:$1,000percouple

Sponsor:$500percouple

Friend:$250percouple

ToRSVP,pleasecontact:

MichaelHaydenat(803)422-6611or

[email protected]

PaidforbyChrisDoddforPresident,Inc.

Formoreinfoaboutthiseventclickhere:Download6_2_.29.louisville[1].pdf

PleasejoinusfortheSiCKOnewsconference,Fri.June29,11:00AM,BaxterTheatre(Louisville,KY)

  TheKentuckyChapterofPhysiciansforaNationalHealthProgram(PNHP-KY)andKentuckiansforSinglePayerHealthCare(KSPH)willholdanewsconferencetowelcomeMichaelMoore’s“SiCKO”toLouisvilleandtokickoffamovementforgenuinereformtohealourbrokenhealthcaresystem.

  Nursesandotherhealthcareprofessionalswillattendthenewsconferenceintheirscrubsandlabcoats. ThenewsconferenceissetfortheopeningdayofSiCKO:

Friday,June29,2007
11:00AM
InfrontoftheBaxterAvenueTheatres

(BaxterAvenueatGoddard,BaxterAvenuesideoftheMidCityMall)

  Speakerswillincludecommunityofficials,healthcareleaders,physicians,nurses,medicalstudents,andacrosssectionoftheLouisvillecommunity.
 
  Participantsinthenewsconferencewillurgeeveryonetoseethisremarkabledocumentaryandwillexplaintheonlycureforour"sicko"healthsystem,single-payernationalhealthinsuranceasembodiedinHR676,introducedbyCongressmanJohnConyers(D-MI). HR676isco-sponsoredby74housemembersincludingRep.JohnYarmuth(D-KY).

  HR676wouldcovereverypersonintheU.S.forallnecessarymedicalcareincludingprescriptiondrugs,hospital,surgical,outpatientservices,primaryandpreventivecare,emergencyservices,dental,mentalhealth,homehealth,physicaltherapy,rehabilitation(includingforsubstanceabuse),visioncare,chiropracticandlongtermcare. HR676endsdeductiblesandco-payments. HR676wouldsavebillionsannuallybyeliminatingthehighoverheadandprofitsoftheprivatehealthinsuranceindustryandHMOs.

  HR676wouldmakehealthcareahumanrightintheUnitedStates.

ForFurtherinformation:

GarrettAdams,MD,PNHP-KY: [email protected]
KayTillow,KSPH:(502)6361551,[email protected]

www.kyhealthcare.org,www.pnhp.org,www.sickocure.org

THETRUECOSTOFCOAL-TO-LIQUIDFUELfromtheKentuckiansfortheCommonwealth

WhatisCoal-to-LiquidFuel?

Technologyexiststoturncoalintoadiesel-likefuel.Theprocess,namedFischer-Tropsch,wasusedbyGermanyduringWorldWarIIandSouthAfricaduringtheApartheidera,two

militaryregimesthatwereisolatedfromtherestoftheworldandblockedfromaccesstointernationaltrade.Theprocessinvolvesfirstconvertingcoaltogasandthenintoasyntheticfuel.Liquidcoalrequireshugeamountsofcoal,waterandenergy.

Thisisasynfuelboondoggletoocostlytorepeat

Iftheargumentsbeingmadeforcoal-to-liquidfuelsubsidiessoundfamiliar,it’sbecausetheyare(onlywithamuchgreaterpricetag).We’vebeendownthisroadbeforeduringthefailedsynfuelboondoggleofthe1970sand1980s.Duringthepanicfromthe1973oilembargo,PresidentFordpromisedthatby1985onemillionbarrelsofoiladaywouldcomefromcoal.Itneverdid,andinfactthesynfuelspushnevergotofftheground.Instead,billionsoftaxpayer’sdollarswerewastedonabadideaandbadenergypolicy.

