balancing the scalesVolume 27 Number 3

April 28, 2008

Kentucky families struggle as legislature

fails to act and income inequality grows
“All I want to do is sock
away a few bucks for tough
times, make sure I save a little
money for my kids’ college
educations, pay for the essen-
tial services and durable good
that we actually need, and see
a doctor when we need care,”
said Perry County member
Leslie Craft.
Most people would say
that’s not too much to ask. But
the Crafts will be unable to do
all of these things, at least this
year.
They are just one of many
families who face costs that
families struggling while ask-
ing less from those who are
already well off.
And the Kentucky General
Assembly failed to act on sev-
eral proposals that would have
aided poor and lower-income
working families in its recently
concluded session.
Trends worsening
The Crafts’ situation is
becoming more common, ac-
cording to a new report by the
Center for Budget and Public
Priorities.
CBPP studied changes in
the costs of daily living like
food, gas, fuel, health care,
and childcare have steadily in-
creased, the average income of
the poorest Kentucky families
stayed about the same, leaving
them less and less able to meet
even the most basic needs.
Evidence of this is all over
the state, as food banks and
shelters consistently report
higher needs. KFTC friends, led by UK Greenthumb, hoisted a mock wind
At the same time, income turbine over a giant pile of coal next to the University of
inequality is on a sharp rise Kentucky’s coal power plant. The action, staged as a photo-
in Kentucky. CBPP found that op for local media like was a part of the national Fossil Fools
the income gap between Ken- Day, a push to raise awareness around the destruction cause
(Continued on page 6) by the use of coal and oil.

Finding success in the General Assembly

are outpacing their wages, average income between the
exacerbated by policies that late 1980s and mid-2000s. They
keep lower-income working concluded that even though
KFTC members began the
year with an ambitious legisla-
tive agenda. After a steady and
visible presence in the halls of
the Capitol Annex, testimony
on six bills, and thousands of
phone calls and faxes, KFTC’s
presence had a noticeably
positive influence but resulted
in little legislation getting
through the political process
(HB 2 and SB 83).
The session started with
positive expectations. Several
KFTC bills were in play early
in the session. The state’s bud-
Bonny McDonald performed “Listen,” a poem urging people get crisis made the revenue
in Bowling Green to learn about the housing problems. growth provided for in House
Photo by WKU Herald photographer Luke Sharret Bill 262 catch the attention of
d
te
Vo I
legislators. Broad public sup-
port for stopping mountaintop
removal made it seem like
House Bill 164 would get some
attention. The restoration of
voting rights for former fel-
ons, House Bill 70, passed the
House last year and was rapid-
ly picking up new cosponsors.
“Our expectations were
raised and a lot of people were
quite hopeful,” said KFTC
Chairperson Doug Doerrfeld.
“There was a sense of opti-
mism that these bill were re-
Change Service Requested
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
P.O. Box 1450
London, Ky. 40743
ally going to move.”
KFTC provided it’s first
testimony on January 22, help-
ing the Special Task Force on
Gaming understand how HB
262 would add a measure
of fairness to our tax system
while raising much-needed
new revenue. On February 5,
a House committee sent the
restoration bill to the House
floor. On Valentine’s Day,
more than 1,200 citizens rallied
to demand protections for the
(Continued on page 4)
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage PAID
LONDON, Ky.
Permit No. 43
Page  balancing the scales, April 28, 2008

Table of Contents Kentuckians For

3 Voter Empowerment Update
•Kentucky primary election just around the corner; May 20
The Commonwealth
is a statewide citizens social justice orga­­ni­
zation working for a new balance of power and
a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organiz­

4
ing to accomplish the following goals:
General Assembly Update
• foster democratic values
•Restoration of voting rights clears the house; no action in Senate
• change unjust institutions
•General assembly analysis continued from page 1
• empower individuals

6
• overcome racism and other discrimination
Grass Roots Fundraising Update • communicate a message of what is possible
• build the organization
•”Each One Reach One Campaign” to shape recruitment goals • help people participate
• win issues that affect the common welfare

7 Economic Justice Update • have fun

KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50

•Income inequality on the rise in Kentucky
•Members’ thoughts on the Economic Stimulus Checks per year, based on ability to pay. No one is
denied membership because of inability to

8
pay. Membership is open to anyone who
Local Updates is committed to equality, democracy and
•Rowan County members continue work on local campaigns
nonviolent change.

•UK KFTC closes the year strong with student government election
•Members in Long Branch battle WhyMore Coal Company
KFTC Steering Committee
•KFTC members work with ally organizations in Bowling Green
Doug Doerrfeld, Chairperson

11 High Road Initiative Update

K.A. Owens, Vice-Chairperson
Steve Boyce, Secretary-Treasurer
Janet Tucker, Immediate Past Chair
•High Road Initiative builds momentum during session but has
Pam Maggard, At-Large Member
long road ahead to create policy change in state

12
Chapter Representatives
Canary Project Update Susan Williams (Central Ky.)
•Members travel to DC to lobby in support of the federal Clean
Rick Handshoe (Floyd)
Ann Schertz (Harlan)
Water Protect Act Becki Winchel (Jefferson)
•Busy bees in eastern Kentucky Cari Moore (Knott)
•Coalfield residents travel to Columbia to share stories Jeff Chapman-Crane (Letcher)

14
Toby Wilcher (Madison)
KFTC News Lyle Snider (Perry)
Erica Urias (Pike County)
•Floyd County chapter inspires steering committee members Sue Tallichet (Rowan)
•KFTC staff expands with three new hires and open position
Alternates: Jen Flinchum, Bev May, Carl
•Keep current with the KFTC blog
Shoupe, Mary Dan Easley, Bobby Hicks,
•Calendar of Events
Duane Beachy, Laura Heller, Truman Hurt,
Barry Bowersock, Liz Frazier

Write for balancing the scales Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

P.O. Box 1450
London, Kentucky 40743-1450
606-878-2161 Fax: 606-878-5714
balancing the scales is always looking for articles, photos, letters to info@kftc.org
www.kftc.org
the editor and art work from KFTC members.
Copy Deadlines for 2008 are balancing the scales is published by
May 28 • July 16 • August 27 • October 8 • November 26 Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and
mailed third class from London, Kentucky.
Reader contri­butions and letters to the editor
If you are interested contact Tim Buckingham at tim@kftc.org or call should be sent to 274 Southland Drive Suite
101, Lexington, KY. 40503 or tim@kftc.org.
859.276.0563 Subscriptions are $20 per year.
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008 Page 

Voter Empowerment Update

Kentucky primary election just around the corner: May 20
KFTC members are once again participating in help out with these important phone banks that will are registered to vote on election day can vote early
a lively election cycle with the non-partisan Voter take place between May 10 and 20. (times and dates vary depending on county). Contact
Empowerment Campaign to register, educate, and Additionally, KFTC members will provide rides your local county clerk to learn more.
mobilize voters, particularly in under-represented to the polls for individuals who do not have adequate Alternately, the deadline to request an absentee
communities. transportation on Election Day. ballot from your local county clerk in order to vote by
Closer to the primary election, information will Voters who will not be in the county where they mail is Tuesday, May 13.
be available on candidate stances on a range of is-
sues for many different offices, both published in the
KFTC Voter Guide by mail and at www.Kentucky-
Election.org.
Additionally, KFTC members will call 10,000 vot-
ers to remind them to vote.
Members are encouraged to contact their chapter
organizer or the local KFTC office to find out how to

KFTC Offices and Staff

MAIN OFFICE
Robin Daugherty, Jason Howard,
and Burt Lauderdale
P.O. Box 1450
London, Kentucky 40743
606-878-2161 Fax: 606-878-5714
info@kftc.org

FIELD OFFICES
Jessica George
& Jerry Hardt Central Kentucky KFTC members and allies gathered to talk about the upcoming elections and what
901 Franklin Street we can do as nonprofit progressive groups to have an impact. 
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
502-589-3188

Lisa Abbott, Amy Hogg, Kevin Pentz,

and Martin Richards
Become a KFTC Sustaining Giver
435-R Chestnut Street, Suite 2
Berea, Kentucky 40403 Name:
859-986-1277
Address:
Tim Buckingham, Jessica Hays,
Erik Hungerbuhler, Heather Roe Mahoney
and Dave Newton
City, State, Zip:
250 Plaza Drive, Suite #4
Lexington, Kentucky 40503 Phone: Email:
859-276-0563
Step one: Select the amount you would like to donate! Step three: Select the issues that concern you and the
□ One-time Gift: Amount $_______________ activities in which you would like to participate in as a
Colleen Unroe, Lora Smith,
and Patty Tarquino □ Sustaining giver! I will contribute $ _____ every (check KFTC member:
P.O. Box 463 one): Issues:
Whitesburg, Kentucky 41858 □ Month □ 6 Months □ Economic Justice □ Racial Justice
606-632-0051 □ Quarterly □ Annually □ Environmental Justice □ Other _______________
___________
Teri Blanton Step two: Select what organization you would like to (Coal, Mountaintop Removal, etc)
118 Baugh Street donate to: Activities:
Berea, Ky. 40403 □ KFTC: Membership dues and donations are not tax □ Lobbying in Frankfort □ Chapter Activities
859-986-1648
deductible. □ Voter Empowerment □ Fundraising
e-mail any staff member at
□ Kentucky Coalition: Tax deductible gifts are accepted □ Letter Writing □ Communication
firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays □ Other ________________________
use jessicabreen@kftc.org
Page  balancing the scales, April 28, 2008

