Hillbilly Report

I Love Mountains Day, Photo Slide Youtube Video.

Hillbilly Report
Glendale, Kentucky
February 18, 2008
www.ditchmitchky.com
www.bluegrassroots.org
Hillbilly Report Videos

I shot a few photos at the "I love Mountains Day" in Frankfort, Ky. and put them to the music of "Kentucky Borderline" by Rhonda Vincent and The Rage. Enjoy.

I Love My Mountain Day, Frankfort, KY. Full Version, Google Video.

Hillbilly Report
Glendale, Kentucky
February 15, 2008
www.ditchmitchky.com
www.bluegrassroots.org
Hillbilly Report Videos
Below is video of the entire I Love my Mountain Day event in Frankfort, KY. 02.14.08. To view shorter clips of the event click here, here and here.

I Love Mountain Day, Frankfort, KY. Shame on You Jim Gooch!! Youtube Video.

Hillbilly Report
Glendale, Kentucky
February 15, 2008
www.ditchmitchky.com
www.bluegrassroots.org
Hillbilly Report Videos
Several days ago I received an email asking me to attend the "I Love Mountains Day" in Frankfort, KY. The email expressed concern that the mainstream media would ignore their event. Since I'm just a "Dumb Ass Hillbilly" and realize the importance of clean water and the influence of coal mine operators money to folks like Jim Gooch, I made the trip to Frankfort, KY. to tried and capture the flavor of the event.
It's simply unbelievable to me that hundreds of people can gather to protest policies supported by folks like Jim Gooch and the mainstream press doesn't cover it, but I saw it with my own eyes.
Below are 3 video clips of the event and I am uploading the entire video of the rally as I write and hope to have it up in a day or two.
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This is why the rally was held, shame on you Jim Gooch.
In 2005 Kentucky became the first state in the nation to propose a bill that would end the dumping of mine wastes into headwater streams, one of the most destructive aspects of mountaintop removal mining. At the current rate, this form of mining will destroy an additional 1,000 miles of streams in the next decade.
Despite the clear, negative environmental impact of this type of mining and the efforts of hundreds of citizen lobbyists, our Stream Saver Bill has been held up in the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee for the last three years without once being given a hearing.  The chair of the committee, Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence) refuses to even present the bill to the committee for discussion.  In the 2007 session Rep. Gooch claimed there was no public outcry about this type of mining.  On the following Saturday the Lexington Herald-Leader published over a dozen letters from people all around the state, outraged by his comments (the paper had received more than 60 such letters).
In the 2008 General Assembly, we are going to make our biggest push yet for this legislation, and we need the help of all of our members and anyone who cares about health and well-being of our environment and our people.

Ernie Fletcher’s Latest Letter And It’s Not About Who Contributed To His Secret Defense Fund!!!

Hillbilly Report
Glendale, Kentucky
http://www.hillbillyreport.com/
July 7, 2007
OPINION
Ernie Fletcher and Jim Gooch want a special session, but Jim Gooch and Ernie Fletcher were nowhere to be seen when the mine worker widows were begging for mine worker safety legislation, in February of this year. I suggest Governor Ernie Fletcher and Chairman Jim Gooch of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee were cow towing to the coal companies then just like they are doing now.
If the Democrats cave in to Ernie Fletcher, on this issue, before Ernie Fletcher makes public all of the contributors to his secret defense fund, they are nuts.
ERNIE FLETCHERS LATEST LETTER:
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
ERNIE FLETCHER GOVERNOR
July 6, 2007
700 CAPITAL AVENUE
SUITE 100
FRANKFORT, KY 40601
(502) 564-261 1
FAX: (502) 564-2517
The Honorable Jody Richards
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Capitol Annex Room 303
Frankfort, KY 40601
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Dear Speaker Richards:
Pursuant to our conversation at 1:00 pm today, I am writing to confirm that you have agreed to convene a meeting with your leadership and me, either in person or by conference call.
You will be contacting my assistant, Ty Slone, to arrange a time as soon as possible. We await your call.
Testimony presented to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee today confirmed that the anticipated economic impact of the Peabody investment for a synthetic natural gas plant in the western part of state would create 4,050 jobs during the construction phase of several years and 2,805 jobs thereafter. The total impact would amount to $10.8 billion
in the region over the incentive period. If a coal to liquid plant is added, that would produce an additional 3,724 jobs during construction and 3,786 jobs after the construction phase, and up to $19 billion regional impact over the period of incentive.
Rick Bowen, President of Peabody Energy BTU, testified that construction of a synthetic natural gas plant is not dependent on new federal legislation and that a decision as to the location of a plant would be made in 90 days. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity. While you were here working on the energy bill, I felt that it would be appropriate that we also work on other opportunities for the Commonwealth, and additionally authorize a number of projects, most of which had already been passed by both the House and the Senate. None of these should be controversial, and I have supported them from the point when our bond rating outlook was upgraded.
If there are items that you feel are political and not good policy for the Commonwealth, please let me know what they are and I will discuss the elimination of those from the call.
Sincerely,
Ernie Fletcher
Richards, The Honorable Jody
July 6,2007
c: Representative Larry Clark
Representative Rob Wilkey
Representative Rocky Adkins
Representative Charlie Hoffman