Important note from our Friends at LEAF

Dear Caretakers of Creation:

LEAF has been working to end mountain top removal coal mining in Tennessee for four years now. We've made a bit of progress here and there but the real goal, ending mountain top coal mining in Tennessee has remained out of reach. Last week the opponents put forward a bill that appeared to be designed to provide cover for more inaction on the issue, so we ask you to help us defensively. Congratulations on our first win of the session! The bad bill was pulled last Wed. in the Senate Committee largely due to your contacts to the committee members. It looks dead, at least for now. So we are back on offense.

The vote on the anti MTR bill (SB 577/HB 291) will likely be close in both the House and Senate committees. We and the members of the entire House and Senate need to ask the committee members to move the anti MTR bill (SB 577/HB 291) to the floor, so that everyone can vote on it. Your action is more important than ever this week and for the next few weeks.

Please e-mail, call or snail mail the committee members and your House and Senate member. Write your own words, use the sample letter from the legislative tool kit or just cut and paste the following:

Please vote for the anti-mountain top removal mining bill, SB 577/HB 291. This is an important issue and the entire body should have a chance to vote on it. Most Tennesseans, like me, favor an end to surface coal mining of our high elevation ridgelines. Bottling the bill up in committee is not open and responsive government. Hear us. Move the bill to the floor.

Addresses of the committee members are at http://www.tnleaf.org/legislative/legislative-toolkit.
To find your own legislators go to the Tennessee General Assembly website http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators

Please help us build the noise level in Nashville by asking your friends, family and church family to join LEAF's action alert list.

We are making progress because we stand together.
That is encouraging. Thank you.

Dawn Coppock,
LEAF Legislative Director