WewillbepayingthebillforBigCoal

Coal-to-liquidplantsarenoteconomicallyfeasible.That’swhycurrentproposalscallfortaxpayerstounderwritesynfuelplants,frombillionsofdollarsinconstructionloanstominimumpricesforthenewfuel.Furthermore,proposedstatelegislationcontainsamyriadofsubsidies,exemptionsandrefunds-includingarefundofcoalseverancetaxgeneratedfromcoalminedforalternativefuels.ThismeansadditionallossestoKentucky’sGeneralFundbudget.

Itwastesanddestroysournaturalresources

Ittakes4-7gallonsofwatertoproduce1gallonofliquidcoalfuel.Onetonofcoalwillproduceonlyabouttwobarrelsofliquidfuel.That’sinefficientandawasteofourresources!A40%increaseinminingwillsupplyonly10%ofourtransportationfuel.ThatkindofincreasewillmeanvastlymoredestructiontoKentucky’snaturalresources,biggerbudgetsforregulatoryagenciesandmorespendingtoaddresstheconsequencesofmining.

ProducingcoaltoliquidfuelwillincreaseglobalclimatechangeCoal-to-liquidcontributestoglobalwarmingratherthansolutionsandwillmakeusmoredependentonfossilfuels.Coal-basedliquidfuelsgeneratetwiceasmuchcarbondioxideaspetroleum-basedfuels.Whiletherestoftheworldisworkingtoreducecarbonemissionswe’dbepayingtoincreasethem.Itmaythentakemillionsorbillionsofdollarsmoretobringthesesynfuelpantsintocompliancewithcarbonemissionstandards.

SubsidizingLiquidCoalIsAGambleWeCan’tAfford!

THEREISABETTERWAY!

WeNeedToInvestInSafe,RenewableEnergyandBetterJobsThereareproventechnologiesthatarecleanerandlesscostlythatcanbeimplementedmoreimmediately.Investmentsinrenewableenergywouldcreategoodjobsandsupportsustainablecommunities.Moresubsidiesfordirtyenergyisaleapinthewrongdirection.Tolearnmorevisit:www.kftc.org/coaltoliquid

SENATORMCCONNELL’SGOODFRIENDSINTHEENERGYINDUSTRYbyDrTed

MaybeSenatorMitch’svotesontheCleanEnergybill(seebelow)didnotreflecthisloveforKYbutratherhisdesiretopleasehisgoodfriendsinthecoalindustry.Mr.McConnellhasmanygoodfriendswhoappreciatehimtoatuneof$354,000(accordingtothegoodpeopleatthePublicCampaignActionfund).

ThePeabodyEnergyCompanyofSt.Louis(thesamePeabodyEnergyCompanythatsentaletterofinterestsinKYtoGovFletcher)reallyappreciatesourSenator. OnMay15,2006,Mitch’sfriendsonPeabody’sSeniorManagementteamsenthimsixcheckstotaling$21,000incampaigncontributions,$3,500checksfromsixmemberofthisteam..(Informationaboutthesecontributionscamefromcampaignmoney.com)

ThemembersoftheSeniorManagementteamatPeabodyEnergyarebrightandgenerouspeople.Allhaveadvancedegreesinengineeringorlaworfinance.Mostgivetotheircommunity(andperhapschurch).Yet,nonearefromKentucky,nonewenttoschoolinKentucky,andnoneseeminglygavetoanycharitiesinKentucky.(Information,withpictures,aboutPeabodyEnergy’sSeniorManagementteamcanbefoundathttp://www.peabodyenergy.com/Profile/ManagementTeam.asp)

Sowhywe’rethenonMay15,2006sogeneroustoKY’sSenatorMitchMcConnell?Maybetheyjustlikehim? Ormaybe…

THEWEEKTHATWASFORSENATORMITCH

TheCleanEnergyActof2007wastheprimarypieceofbusinessintheU.S.Senate.

OnTuesday,SenatorMcConnellspokethosewordsontheflooroftheU.S.Senate

“IrisetodaytospeakinsupportofmygoodfriendfromKentucky,SenatorBunning,andhisamendmentwiththeSenatorfromNewMexicotoestablishaprogramtohelpsupportandpromoteclean,coal-to-liquidfuels.