General Assembly Update

Restoration of voting rights clears the House but Senate
takes no action in the final days of the 2008 session
A broad coalition of civic and reli-
gious groups pushed for legislation to
place a constitutional amendment on
the November ballot that would, if ap-
proved by voters, automatically restore
voting rights to former felons once they
completed their sentences.
In 2007, the bill passed the House
with 70 votes but died in the Senate.
This year members started the session
with the expectation (or at least hope)
that the House would act quickly on
House Bill 70 to allow time to build
support in the Senate.
HB 70 cosponsor Rep. Darryl Ow-
ens brought the bill before his Elections
and Constitutional Amendments Com-
mittee on February 5. It was approved
that day on a 7-1 vote.
But then House leaders, several of
whom were cosponsors, did not call
the bill for a floor vote until almost the
very last possible day.
On April 1, HB 70 passed the House
80-14. The Senate did not act on HB 70
in the three remaining legislative days.
One analysis of the sometimes
open and sometimes behind-the-scenes
political maneuvering around constitu-
tional amendments places the blame on
Governor Beshear.
Since he did not want other con-
stitutional amendments competing
with his casino gambling proposal, he
pushed to delay consideration of HB
70. Early in the session, the governor
also said he wanted a constitutional
amendment to prohibit governors from
pardoning anyone not yet convicted.
That legislation never seemed to be a
priority for lawmakers.
In the end, there were no constitu-
tional amendments approved for the
November ballot.
Constitutional amendments can
only be on the ballot in even numbered
years, so it will be 2010 before restora-
tion can be on the ballot. But support-
ers will push legislators to take action
in the 2009 legislative session to secure
the amendment’s place on the ballot for
the following year.
How they voted on HB 70
Voting YES on HB 70: Reps. Royce Adams, Rocky Adkins, John Arnold, Eddie
Ballard, Sheldon Baugh, Larry Belcher, Johnny Bell, Tom Burch, Dwight Butler,
Mike Cherry, Larry Clark, Hubert Collins, Leslie Combs, Tim Couch, Will
Coursey, Jesse Crenshaw, Ron Crimm, Robert Damron, Milward Dedman,
Mitchel Denham, Bob DeWeese, Bill Farmer, Tim Firkins, David Floyd,
Danny Ford, Jim Glenn, Jim Gooch, Derrick Graham, Jeff Greer, Keith Hall,
Richard Henderson, Melvin Henley, Charlie Hoffman, Jeffrey Hoover, Dennis
Horlander, Joni Jenkins, Dennis Keene, Thomas Kerr, Jimmie Lee, Mary Lou
Marzian, Thomas McKee, Reginald Meeks, Charles Miller, Harry Moberly,
Russ Mobley, Lonnie Napier, Fred Nesler, Sannie Overly, Darryl Owens,
Ruth Ann Palumbo, Don Pasley, Tanya Pullin, Marie Rader, Rick Rand, Frank
Rasche, Jody Richards, Steven Riggs, Tom Riner, Carl Rollins, Steven Rudy, Sal
Santoro, Charles Siler, Arnold Simpson, Dottie Sims, Ancel Smith, John Will
Stacy, Kathy Stein, Jim Stewart, Greg Stumbo, Tommy Thompson, John Tilley,
Tommy Turner, Ken Upchurch, John Vincent, Jim Wayne, David Watkins, Robin
Webb, Ron Weston, Susan Westrom, Rob Wilkey, Addia Kathryn Wuchner,
Brent Yonts
Voting NO on HB 70: Reps. Kevin Bratcher, James Comer, Jim DeCesare,
Myron Dossett, C.B. Embry, Joseph Fischer, Mike Harmon, Adam Koenig,
Stan Lee, Brad Montell, Tim Moore, Rick Nelson, David Osborne, Alecia
Webb-Edgington

General Assembly analysis
(Continued on page 1)
state’s water from the pollution and loss
of streams associated with coal mining
valley fills. Two weeks later, hundreds
more were there from KFTC and ally
groups to push for passage of HB 70.
More quietly, KFTC and Mountain
Association for Community Economic
Development (MACED) were talking
about economic development reforms
with legislators that ultimately resulted
in the introduction of three bills and
one resolution. members to Frankfort.
Members also lent their support
for several positive energy bills that
focused on renewables and energy ef-
ficiency, testifying in favor of House
Bill 92 on January 24, the day it passed
a House committee.
In the end, the 2008 General Assem-
bly was dominated by the governor’s
Not Voting: Reps. Scott Alexander, Scott Brinkman, Ted Edmonds, Jimmy
Higdon, Marie Rader, John Vincent
unsuccessful push for casino gambling,
anguish over the budget and inaction
on a wide variety of other bills. Though
some of the bills KFTC pushed started
their way through the legislative pro-
cess in the House, none got through the
Senate.
“It was an exceptional year for
participation [and] our lobby days
had exceptional turnouts,” Doerrfeld
added. “In that respect, it was a very
special year getting a large number of
“We broke new ground with the
Stream Saver Bill — it got a fair hear-
ing. It was exceptional that in a com-
mittee as powerful as A&R [House
Appropriations and Revenue] we were
able to get testimony from two experts
in the field. But in the end there were
some major disappointments.”

