KFTC members lobbying for our voting rights amendment

KFTC’s top legislative goals for the 2012 General Assembly have now been introduced.

House Bill 70 – the Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment, which will return the right to vote to more than 123,000 former felons who have served their debt to society; assigned to the House Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

House Bill 127 – the Kentucky Forward Bill, which seeks to adequately fund essential state services while making our tax system more fair for low- and middle-income Kentuckians; assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

House Bill 231 – the Stream Saver Bill, which seeks to protect our headwater steams from the ravages of mountaintop removal and valley fills by prohibiting the dumping of toxic mining wastes; assigned to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

House Bill 167 – the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, a bill that will expand affordable, clean energy access for Kentuckians while creating home-grown clean energy jobs; assigned to the House Tourism Development & Energy Committee.

It is time to remind legislator that there is strong grassroots support for each of these bills. Here’s how you can help do that:

1) Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181 and ask to leave a message for “all members” of the committee listed above for each bill. The message line is open weekdays 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. (just to 6 p.m. on Fridays). Message: Please support House Bill ____ and work for its passage.

2) Call your legislator directly at 502-564-8100 and express support for these bills. This is especially important if your representative is a member of any of these committees. Click on the committee name above to see a list of members. If you’re not sure who your representative is, try this link.

3) Write your legislators at: Capitol Annex, 700 Capitol Ave., Frankfort, KY 40601. If you want to email them, find their email address here.

4) Spend one or more days lobbying with other KFTC members at the capitol. Besides the big rallies and lobby days (see list to the right) we have a KFTC presence at the capitol most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Our lobby day usually starts by 9 a.m. and ends shortly after lawmakers go into session at 2 p.m. If you are interested in lobbying with KFTC, check with your chapter organizer or let Lisa Abbott know you are coming so we can expect you — lisa@kftc.org or 859-200-5159. Bring others with you.

Click on the bill names above for more information and talking point about each of the bills.