“Focusingmoreoncoal-to-liquidfuelswillbenefitoureconomyandournationalsecurity.

“CoalisavitalpartofAmerica’senergyproduction,andcoalisavitalpartofKentucky’seconomyandhistory.Thecoalindustrycreatesover60,000jobsinmystate,includingapproximately15,000coalminers…”

TheSenaterejectedtheBunningamendment55naysto39yays.ThetwoDemocraticSenatorsfromWestVirginia(Mr.ByrdandMr.Rockefeller)votednay.

OnThursday,KY’sSeniorSenatorledasuccessfulthefilibusteragainsttaxingbigoil(whichwasinitiallyapartoftheSenate’sCleanEnergyAct.)

Tocompletehisweek,theSenator(alongwithBunning)wasoneofthe27Senatorstovoteagainsttheamendedandscaled-downCleanEnergyActintheSenate.SenatorReidbroughtthebillbackwithoutthetax..Mr.ByrdandMr.Rockefellervotedyay.

IguessthatthecoalinWestVirginiadoesnotliquefy.

SENATORMITCHISVULNERABLEbyShawnDixonofDitchMitchKY(takeninfullandwithpermissionofDitchMitchKY.com.)

Inlightofyesterday’s(June20^th)SUSApollthathasMitchMcConnell’sapprovalratingat52%(whichIdon’tthinkisanythingstellarforsomeonewithasmuchnamerecognitionasMitchMcConnell’s),anewpollsoontobereleasedwillshowthatthesenumbersarenotrock-solidandthatthemorevotersfindoutabouttheSenatorthelesslikelytheyaretosupporthim.

ApollcommissionedbythePublicActionCampaignFundsurveyed500KentuckiansontheirviewsofMitchMcConnell.Accordingtothepoll,only38%ofpeoplearewillingtore-electMcConnelland49%ofvoterssaytheywillvoteforsomeoneelseorwillconsidervotingforsomeoneelseinthe‘08elections.Thosearenotgoodnumbersforanyincumbent.Moreover,thepollwillshowtheMcConnellapprove/disapprovenumbersat48%to45%respectively.

ThemostnotablepartofthepollsaysthatwhenvotersaremadeawareofMitchMcConnell’spositiononissues,letussayforexamplethefactthatSenatorMcConnellvotedearlierthisyeartoabolishtheminimumwageandhasvotedrepeatedlyagainstraisingit,hisre-electnumbersplummettoonly21%.

MitchMcConnellisoutoftouchwithhisconstituents.HisconsistentvotesagainsttheeconomicinterestsofKentuckianswillbehisAchillesheelintheupcomingelection.WhileKentuckyhasoneofthehighestunemploymentratesinthecountryandoneofthelowestpercapitaincomes,MitchMcConnellvehementlyfightslegislationthathelpsmiddleclassandworkingpoorfamilies.

Themorevotersbecomeawareofhispolicies,themoretheywillbeappalled.(That’swhyTheBridgewillcontinuetoinformitsreadersofSenatorMitch’srecord.)

DEMOCRATICCHATTER:ISGREGSTUMBORUNNINGFORSENATEbyDrTed

AverygoodsourcehastoldmethatAttorneyGregStumbowillbeforminganexploratorycommitteesoonforapossibleraceagainstU.S.SenatorMitchMcConnell. DianeBrumback(whodoesgreatworkwithKentuckyWomen:Power,PassionandPolitics)isalsoreportingthesamerumorat:
http://kywomen.typepad.com/kentucky_women_power_pass/2007/06/stumbo-vs-mccon.html

ThelatestwordfromtheStumbocampisthatGreghasnotmadeafinaldecisiontorunornot.Hewillmakeadecisionsoon.