To track the final progress of a specific bill or resolution on

KFTC legislative platform visit www.kftc.org/billtracker.
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
Grass Roots Fundraising Update
“Each One Reach One Campaign” to shape membership
recruitment and fundraising growth efforts for 2008
Over the last three years, KFTC
has experienced explosive growth by
nearly tripling grassroots fundraising,
more than doubling membership and
expanding campaigns around eco-
nomic justice, mountaintop removal,
“My membership to KFTC assures that my voice
will be heard.”
Becki Winchel, Jefferson County
and the restoration of voting rights for
former felons.
In each of the last three years,
KFTC did much more than set fund-
raising and membership recruitment
goals and just “meet them.” Members
exceeded the set goals by significant
amounts.
Strengthening this foundation is
directly related to KFTC’s expanding
campaigns and the ability to be ef-
fective in this work. The movement
KFTC experienced on bills during the
just-completed General Assembly, for
example, is unprecedented. But it also
brings into sharp focus the need to be
exponentially bigger.
This is why KFTC is launching
the “Each One Reach One Campaign.”
The goal is to have at least 1,000 KFTC
members each recruit at least one new
member to KFTC.  and Franklin counties, the neighbor-
Why is this an effective way to orga-
nize?
Becki Winchel, Jefferson County
steering committee representative
knows that KFTC’s success needs her
volunteer and financial support.
“ I will be forever grateful for the
first time I was invited to join a group of
like-minded people in Frankfort. Even
when I don’t get to go, I know that my
financial contribution allows others to
go and my voice to be heard.”
If 1,000 KFTC members recruited
just one member to join KFTC, the
membership base would spread even
further through the state. This op-
portunity gives the organization the
potential to reach people that would
normally never reach otherwise.
Currently people might join KFTC
at an event, through the web site or
someone in the organization asks them
to join. What would it look like if 1,000
of the current 5,000 members talked to
just one person about why they belong
to KFTC?
Membership would grow in all
corners of Kentucky. KFTC would
reach more people in Marion, Floyd
hoods of Lexington and Louisville, and
congregations of faith from all over the
commonwealth.
Page 
Members know the strength of an Braden Center, Kentucky Alliance
organization that is built as a grassroots Against Racist and Political Repres-
movement by its own membership. sion and the ACLU. “People appreciate
Many expressed this understanding knowing that there is a group where
and excitement after being a part of the we understand that you have multiple
1,200 person rally at I Love Mountains passions.” 
Day. It is essential to each campaign
that members continue to reach out How do I sign up?
and bring new people into the fold of KFTC kicked off the “Each One
this work.  Reach One Campaign” at the April 5
Steering Committee meeting where
How do I recruit a member? KFTC’s leaders became the first to com-
Everyone can think of at least one mit to recruit at least one new member.
person who should be a member of They are looking for members to step
KFTC. Even if someone cannot attend up and help meet and exceed this goal.
meetings or travel to Frankfort, their Is there someone you know who is
membership is still an important way in line with the values of KFTC, but not
to participate in the organization. yet a member? If you are interested in
The majority of KFTC members participating in this campaign let your
are part of KFTC in addition to their organizer know, call Development Di-
participation with other organizations, rector Jessica George at 502-589-3188 or
schools, committees and activities. send her an email at jessica@kftc.org.
Their movement in other circles builds In return, KFTC will set you up with
KFTC’s capacity to have a broader materials and give you a pep talk. You
analysis of the interconnections of is- can continue tracking the progress on
sues. the internet at www.kftc.org/eachon-
No one leads a single-issue life, ereachone and in balancing the scales.
but the strength of KFTC’s work comes If this sounds like fun, but won’t
from bringing people together at the possibly satisfy your burning interest
intersections of their lives. Winchel in recruiting and renewing members,
understands this through her work at get in touch with Jessica George to plan
the Coalition for the Homeless, vol- house parties, events and other ways to
unteer roles at the Fairness Campaign, reach out to folks in your region.
How do you see this budget
affecting your community?
Several KFTC members have been sharing their stories
of increased class sizes, layoffs, compromised programs,
and struggles to afford a college education as a result of
the state’s inadequate budget. Sharing these stories helps
KFTC’s work to build a case for a stronger and better
budget. Share how the budget cuts are affecting your
community, your family, and your commonwealth.
If you’d like to share your story and your concerns,
you can contact Jessica Hays at 859.275.0563 or
jessicabreen@kftc.org, or you can look for an entry form
on www.kftc.org, on the economic justice page.
Page 
Economic Justice Update
Kentucky families struggle as legislature fails to act and inequality grows
(Continued on page 1)
tucky’s richest and poorest families is
the 10th largest in the nation. The rate of
growth of that gap is the 6th largest.
Kentucky has shown signs of an-
other trend reflected — the erosion of
Kentucky’s middle class. The average
income of Kentucky’s middle class, the
middle-fifth income bracket, increased
about $346 a year. Meanwhile, the aver-
age income of the richest fifth of fami-
lies increased by about $1,900 a year.
These trends don’t reflect how hard
people are working.
Trudi Lewis from Morehead said,
for example, her sister, a newspaper
delivery person, has had to take on two
additional routes just to maintain her
income. “She’s working three times as
hard for the same amount of money.”
The culprit isn’t Kentucky’s people;
it’s Kentucky’s policies. From a lack-
luster minimum wage increase that
does not raise a full-time worker out of
poverty, to tax policies that allow the
wealthy to contribute less than their
share, Kentucky’s legislature has done
very little to correct the trend.
Legislature failures
Despite Kentucky’s rising poverty
Members’ thoughts on the economic stimulus checks: Help is
needed, but can Kentuckians consume to a better day?
As the income and wealth divides
widen across the nation, causing more
and more families to lose ground, elect-
ed officials are pointing to the “econo-
my” as the culprit for the hardship.
Many experts disagree. Chuck Col-
lins, a scholar for the Institute of Policy
Studies, chairs the Working Group on
Extreme Inequality, a coalition of reli-
gious, business, labor and civic groups
concerned about the wealth gap.
In a recent article for Alternet, Col-
lins wrote, “Underlying our economic
crisis is a polarization of income and
wealth. Real wages for working people
have been stagnant for decades, a hor-
rific fact that has been masked only
by increased work hours and vast
amounts of private consumer debt in
the form of credit cards and second
mortgages. On the other end of the
wealth spectrum, the superrich have
so much money that they are engaging
rates, legislators failed to pass a state
Earned Income Tax Credit (House Bill
566), a provision that helps lower-income
working families in 24 other states.
Despite severe revenue shortfalls,
legislators failed to raise new revenue
(House Bill 262) and as a result higher
education will be less accessible, services
for families and children in need will be
reduced, and programs such as environ-
mental protection that help keep Ken-
tuckians healthy will be less effective.
Despite the fact that lower-income
working families pay as much as 65 per-
cent more of their income in state and
local taxes than do the very wealthy,
legislators failed to restore Kentucky’s
estate tax and failed to make income tax
rates more progressive (HB 262).
All these ideas were proposed, all
could have seen broad support, but the
legislature failed to act.
Similar trends on the federal level
— the phase out of the estate tax and
tax reductions that disproportionately
favor the wealthy, for example, are poli-
cies that adversely affects Kentucky’s
revenue as well.
The result is that families like the
Crafts are not given the same opportu-
nities to succeed, and instead often see
in speculative investments in search of
maximum returns.” These speculative
investments, Collins argues, fueled the
U.S.’s economic instability.
Similar fault is found with the prin-
ciple behind the economic stimulus
checks that are supposed to reverse the
downward economic trend.
The economic stimulus checks of
$300 to $600 per qualifying person are
supposed to spur on the economy by
making it possible for people to shop
the U.S. out of a recession.
The payments will help many
Kentuckians — hit hard by low wages,
rising costs, unattainable health care
— make ends meet during these very
hard times.
These checks are going to people
from the federal government with the
hope that they will shop the U.S. into
better and brighter times.
There is no doubt that for many
eroding of the resources they need and
that they’ve worked hard to maintain.
“My family is poised to spend
more than a fifth of our gross income on
medical expenses this year,” said Craft.
“This will keep us all insured, make
sure John is not sick, and make sure
our baby gets to have a hospital birth.
If you add in our regular out-of-pocket
expenditures of $2,000 annually, health
care will eat up over 20 percent of our
projected, combined incomes.”
With 20 percent of the Craft’s in-
comes devoted to health care, a chunk
for childcare, a bit to keep themselves
clothed and fed, there isn’t a lot left over,
despite their middle-income status.
After additional expenses such as
gasoline the Crafts are left with little
room for error.
“I spend $250 or more monthly on
gas now than I did two years ago, even
though our overall fuel consumption
has actually been reduced by purchasing
very fuel efficient cars. We pay $5,700
yearly, if gas stays at $3 per gallon. It’s
more than our mortgage, but as good as
can be expected in a rural area.”
After all these basic expenses, the
Craft’s are left relying on savings and
hope that nothing goes wrong.
families, this money will be put to
good use. However, KFTC members
say that while these checks will help
families out, more consumption isn’t
what is needed.
Trudi Lewis from Morehead has
an 8-year history of working with low-
income earners. She said, “People are
going to be using it for food and medi-
cation, with maybe a little left over to
pay down their debt. This might help
some of the symptoms, but a one-time
shot of money doesn’t do away with
the disease.”
“These checks will help people pay
off debts, and that’s something, but this
isn’t really going to help things,” said
Washington County KFTC member
Albert Bauman. “It’s not going to re-
ally help the people who need help the
most right now because it’s not going
to address fundamental problems and
causes of inequity.”
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
“If the car doesn’t break down, and
we don’t indulge at all, and we potty-
train our baby immediately, we will still
need more money,” said Craft. “This is
what I call ‘feeling the pinch.’”
Craft is quick to point out, though,
that her family isn’t as affected by the
income divide as lower-income families,
the families who are barely making more
money than they were in the mid-1980s.
Craft works with lower-income
families on budgeting and said that the
budgets they create together are “not
very useful lately because they are con-
stantly in flux. Incomes have remained
constant but the cost of food, gasoline,
medical care, heating fuel and other
basic expenses have increased dramati-
cally over the last couple of years.
“People previously able to make
ends meet sometimes find themselves
taking turn-about each month with util-
ity payments, canceling auto or health
insurance policies, buying the cheapest
low quality food available — and worse
— just to keep a roof over their family,”
Craft continued. “This group actually
has far less income, limited opportunity
to participate in helping programs, and
the same basic living expenses as every-
one in that middle-income bracket.”
KFTC members have offered better
solutions than this broken logic that
suggests shopping sprees are not what
need to be nurtured to make the coun-
try work better. Instead, Kentuckians
should be supporting economic equal-
ity and fairness.
If you fall into this category, you
can still use your money for good. You
can use the money to economically
stimulate KFTC’s social justice work to
make Kentucky a better place.
Or consider making a contribu-
tion to any of the ally organizations in
the state that are doing important and
good work. You can use your money
for good without buying into consum-
erism.
Think it over, and if you decide to
stimulate the good work happening
in Kentucky, let KFTC know! KFTC
would like to share your thoughts with
others as these checks keep rolling out.
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
Economic Justice Update
Budget will mean more pain, fewer jobs for Kentuckians
KFTC members are frustrated
with the process and the product.
KFTC Vice Chair and Jefferson County
member K. A. Owens called this bud-
get "the sad result of a completely
failed process."
"When Rep. Moberly calls it 'a
diabolical deal,' he’s on the right track.
The budget is a tragedy,” said Cen-
tral Kentucky member Janet Tucker.
“What we’re dealing with now is very,
very sad.”
Many lawmakers point to the na-
tional economic downturn to explain
the lack of revenue.
"I heard one of the legislators
saying that … this budget is the best
we can do, blaming the economy for
the entirety of our revenue problem.
That’s a cop-out,” said Madison Coun-
ty member Steve Boyce. “This budget
isn’t just hard times. Kentucky’s struc-
tural imbalance is well documented.
We’ve been aware, and many legisla-
tors have been aware, that this is the
result of a long-term structural deficit
and the legislature’s lack of will to fix
the problem. At some point, that struc-
tural deficit has to be dealt with.”
Boyce added that the budget
sends a message about the legislature,
and about the direction that lawmak-
ers are taking the state. " Wi t h t h i s
budget, the legislature is saying, 'We
can’t get ourselves together enough to
say that education, the quality of life,
and health care are priorities,'" said
Boyce.
This budget steals the potential of
what Kentucky could be, if the state
made investments that were even
close to adequate.
Boyce uses higher education as
one example. “There are so many stud-
ies that say that investments in educa-
tion are the most effective economic
investments that a state can make,
advancing the kind of economic devel-
opment that leads to a good quality of
life and good, quality jobs.”
"With this budget, the legislature is saying, 'We can’t
get ourselves together enough to say that education,
the quality of life, and health care are priorities.'"
Steve Boyce, Madison County Chapter
“The cuts will lead to tuition
increases that will shut out many stu-
dents from higher education,” Boyce
continued. “This isn’t a wise direction
for Kentucky. These cuts seem to be
saying that, for Kentucky, these invest-
ments are just not that important.”
The budget not only fails to invest
in education, it also fails to protect the
state from some deeply felt pain. The
cuts to human services have already
begun to impact the state, with the
closing of a mental health facility in
Louisville and with employee lay-
offs.
Trudi Lewis, a Rowan County
member, was laid off from her mental
health center job on April 4, two days
after the budget was announced.
“My supervisor asked me if I’d
been reading the papers and he said
that because of the budget cuts, I’d be
laid off for at least the next two years,”
said Lewis. “My clients are people who
are already vulnerable. They’re now
seeing other therapists, who were al-
ready just as swamped as I was.”
Lewis has worked at this com-
munity mental health center for eight
years, and is concerned about the im-
pact that her absence will have on her
clients.
Lewis states that people will do
their best to compensate for the cuts,
just as they’ve done their best to com-
pensate for the chronic lack of funding,
but even best efforts will fall short of
what is needed. • Funding cuts for higher education have already caused the University of
“They’re talking about trimming
away the fat,” continued Lewis. “There
is none, not from where we stand.”
Boyce also pointed to the how the
budget cuts target Kentucky’s most
vulnerable citizens.
“We had to make a choice between
more revenue and less spending and
less investing. When people like [Sen-
ate President David] Williams say that
no taxes are on the table, that a bare
Page 
bones budget is necessary, the people in the upcoming election cycles. Owens
who wind up getting hurt the most are is looking ahead, “Now is the time for
invariably the people who are poor,” us to plan, rebuild, and reorganize. We
said Boyce. “They’re the same ones need to get better legislators.
who are hurt by our state taxes now, “The fact that some legislators
because of the percentage of their in- worked hard to support a budget that
come that they’re asked to contribute. would have been effective in putting
They’re the ones that it’s easiest for the the state on a sound footing gives us
legislature to go ahead and hurt, then hope for the future. We need to get
say that they didn’t have a choice. They more legislators willing to do that.
most certainly did have a choice.” KFTC and allies have more work to
Kentuckians will have choices, too, do.”
Budget Cuts
KFTC members are speaking out against the state’s two-year budget, which is
a sad display of pain and thwarted opportunities.
Statewide newspapers have reported the effects of the budget cuts since early
April. Below is a list of some of the major cuts. However, not all budget cuts
are listed.
• A $1 million budget cut to the already under-funded Legal Aid. Legal Aid
provides emergency legal help to the poor and this budget cut will mean cuts
to services and staff.
• The cuts to Legal Aid are in addition to the cuts to the already under-funded
Department of Public Advocacy, which houses public defenders. Due to the
cuts, 54 positions will be lost, further compromising Kentucky’s ability to
fulfill everyone’s right to an attorney.
• $40 million in cuts to human services. This has already led to the closing
of Seven Counties, a mental health facility in Louisville, and to employee
lay-offs. These cuts will severely impact Kentucky’s ability to care for its ill,
elderly, and poor.
Kentucky and the University of Louisville to increase tuition 9 percent for next
year, and a 13 percent increase for community and technical colleges. At UK,
this means that Kentucky students will pay $717 more in tuition. Students
have lobbied against this increase for months, and this increase comes after
consistent tuition hikes that have made college educations less accessible to
Kentuckians.
• Flat-lined base funding for K-12 education, budget cuts to after school
programs, and to the professional development programs for teachers will
continue to penalize Kentucky’s children. The flat-lined base funding means
schools will have the same money to work with as the current year. However,
costs of bus fuel, heat, and other operating expenses will continue to rise.
Individual school districts are looking at teacher lay-offs, 4-day weeks, and
class size increases.
• State employees will receive a 1 percent raise for the next two years.
• An 11 percent cut to Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, which
oversees sectors from wrestling and boxing to water air quality and water safety.
Within this cabinet, the Natural Resources Department suffered 22 percent cuts.
Page 
Local Updates
Rowan County members continue to work on local campaigns
The Rowan County chapter contin-
ues to work within the community to
make positive change in numerous ar-
eas. With some definite hits and misses
over the past few months chapter mem-
bers are energized about the upcoming
summer months and the opportunity to
inform community members about the
important work the chapter is doing.
Recently members met with LaJa-
unda Haight-Maybriar who is the
coordinator for the Licking River in
the Kentucky Division of Water Basin
Management. Haight-Maybriar visited
the chapter meeting and delivered a
presentation to members about water
quality that included sources of pollu-
tion from both urban and rural areas.
Haight-Maybriar explained the
2006 Integrated Report to Congress,
which included data on water bodies
assessed in Rowan County.
Additionally, Haight-Maybriar
discussed designated uses and limits of
impairments for those, such as aquatic
UK KFTC closes the year strong with student government election
The University of Kentucky KFTC
group wrapped up its first academic
year together. Highlights for the year
included, massive student voter reg-
istration drives resulting in more than
700 registrations, several large Restora-
tion of Voting Rights for Former Felons
events, great leadership development,
UK KFTC members celebrate after their last spring semester meeting. The
group will reconvene at the beginning of the academic fall semester.
life, swimming, boating, and drinking
water sources.
Rowan County has good water
quality in relation to much of the rest
of the state, largely due to almost half
of the county being a part of the Daniel
Boone National Forest.
Chapter members were excited to
hear this news since many of the mem-
bers participate in water sampling for
the Licking River Watershed Watch. It
also validates the chapter’s efforts with
the restoration of Laurel Creek.
Doug Doerrfeld will make an Open
Records Request from the Division of
Water for the engineered drawings and
the Consent Order for Laurel Creek so
the chapter can monitor the restora-
tion work as it happens this spring and
summer.
Most recently the Rowan County
chapter received a letter from Robert
Daniell, the manager of the Under-
ground Storage Tank Branch of the
Environmental Protection Cabinet,
a smashing Concert for the Common-
wealth last fall, and great ally work
to build connections both inside and
outside the campus community.
With enough time left in the spring
semester, UK KFTC members applied
KFTC’s voter empowerment tech-
niques and principles on campus to im-
thanking the chapter for its concern
and pledging to work with the chap-
ter. Shortly thereafter, 55-gallon drums
of contaminated soil were picked up
across Rowan County with reports that
more drums are being collected across
the state.
The chapter’s long-standing work
with Morehead State University (MSU)
has been only partially victorious in
recent months. Members met with
university officials to discuss the use
of alternative energy on campus while
ending use the coal-fired boiler system.
It appears that MSU will receive
$5.7 million from the state legislature
to repair a downed boiler. Because of
the chapter’s efforts, MSU was forced
to shut down the old boilers because of
illegal pollution.
MSU was forced to do the repairs
in order to run the coal boilers legally.
The chapter requested MSU to convert
all, or at least 20 percent, of their energy
to wood-waste. However, MSU did not
pact the Student Government elections
in April.
“We wanted people to be able to ac-
tually vote based on where candidates
stand on the issues,” said Katie Goldey,
a UK KFTC member and a primary
organizer of the voter empowerment
work around the election.
Of the 44 student government
candidates, 40 responded to a detailed
candidate survey concerning issues
important to students. The voter guide
was published on www.UKSGAElec-
tions.org giving students the opportu-
nity to compare candidate’s positions
of various issues.
Students from across campus had
KFTC is in need of digital cameras to continue to document
our work across the state. If you have an old digital camera
that is in working condition that you would like to donate
contact Tim Buckingham at 859-276-0563 or Tim@KFTC.org
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
to ask for funding from the state legis-
lature to make these changes.
While the system will pollute less
it will still be 100 percent dependent on
coal. Additionally, the funds appropri-
ated for the power plant do not appear
to be significant enough to completely
overhaul the system.
Instead, they can only repair and
replace parts and add a new bag-house.
Members of a chapter subcommittee
anticipate continuing their conversa-
tions with MSU President Wayne
Andrews in a collaborative effort to
protect the environment.
Rowan County is located in northeastern
Kentucky. Currently KFTC has 65 active
members in the Rowan County chapter.
input on the candidate survey ques-
tions asked, which touched on a broad
range of issues from environmental
justice to tuition to racial justice and
diversity.
Students organized campus ta-
blings, presentations, chalkings, mass-
emails, and other methods to drive
students to the web site. At the close of
the polls, Student Government election
web site had received more than 4,600
page views.
Methods such as these have been
applied by KFTC members in past to
state and local elections but this was
the first time they had been tested on a
university campus.
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
Local Updates
Members in Long Branch battle Whymore Coal Company
An ongoing struggle over illegal
mining in Leslie County has a former
KFTC chairperson fighting to save her
land.
“The old days are not over! These
things are still going on,” reported
Mary Jane Adams of Long Branch in
Leslie County.
Mary Jane and her husband, Ra-
leigh, are entangled in a legal battle
with Whymore Coal Company over a
broken lease agreement and charges of
trespassing while ongoing illegal min-
ing on their property is destroying their
forest and mountain.
In December 2007, Whymore Coal
Company of London broke a lease
agreement and contract with the Ad-
ams family when they stopped paying
the couple wheelage, a fee to use the
couple’s road to haul coal across. Since
that time, the company has continued
to use the family’s road and is actively
mining on a piece of property the cou-
ple said they own but a neighbor is also
claiming the rights to.
Previously, the Adams had leased
a portion of their property to the coal
company to be mined, but this lease
became void after the corporation
broke the terms of their agreement. In
December when the contract was first
Coalfield residents traveled to Cape Cod, Massachuetts in late April in support
of the Cape Wind Project. While there members participated in demonstra-
tions and shared their stories of living in the coalfields. As global warming
becomes a larger national issue, different groups are taking notice of the
stronghold King Coal has on the Appalachian Mountains.
violated, Raleigh sent the company a
letter acknowledging that the contract
was now void and demanded that
Whymore Coal immediately stop tres-
passing on his property and leave.
The company had 15 days to re-
spond, but the Adams report that they
only received one phone call and that
since that time and the company has
never attempted to remedy the breach.
The situation quickly escalated to
become more serious. Whymore Coal
moved heavy equipment onto portions
of the Adams’s private property in
March of this year and began actively
and illegally clearing their land with-
out payment or notification to the Ad-
ams. The retired couple also reported
threats have been made to their safety
by employees of Whymore Coal.
As of the Adams’s last court date in
April, the company had all of the prop-
erty on Long Branch cleared of all trees
on one side of the creek. Residents
thought they were disregarding prop-
erty boundaries and trespassing on
neighbor Leonard Joseph’s property,
but later found that the company had
gotten access to one heir in an undi-
vided tract. Joseph and his three sisters
are against the mining.
Because of Kentucky’s convoluted
Raleigh Adams and his neighbors continue to monitor the coal operators at
a distance to document if they continue to trespass on his land.
laws, Whymore was not harvesting the
logs as it scalped the hillside because
state law does not allow one heir with
a minority ownership interest to allow
logging. But the law does allow one mi-
nority heir to allow the property to be
mined. Scalping the hillside of trees is
considered part of the mining process,
so it is permitted.
Whymore Coal now is mining coal
on a piece of land that is currently being
disputed in court between the Adams
family and a neighbor. The Adams’s
claim the property as their own, but
there is a dispute with a neighbor over
property lines. The next hearing where
the property lines and the legitimacy of
the lease will be argued is May 7.
In the meantime, the judge has al-
lowed the company to continue mining
on the disputed property.
For the Adams family, this means
that even if the judge rules in their
favor and grants them the ownership
over the disputed property, the couple
will retain a piece of property already
destroyed by Whymore Coal Com-
pany.
“There is no right, rhyme or rea-
son for the lease, and it just astounds
me that the judge ruled in favor of
the company. We’re now in a waiting
game. Nothing I have experienced has
Page 
ever been so stressful, not even cancer,”
said Mary Jane Adams who is currently
battling ovarian cancer.
If the judge grants ownership to
the Adams, the couple might at least
be paid some money for the coal il-
legally mined from their property. But
it’s likely this sum would be small in
comparison to the damage done.
The couple insists that money is not
the point and does nothing for them if
their land is destroyed. “We don’t want
money. I would live in poverty if it
meant this company would see some
justice,” said Mary Jane.
Despite these set backs, the Adams
are determined to stand their ground.
The couple will continue to organize
with the support of KFTC.
“We’re going to do everything we
can to stop them,” said a determined
Raleigh Adams.
Mary Jane Adams is a former vice
chairperson of KFTC and served as the
chairperson of the organization during
the Broad Form Deed Campaign in
KFTC’s early history. The couple are
long-time supporters of the organiza-
tion.
KFTC members in the region are
continuing to support Mary Jane and
Raleigh Adams in their fight to keep
illegal mining off their land.
Page 10 balancing the scales, April 28, 2008