CONGRESSMANYARMUTH,WHYDOYOUSUPPORTTHECOALTOLIQUIDSUBSIDYGIVEAWAY?byGregWagner

CongressmanYarmuthhassaidthathesupportstheCoaltoLiquidsubsidygiveaway.Atthesametime,hesupportstheCleanWaterAct(HR2719)whichpreventsthedumpingofmountaintopsinstreamsandvalleys.Theydonotgohandinhand.TheCoaltoLiquidwillcauseahugeneedformorecheapcoalinKentucky.ThatmeansmuchmoreMountaintopRemovalinEasternKentucky.WillthecitizensofEasternKentuckywhowilllosethemostoverthisbill,inthedestructionofthelandandthelossofvaluetotheirhomesbecompensatedinanyway?OrwillallofthebenefitsgototheCoalCompaniesonceagain?

 IamconcernedthattheGovernor,theLegislatorsinFrankfort,andthemembersofCongressarerushingtopassabillwithoutaskingthetoughquestionsabouthugecoststotheenvironment,taxpayersubsidiesandbenefits. NowwearepossiblygoingtohaveaspecialsessionhereinKYonthis.Whytherushwithoutalltheinformation?

ThereisareasonthatMcConnell,Bunning,Rogers,WilliamsandFletcheralllovethisgovernmentsubsidygiveawaytotheCoalCompanies.Theydonotcareabouttheenvironment.Nottomentionthegreenhouseeffectbynotbeingabletorecapturethecarbonbyburningofthecoal. 

IamalittleflabbergastedatJohnonthisoneImustadmit.Itisnotconsistentwithhispreviousstatementsontheenvironment,especiallyhereinKentucky.PleasecontactCongressmanYarmuthandtellhimofyouropiniononthisbigissue.

CongressmanYarmuth'sPositiononCoaltoLiquidPrograms

InfairnesstoCongressmanYarmuth,Iaskedforacommentfromhimabouthissupportofcoaltoliquidprogram.  

StuartPerelmuter,themostexcellentpresssecretaryforCongressmanYarmuth,wroteback:

“Johnisonlyinterestedinacoaltoliquidprogramifitcanbeatleastascleanaswhatwe'vealreadygot. Ifit'sdirtier,he'snotinterested.”

StuartalsocitedthefollowingsourceformoreonCongressmanYarmuth’spositiononthisissue.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706190417

FRIENDSOFTHEAPPALACHIANMOUNTAINS:WEWANTYOUTOSEETHEEFFECTSOFMOUNTAINTOPREMOVALUPCLOSEANDPERSONALfromGregWagner

OurMountainJusticeSummerTrainingCampinTennesseewasahugesuccess,andwenowhaveafulllineupofeventsthissummerthatwillhelpstopmountaintopremovalcoalmininginAppalachia-andwewantyoutojoinus!

Over120peoplefromOhio,Michigan,WestVirginia,Tennessee,Kentucky,Virginiaandmanymorestatesparticipatedinourweek-longTrainingCampinMay,acoal-freeeventpoweredentirelybyelectricityfromsolarpanels. Wedrankmountainspringwater,learnedaboutcoal
miningandAppalachianculture,atedelicioushealthyfoodandstayeduplateformountainmusicjamsessionsaroundthecampfire. Therewasawonderfulcommunalatmosphereofloveforthemountainsandeachother-andweevenhadgreatweather. Oneparticipantsaiditwas
"thebestweekofherlife." Anothercalledit"thebestcampever."

LastweekendMountainJusticeSummer(MJS)wenttoBonnaroo,themassive(100,000plus)4-daymusicfestivalinTennesseefeaturingThePolice,Tool,TheWhiteStripesandabout75otherbandsonsevenstages. OurboothwasanAppalachianFrontPorchandwetalkedto
hundredsofpeopleaboutmountaintopremoval-pluswehadlotsoftimetocheckoutthemusic. Twelvevolunteersworkedinourbooth,andwegotfreeadmissiontothefestival(becauseMJSisanall-volunteerorganization.) WeevengottogouponBonnaroo'sSolarStageandtalkaboutMJS,whichwasprettycool.