Local Updates
KFTC members work with ally organizations to advance
fair housing goals in local Bowling Green elections ity for many
Bowling Green members and KFTC work closer to home.
allies are gearing up for the primary in Bowling
“Housing discrimination and unfair
election season by continuing to place Green — ra-
landlord practices are among the most
fair housing on Bowling Green’s politi- cial discord,
pressing issues in the neighborhood that
cal agenda. economic in-
Kaleidoscope serves,” said Kickert.
In recent months attention has been equity, and,
Another event Kaleidoscope hosted
drawn to fair housing in Bowling Green underlying it
called unCOMMon UNITY brought at-
primarily by Kaleidoscope, an organiza- all, a dearth
tention to the lack of renters’ right and
tion that connects youth to social activ- of resources
other fair housing provisions in Bowling
ism through the arts. for renters.
Green. Students brought their own
One of Kaleidoscope’s programs, A d -
experiences — stories from their own
Voices 4 Justice, holds an annual event d i t i o n a l l y,
families and friends — to the workshop,
in support of an issue of injustice. the spoken
using them to create songs, poetry, hung
Ben Kickert, Kaleidoscope’s word, poetry
art, and performance art to describe the
Community Youth Development and songs
problems of renters in Bowling Green.
Coordinator, said that over the last also pointed
Much of the art on display showed
two years Voices 4 Justice has high- to significant
the veneer of happiness and harmony
lighted global issues of injustice, and differences in
that is presented at first glance, trying
that this year the students wanted to the quality of
to whitewash over what is the real-
life between
the haves
and the have-
Below is an excerpt from “LISTEN” nots. KFTC member Dana Beasley-Brown spoke to the crowd about
M e l i s s a housing issues at the March 4 Voices 4 Justice event in Bowl-
Syleethia Holesome and KFTC member Bonny McDonald wrote and per-
R o d a r t e , a ing Green.
formed the poem “Listen” below at the Voices 4 Justice event on March 4
KFTC mem- Photo by WKU Herald photographer Luke Sharret
ber who
Oppression heightened the work around fair hous- sion with KFTC, Habitat for Humanity,
it’s mutated and transformed ing in Bowling Green, said, “This event and the Housing Authority.
Like a virus brought light to an area in Bowling The forum is an opportunity to air
Infecting homes Green that has not been taken care of by out concerns and show support for Uni-
Of the nameless landlords. It’s embarrassing when you form Residential Landlord and Tenant
The so-called ‘Aliens’ realize that you are part of a community Act (URLTA), other fair housing policies,
that prides itself on such high Christian and to develop relationships between
Hold your opinion until you’ve heard the stories values and still allows people to be mis- residents of the west side of Bowling
treated.” Green and Western Kentucky University
Americans fought England for liberty Rodarte is excited about the po- (WKU) students — two groups that are
only to chain up millions of slaves tential that Kaleidoscope and KFTC, especially affected the lack of renters’
Oh, we revised our ways— working together, have to help renters in rights.
traded chains for illegitimate taxes and Bowling Green. Rodarte sees this forum as a way
unlivable wages “Our alliance helps these young to further the work that Voices 4 Justice
people realize that they are not alone in started, and has been working with
Listen to the stories what they do,” said Rodarte. “They are other members to reach out to residents
There are hundreds in our city able to see that there really are adults of the west side to involve them in the
they come like waves when you’re willing to from many backgrounds, races, cultures forum.
listen they come crashing down like breakers and ages who are willing to make a dif- “I just hope to make more people
breakers of contracts and hearts  ference.” aware of the issues involving the west
There’s a sea of ugliness at work  unCOMMon UNITY laid the part of town, especially the lack of city
groundwork for this month’s event — a code enforcements and lack of laws to
Please hold your opinion until you know the stories  Fair Housing Forum sponsored by the protect landlords and tenants,” said Ro-
Bowling Green Human Rights Commis- darte.
there are pages and pages of the same old


truths in the history books
nothing’s changed since 1890 Stay up-to-date with KFTC members,
our streets are hiding secrets
landowners direct the flow visit www.KFTC.org/blog
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
High Road Initiative Update
High Road Initiative builds momentum during session
toward long-term economic development policy change
Building on the gubernatorial elec-
tion last year — where High Road eco-
nomic development ideas were part of
the campaign debate — the High Road
Initiative approached the 2008 legisla-
tive session with a goal of spreading
these ideas and discussion among law-
makers.
KFTC members and staff from
KFTC and the Mountain Association
for Economic Development (MACED)
logged many hours in the hallways
introducing the High Road to legisla-
tors, working with sponsors to develop
legislation and to build support.
More than one legislator was sur-
prised to learn that KFTC is involved
in economic development. While some
legislators, especially in the coalfields,
are happy to have some common
ground with KFTC, there are others
who are only now becoming aware of
the organization.
Though the High Road Initiative
is now on the radar of legislators, the
Cabinet for Economic Development
and the governor’s staff, there still
remains the challenge of being taken
seriously and given a respectful ear.
2008 Policy Goals
Prior to the beginning of the 2008
General Assembly, the High Road
Strategy Team set policy goals for the
session to:
a) increase support for homegrown
entrepreneurs and small businesses;
b) increase support for promising sec-
tors like sustainable forestry, renew-
able energy/energy efficiency; and
c) enact economic development system
reforms to broaden membership of
the Partnership Board, require a
Unified Development Budget report
and implement sunsetting provi-
sions for incentive programs.
Highlights
During the session the High Road
Initiative helped to introduce four
pieces of legislation with three different
sponsors. House Concurrent Resolu-
tion 178, sponsored by Rep. Dwight
Butler, called for a statewide task force
to support entrepreneurship and small
business. House Bill 718 wanted to
expand the Partnership Board and
“If it’s something I believe in — and I really do believe in
what we’re doing in KFTC, it’s hard to keep me quiet.”
Mary Love, Jefferson County member
require a new state economic develop-
ment plan.
House Bill 748 would have set
expiration dates and an evaluation
process before any incentive programs
could be reauthorized. House Bill 750
would required an annual public re-
port of revenue lost from incentives.
The High Road Initiative also active-
ly supported three pieces of renewable
energy/energy efficiency legislation.
House Bill 92 would have lowered
the investment threshold from $1 mil-
lion to $50,000 for renewable energy
facilities to receive state incentives.
House Bill 313 expanded Kentucky’s
existing net-metering law to include
wind, biomass, and hydro electrical
generation, and increase the maximum
amount of electricity to be put back
on the grid. House Bill 2 created tax
incentives for homes and businesses to
install renewable energy systems or to
improve their energy efficiency.
The High Road bills and HB 92
(like more than 92 percent of the bills
introduced in the 2008 session) did not
become law. Most of the provision of
HB 313 were incorporated into SB 83,
which is now law. HB 2 also was ex-
panded as is made its way through the
legislative process and was passed.
Even though the economic devel-
opment bills did not pass, members
were very successful in creating new
levels of discussion about economic
development and energy policy. Addi-
tionally, they provided new opportuni-
ties for KFTC and MACED to develop
specific policy proposals for people to
bring real life experience to the halls of
Frankfort.
The High Road Initiative was
introduced to members of House
committees for Agriculture and Small
Business; Economic Development; Ap-
propriations and Revenue; and Tour-
ism Development and Energy through
KFTC members and allies testifying in
Page 11
dedicated leadership of KFTC member
Mary Love of Jefferson County. Love
patiently and persistently met with leg-
islators on numerous days and testified
on several occasions.
“If it’s something I believe in — and
I really do believe in what we’re doing
in KFTC, it’s hard to keep me quiet,”
four committee meetings. said Love. “I’m really having a ball lob-
The legislative session also provid- bying and meeting with folks. It’s very
ed the setting to begin a dialogue with important work and I’m loving it!”
the new Beshear administration. High         The High Road Initiative rec-
Road Initiative members and staff met ognized and extended its thanks to
three times with representatives from Reps. Dwight Butler, Don Pasley,
the administration including Cabinet Harry Moberly and Jim Wayne for their
Secretary Larry Hayes, Executive As- leadership and belief in the principles
sistant Colmon Elridge and Economic behind the High Road Initiative. Each
Development Secretary John Hind- sponsored one or more of the Hgh Road
man. bills. KFTC members are excited to
The high profile of the High Road work with them over the course of this
Initiative was due in large part to the next year and into the 2009 session.
Heartwood Forest Council in Ohio
18th Annual Heartwood Forest Council,
held Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, 2008, at Boy Scout Camp
Oyo in the Shawnee State Forest near West Portsmouth, Ohio.
Hosts for this years event include Heartwood, the Buckeye Forest
Council, Save Our Shawnee Forest, Voices for the Forest, Meigs Citizens
Action Now, Protect Biodiversity in Public Forests, EarthWatch Ohio
and Southern Ohio Neighbor’s Group. The theme of this year’s Forest
Council is “Burning Issues: Climate is a Forest Product.”
What is the Heartwood Forest Council?
The Heartwood Forest Council is the largest annual gathering of
citizens from across the eastern, midwestern, and southern United
States who care about the health and well-being of the nation’s
forests. The gathering will focus on threats to the region and to
human and community health in an atmosphere of collaboration
designed to form stronger personal and organizational connections.
While addressing the issues and celebrating the work done, the
Forest Council offers participants an opportunity to identify lasting
solutions and proven action steps that will move people, as a
community, toward a shared vision of a healthy, just, and sustainable
society.
Up-to-date information, including program, registration, directions,
a complete presenter list, and ride-share information will soon be
available at www.heartwood.org/forestcouncil.
Page 12
Canary Project Update
Canary Project leaders and members travel to Washington,
DC to lobby in support of the Clean Water Protection Act
by Sara Pennington
On April 5, thirteen KFTC mem-
bers, including five members of the
Canary Leadership Network, arrived
in Washington, D.C. to join more than
100 volunteers from 20 states in lobby-
ing for the Clean Water Protection Act.
This year’s Mountaintop Removal
Week in Washington was brought to-
gether by the Alliance for Appalachia,
a consortium of 13 grassroots organiza-
tions throughout the region, including
KFTC.
The Clean Water Protection Act
(HR 2169), a two-sentence amendment
restoring language of the Clean Water
Act, would once again make illegal the
dumping of mining waste into water-
ways. The Clean Water Act was modi-
fied by an administrative rule of the
Bush administration in 2002.
Prior to the Week in Washington,
HR 2169 had bipartisan support of 129
cosponsors. The goal of the week was
to share with legislators the importance
of halting mountaintop removal min-
ing and to garner further support for
HR 2169 in the form of more cospon-
sors.
During the lobbying training on
April 6, KFTC members spoke along-
side residents from Virginia, Tennes-
see and West Virginia on the issue of
mountaintop removal mining in Ken-
tucky.
In addition to providing a coalfield
Sharman and Jeff Chapman-Crane met with members of the Beehive Collec-
tive at their home in Eolia of Letcher County.
perspective, the Alliance for Appala-
chia trained all the participants on the
details of the bill, lobbying techniques,
and effective messaging. Before going
into lobby visits the next day, par-
ticipants practiced their skills in mock
meetings with legislators.
Participants made more than 130
lobby visits on Capitol Hill Monday
through Wednesday. By the end of lob-
bying, HR 2169 had gained four new
cosponsors and the staff for dozens of
legislators had been deeply informed,
many of them for the first time, on the
issue of mountaintop removal mining
and how the Clean Water Protection act
would rein in the practice.
KFTC members spoke to legisla-
tors and staff about their personal
experiences in the coalfields. Members
spoke alongside constituents of legisla-
tors from scores of districts outside Ap-
palachia.
KFTC members also participated in
meetings with both the House and Sen-
ate staff of the Environment and Public
Works committees. The real progress
of these meetings will be made in the
weeks to come as citizens follow up
with those staff and legislators who
promised to consider cosponsoring the
bill. Last year the Alliance gained 20
new cosponsors in the weeks following
the lobby visits.
During the week, KFTC member
Rully Urias met with the congressional
staff of all three presidential candi-
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
dates, Senators Clinton, McCain and and all the other groups participating
Obama. became further empowered in the fight
According to Urias, all three are against mountaintop removal mining
still “dancing around” the issue of by just being in each other’s company.
Lorelei Scarbro of West Virginia, Anne Leigh of Tennessee, Larry Bush of
Virginia and KFTC member Carl Shoupe of Benham, Kentucky, spoke as
coalfield residents during training for the 2008 Mountaintop Removal Week
in Washington.
Photo by Jamie Goodman, Parson Brown Productions
mountaintop removal coal mining. From sharing stories about indi-
Each still talks about the possibilities vidual fights and successes against Big
of “clean coal,” though Obama’s aide, Coal, to belting out karaoke songs, to
Todd Adkinson, was quick to correct jamming together to old time tunes, to
himself and say “cleaner” coal. sharing meals, to comparing blisters
Urias summed up the opinions of from all the walking on Capitol Hill,
the senators’ staff this way: they all this group of more than 125 volunteers
acknowledged, “We still have to use it from the east coast to the west to ev-
(coal), but we’ve got to do it better.” erywhere in between left Washington,
In addition to participating in suc- D.C. energized and ready for all the
cessful lobby visits, KFTC members hard work ahead.
Busy bees in eastern Kentucky
A group of young artists from coal industry abuses and mountaintop
Maine are working on a graphic ban- removal in the coalfields, and offer a
ner project that will tell the story of vision of hope for the future.
coalfield resistance to mountaintop re- The poster is expected to be com-
moval and the role every consumer in pleted this fall and KFTC will have ac-
the United States plays in the destruc- cess to a large banner and will be able
tion of Appalachian mountains and to sell posters of the design as well as
streams. The Beehive Collective is an use it as an educational and organizing
internationally known design group tool.
whose work takes on pressing social Additionally, the artists are also de-
justice issues. signing educational materials on coal
Nine artists from the collective that will supplement their artwork.
stayed in Harlan County and visited To learn more about The Beehive
with KFTC members in mid-April to Collective and view some of their
collaborate on designing a banner work, visit them online at: www.bee-
that will tell the story of resistance to hivecollective.org.
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
Canary Project Update
Coalfield residents to travel to Columbia to share stories
KFTC members Rully Urias and
Sara Pennington will join staff mem-
ber Patty Tarquino as a part of a Wit-
ness For Peace delegation to Colom-
bia on May 24–31.
The purpose of the journey is to
follow the trail of the coal that sup-
plies power to New England and
meet with human rights activists,
trade unionists, members of Afro-
Colombian indigenous communities,
and others affected by coal produc-
tion in Colombia.
The trip will give members the
opportunity to share stories and draw
connections between the work in
Kentucky on coal issues and the orga-
nizing work happening in Colombia
around coal. an abundance of oil, minerals, and
“I feel we will be able to serve as
an important cultural bridge for the
participants traveling from Massa-
chusetts,” said Pennington. “Like the
members of Witness for Peace, Rully
and I are U.S. citizens. But like the res-
idents of the coalfields of Columbia,
we live in a region that is considered
a ‘sacrifice zone’ for the energy needs
of the United States.”
Colombia is home to two of the
largest coal mines in the world, which
export to the U.S. Just as it has in Ap-
palachia, the coal industry in Colom-
bia has devastated the land and the
people.
The Colombia excursion is a
“Like the members of Witness for Peace, Rully and I
are U.S. citizens. But like the residents of the coalfields
of Columbia, we live in a region that is considered
a ‘sacrifice zone’ for the energy needs of the United
States.”
Sarah Pennington, Knott County Chapter
leadership development opportunity
as well as a unique venue for build-
ing international connections among
coalfield residents.
Colombia is a country rich in
culture, beauty, and resources with
other natural resources. However,
many Colombians are left desperately
impoverished and trapped in an un-
just economic system because an elite
minority and large multinational cor-
porations from North America and
Europe control the vast majority of
the country’s wealth and resources.
Making matters worse, govern-
ment forces, on many occasions, have
worked with the paramilitary to sup-
press worker rights movements, labor
unions, organizers, and human rights
defenders. The social, environmental,
and economic injustice goes hand-in-
hand with a cycle of violence.
Coal is a primary impetus of this
injustice and vio-
lence. Colombia
is home to two of
the largest open-
pit coal mines in
the world. Exxon
created El Cer-
rejon in the 1980s.
A consortium of
European-based
companies and
La Loma (owned
by the Alabama-
based Drummond
Company) now
owns El Cerrajon.
The Colom-
bian mines export
large quantities of
coal to the United
States and have
been accused of
serious human
Page 13
But the similarities don’t stop
there. Like in Colombia, in Kentucky,
there are ordinary — yet extraordi-
nary — community members who are
taking a stand.
KFTC members are fighting hard
to protect their land, water and heri-
tage while at the same time build a
movement for a sustainable future
beyond coal. KFTC members are
working to establish local sustainable
economies that do not compromise
rights violations. the well-being of the community, and
Also, as a former coal miner, are putting renewable energy and
Urias said he “can relate to the hard- energy efficiency alternatives on the
ships that the industry puts onto the table as direct alternatives to more
workers and the community.” coal.
Coal companies in Kentucky, like The excursion will explore how
in Colombia, extract coal at any cost, to build solidarity around holding
starve the region of opportunity, and corporations accountable, will help
work diligently to squash any threats KFTC members draw connections
to their profits all while causing between their local campaigns and
grave destruction to the Appalachian global energy and climate change is-
mountains and headwater streams. sues, and will lay the foundation for
This outlaw industry has scarred the a cross-cultural coalfield exchange
land and the people — in Kentucky between Colombian residents and
and in Colombia. KFTC members in eastern Kentucky.
Specific products from the
trip will likely include:
• Audio pieces produced in collaboration with the Community
Correspondence Corps and the Place Stories Project at
Appalshop. These pieces can be aired on local radio programs
and accessed through the KFTC web site so that a broader
audience can experience the exchange.
• Digital stories that merge audio and photographs that will
allow folks to take a virtual tour of the Colombian mining
communities. These digital stories will be accessed through the
KFTC web site and will be used in Canary Leadership Network
trainings.
• Press advisories and press releases to local and statewide
newspapers which will inform Kentuckians about what is
happening in Colombia while also demonstrating that KFTC is
providing leadership in creating a future beyond coal within
Kentucky and abroad.
• Speaking engagements in which the KFTC delegation will
share the story of their exchange with other KFTC members,
students, allies, and the general public.
Track their travel at www.KFTC.org/blog
Page 14
Floyd County members’ stories inspire steering committee
“This is the next place that’s going
to get licked by strip mining if we don’t
do something,” warned Bev May of
Wilson Creek in Floyd County. She was
speaking to the KFTC Steering Com-
mittee that met in Prestonsburg for its
April meeting.
The Floyd County chapter wel-
comed their fellow KFTC members to
their community and shared highlights
from their work.
“It used to be beautiful here,”
noted Barbara Bailey who lives in
Hueysville. “It used to be peaceful.
Kids could play outside without being
scared and I could hang my clothes out
on the line.”
“This used to be paradise,” added
Bailey’s husband, Todd. “It’s not like
that any more.”
Injustice — and resistance to it
— isn’t new to Floyd County. When
KFTC began in 1981, Floyd County
emerged as one of the first chapters. In
fact, the first KFTC office was located in
Prestonsburg.
Members in those early days
worked on coal
issues, education
issues, and later
worked on welfare “The Floyd County Chapter’s dedication
reform. However,
the chapter faded and work is an inspiration to the entire
out in the mid-
1990s. organization.”
In summer
2007, the chapter
was revived when
folks from several
Floyd County communities, including
Wilson Creek and Hueysville, came
together.
“We realized that to hold a chapter
together, we’d have to be about some-
thing,” explained May. “We couldn’t
just be individual communities fight-
ing individual problems.”
“Because of KFTC,” May added,
“we’ve had the tools we needed to fight
back against the coal industry.”
Floyd County members have chal-
lenged valley fill permits and filed nu-
merous complaints with the Environ-
mental and Public Protection Cabinet
to challenge its lack of enforcement.
They have learned about regulations
and have partnered with attorneys at
the Appalachian Citizens Law Center
to force enforcement agencies to pay
attention.
Members like Rick Handshoe keep
meticulous records of all their com-
plaints.
“If I learned one thing when I
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008
worked for the state, it’s that you have
to keep good paperwork,” said Hand-
shoe.
Although they face significant
challenges, the Floyd County members
have seen important results.
“Our work has shut down the
way the coal companies do business,”
affirmed Handshoe. “They usually
just continue doing what they do, but
we’ve held up their permits.”
Not only are coal operations feel-
ing the Floyd County chapter’s resis-
tance, state enforcement agencies are
also having to pay attention to their
complaints. Recently, Paul Rothman,
the director of the Division of Mine
Reclamation and Enforcement, met
with Handshoe for an hour to discuss
complaints filed by the chapter. Floyd County members Beverly May (center), Rick Handshoe and Barbara
During this meeting, Handshoe Bailey spoke at the April Steering Committee meeting about the success the
was able to point out major mistakes chapter has seen as well as the challenges facing the community.
enforcement officers made on admin-
istrative reports regarding the Floyd noted May. “We want to double our thing or two from them. We won’t back
County complaints. He showed Roth- membership again this year.” down either. We’re all fighting for the
man one complaint that coal opera- Bailey explained the importance of same thing.”
tors were burying trees in hollow fills having one-on-one conversations with “The Floyd County chapter is on a
neighbors. “When roll,” exclaimed Pam Maggard of Knott
Rick came to talk County. “Their passion and determina-
to me about KFTC, tion are contagious.”
I thought it was “Their work is important because
great. It’s amaz- they give us all hope,” she added.
ing what we can Steve Boyce of Madison County
accomplish going agreed. “I was struck by how much
door to door.” courage it takes to do what they’re do-
“I believe ing and by how resourceful, patient,
Doug Doerrfeld, Chair, KFTC Chairperson there’s a lot more and ingenious they have been. There’s
members here es- a lot we can learn from the folks in
pecially if we can Floyd County about the work we’ve
which is illegal. The first state inspector make a victory out of one thing,” add- begun in Madison County to oppose
denied that trees were being buried ed Handshoe. “They’ll see that change the building of two new East Kentucky
to which Floyd County members re- can happen.” Power Cooperative coal-fired power
sponded, “Then where are the trees?” Steering Committee members plants near us.”
“It’s not a lack of enforcement,” drew much inspiration from the Floyd To win, Boyce added, “We’ll need
said Handshoe. “It’s no enforcement.” County presentation. some measure of the courage that
Because their complaints are draw- “I felt like they were talking about Floyd County members are bringing to
ing attention, Floyd County members what is going on with us in Pike their work. They set a pretty high stan-
are beginning to feel substantial com- County,” said Erica Urias. “I learned a dard.”
munity pressure and have become
targets of intimidation tactics.
“They try to intimidate me every
now and then,” explained Handshoe, In addition to hearing about the work of the Floyd County
“but that doesn’t work. We’ll keep do- Chapter, during their April meeting, the Steering Committee:
ing what we need to do.”
The Floyd County chapter contin- •Heard reports on KFTC’s legislative issues and evaluated work
ues to organize around mining issues. during the 2008 General Assembly.
They are planning a candidate forum
for the May primary election and are
reaching out to other communities in
•Discussed organizational changes that might be pursued in
the county including people in Allen order to broaden our voter empowerment work.
and in a housing project who are deal-
ing with issues related to a coal tipple. •Discussed the political landscape around coal and energy
“We try to get in touch with other issues and brainstormed priorities for moving forward.
folks and make them feel welcome,”
balancing the scales, April 28, 2008 Page 15