Wehavelotsofeventscomingup,andhereareafew:

*SaturdayJune30-SundayJuly1:SeeMountaintopRemovalatGroundZero:LarryGibson'sKayfordMountaininWestVirginia. TheannualMountainKeepersMusicFestivalonKayfordMountainwillfeatureeightlocalandregionalmusiciansplayingavarietyofbluegrass,gospel,
countryandoldtimemusic. ThisisafreeconcertthatwillcelebrateAppalachianculture.

Larry'sfamilyhaslivedonthesamelandforover230years,andheisnowcompletelysurroundedbytheravagesofmountaintopremoval.
Thereareseveralawesomeandhorribleplacestoseetheminingfromwhat'sleftofhismountain. Theconcertwillbetwodaysofremembranceofthehomesandjobslost,whilealsocelebratingcommunities'effortstoresistthedestructionandpromotesustainable
jobsforabetterfuture.

StanleyHeirsParkontopofKayfordMountainisabout35minutessouth
ofCharleston,WestVirginiaoffofInterstate64/77.  Fordirections,
goto:

http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/events.php?id=46

Pleasebringacovereddishforpotluckmeals. Freecamping. Email
[email protected]
www.myspace.com/mtkeepersfest

*WednesdayJune207:00:(Tonight)Lexington,KentuckyPublicLibrary
downtown,freescreeningoftheclassic1977stripminingfilm"In
MemoryoftheLandandPeople,"followedbydiscussionwithfilmmaker
BobGates. Thisfilmisamust-see!

*SaturdayJune23-SundayJune24: MountainJusticeSummermeeting
inBlacksburg,VirginiaonthebeautifulcampusofVirginiaTech,234
SquiresStudentCenterstartingat9:00am. Newfolksarewelcometo
joinus!

*MondayJune25-Noon-Protestagainstaproposeddirty-coal-fired
electricpowerplantplannedforWiseCounty,Virginia. Wewill
protestatthecorporateheadquartersofDominionPower,120Tredegar
StreetinRichmond,Virginia.

Moreinfoandaflierishere:
http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/events.php?id=70

MapquestdirectionsfromBlacksburgVAtoDominionHeadquarters:
TakeI-81NtowardROANOKEfor93.2miles
TakeI-64EviaEXIT221towardRICHMONDfor99.3miles
TakeI-195SviaEXIT186towardPOWHITEPKWY/DOWNTOWN(Portions
toll)for5.7miles
Taketheexittoward7THST/US-60/9THST.0.1miles
StaySTRAIGHTtogoontoEBYRDST.for<0.1miles
TurnRIGHTontoS7THST.go0.1miles
Enternextroundaboutandtake1stexitontoTREDEGARST.1.1miles
Endat120TredegarSt

Formoreinformationcontact:

[email protected]@riseup.net

*TuesdayJune267:00-PublicForumonCoaltoLiquid,Lexington
KentuckydowntownPublicLibrary. Freeadmission. Learnmoreabout
thecontroversialproposalstoturncoalintoaliquidfuelfromour
panelofexperts.

WedJune27throughSatJune30-MountainJusticeSummerwillbe
tablingatthefirst-everU.S.SocialForuminAtlanta,GA. Wewill
havetheopportunitytospreadthewordaboutmountaintopremoval
miningandMountainJusticeSummertoover10,000peopleexpectedto
attendtheUSSF! ThiswillbeanamazingopportunityforMJSto
networkwithotherorganizationsandtorecruitactivistsforour
movement.

Volunteersareneeded-TheUSSFisgoingtobefreakin'awesome.
[email protected]
table. Checkoutwww.ussf2007.orgformoreinformation.

Thanksandwewillseeyouinthemountains!

DaveCooper
TheMountaintopRemovalRoadShow
http://www.mountainroadshow.com/ 

608AllenCt.
LexingtonKY40505
(859)2995669