KFTC staff expands with new hire, new duties and openings
Amy Hogg Joins Staff Team Jessica George Transitions to Development Director
Amy Hogg joined KFTC’s staff team in early April, filling the position of In March, KFTC filled the Development Director position. KFTC’s new Devel-
Writer. As Writer, Hogg will assist the executive director and other staff members opment Director is Jessica George!
in maintaining consistent and effective communication with leaders, allies, and George has been the Jefferson
funders. Among other writing projects, County Chapter Organizer since Febru-
Hogg will play a major role in grant writ- ary 2005. In that time, the chapter has
ing and reporting. nearly doubled in size and George has
Hogg is originally from Letcher worked to deepen KFTC’s alliances in
County and now lives in Berea with her Louisville and raised the profile of cam-
husband, Mike, and their two daughters paigns around mountaintop removal
— Ellie who is 12 and Claire who is 9. and restoration voting rights to former
When she’s not writing, she enjoys cook- felons.
ing, reading, camping, raising a garden, George plans to bring her organizing
and watching her daughters perform in a instincts and fundraising experience to
local children’s theater group. the new position.
Hogg comes to KFTC from Berea Col- “As Development Director, I’m
lege where one of her responsibilities was excited to take the skills that I’ve gained
maintaining correspondence with foun- as an organizer and apply them to
dations and donors. fundraising,” noted George. “I think the
“Now that I have children, I’m increasingly aware of the urgency of solving strength and sustainability of our work
Kentucky’s problems, particularly in eastern Kentucky where I grew up,” said and our organization is through our abil-
Hogg. “I see our mountains disappearing, and I’m angry that my children won’t ity to solidify grassroots support, $15 at a
enjoy them as I did. That’s why I’m glad to be at KFTC — to help do something time.”
about it.” When she’s not working on grassroots fundraising, George spends her time
creating spreadsheets, crafting, and house hunting with her partner, Heather. If
you have any leads on a great house near the Louisville office, give Jessica a call!
Steering Committee Members Reflect Dave Newton Becomes KFTC’s First Voter Empowerment Organizer
on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although KFTC has done voter empowerment work throughout its history,
this work has significantly increased in the last four years. Last year alone, KFTC
registered more than 1,300 voters and distributed nearly 20,000 non-partisan voter
April 4th marked the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. guides.
During their April 5th meeting, Steering Committee members reflected In order to increase capacity to do even more voter registration, education, and
on Dr. King’s legacy and what it means for KFTC’s work today. Here are mobilization around the state, the Steering Committee decided to hire a Voter Em-
some of those reflections. powerment Organizer to coordinate this body of work. KFTC’s Central Kentucky
Organizer Dave Newton has been chosen to fill the position.
“Even though Martin Luther King was killed, the movement went on. Newton has been organizing in Central Kentucky since the summer of 2004. As
The same is true for us. For KFTC, we’ll keep going on no matter what.” an organizer, Newton helped the Cen-
Rick Handshoe, Floyd County tral Kentucky chapter grow to nearly
1,400 members and has helped build the
Restoration of Voting Rights for Former
“Martin Luther King Day is the most important holiday we have. We
Felons Campaign. He has also played
need to recognize everyone’s humanity. We need to honor his work. He
a key role in developing KFTC’s voter
was right on and his message applies perhaps even more today.”
empowerment program.
Lyle Snider, Perry County “Through our growing system of
voter registration, education, and mo-
“They put their entire lives on hold for the movement. They risked bilization, I think we have a chance at
everything for the cause.” fundamentally changing how elections
K.A. Owens, Jefferson County are won in the state of Kentucky,” said
Newton about the potential of KFTC’s
“I remember going through the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham voter empowerment work. “I think we
thinking, ‘This is incomprehensible. Why would people do this to other can make it less about money and more
people?’ I hope one day folks will go to the Coal Mining Museum in about issues and connecting with the
Benham and there’ll be pictures of mountaintop removal and people people of the state.”
will see them and say ‘this is incomprehensible.’” In addition to registering voters and
Pam Maggard, Knott County sending out candidate surveys, Newton enjoys zombie movies, clipboards, fruit
roll ups, and spending time with his girlfriend, Caitlin and his cat, Emma.
“When I joined the military and went to the South to Fort Benning, it
grieved my heart. You could see the oppression as soon as you stepped
KFTC is in the process of hiring chapter organizers to replace George and Newton.
off the bus. What Martin Luther King did wasn’t popular at the time. It’s
In addition, KFTC will soon be announcing a new position — a Development Associate
an inspiration. What we’re doing isn’t popular, but we keep doing it.” — who will manage the growing database, sync it with the voter empowerment work, and
Truman Hurt, Perry County assist with grassroots fundraising. Please check the KFTC web site in the coming weeks for
more information about this position.
Page 16 balancing the scales, April 28, 2008

Keep current with the KFTC blog

Have you ever wanted to know what KFTC members are up to between issues
of balancing the scales? Are you interested in seeing more photos and videos from
Calendar of Events
recent KFTC events? Would you like to participate in a dialog with other members
(and opponents) about KFTC’s issues and work? If so, come pay a visit to the May 6 Harlan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at Southeast Community
KFTC blog at www.kftc.org/blog. College Appalachian Center, Cumberland
Recent posts include reports on the state budget and the growing economic di-
vide in the United States, a series of articles outlining the systemic lack of enforce- May 6 Bowling Green/Western Kentucky member meeting, 6:30 p.m. at
ment of mining laws by state officials, a report on members at the Bank of America Kaleidoscope Office on Durbin
shareholders meeting, and reprints of letters and op-eds by KFTC members.
Since its debut almost a year ago, traffic on the blog has increased nearly every May 12 Jefferson County chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the KFTC office in
month. Along with the growing amount of visitors, the number of contributors Louisville (901 Franklin Street)
writing about various topics has also increased.
The KFTC blog provides a unique space on the web for people to talk about May 12 Letcher County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at the KFTC office in
grassroots activism and social justice in Kentucky. If this appeals to you, now is a Whitesburg
great time to join KFTC’s community of bloggers. You can submit a blog post or
simply comment on one of the various entries. May 12 Floyd County chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at St. Martha Catholic
Members are needed who are interested in telling their stories or providing Church near Prestonsburg
commentary on current events. If you are interested in contributing to the blog,
please contact erik@kftc.org with your ideas. May 13 Pike County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at the Pike County Public
Library

May 15 Rowan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal

Church on 5th Street in Morehead

May 15 Central Kentucky chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at the Episcopal

Diocese Mission House (on the corner of Martin Luther King
Blvd. and 4th Street) in Lexington

May 17 KFTC Steering Committee meeting

May 20 Kentucky Primary Election, Remember to Vote!

May 20 Knott County chapter meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Hindman Settlement

School

May 20 Perry County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at Hazard Community

College vocational education building, room 116

May 26 Madison County chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at Child Development

Lab on Jefferson St., Berea

June 3 Harlan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at Southeast Community

College Appalachian Center, Cumberland

June 3 Bowling Green/Western Kentucky member meeting, 6:30 p.m. at

Kaleidoscope Office on Durbin

June 9 Jefferson County chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the KFTC office in
Louisville (901 Franklin Street)

June 9 Letcher County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at the KFTC office in

Whitesburg

June 9 Floyd County chapter meeting, 7 p.m. at St. Martha Catholic

Church near Prestonsburg

June 10 Pike County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at the Pike County Public
Library

June 19 Rowan County chapter meeting, 6 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal

Church on 5th Street in Morehead