I understand the reality of our N.C. General Assembly, where members must place their support strategically during session so they may garner reciprocated support for their sponsored bills.
This truth incriminates the focused legislative attacks on our state’s air, water and soil protections as a cooperative withdrawal from the state’s community chest. One of these malicious bills is sitting on Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk awaiting his signature: House Bill 74.
This particular bill was supported by many Western North Carolina representatives and will affect us all. The bill expands the area that polluters can contaminate before they are required to clean up the coal-ash ponds around power plants like those along the French Broad River. Combine this with the recent 40 percent cut to the Department of Environment and Resources budget, and the very beauty and serenity of North Carolina is at risk. This may not scare everyone but think of it in this light: If our water resources become compromised and polluted, then how do we survive?
As for me, I love clean water, air and earth, so I will be calling Gov. McCrory’s office at 919-814-2000 to urge him to veto H.B. 74 for the sake of hydration! Please give his office a call if you share my love, or if you just need water to survive.
— Ryan Cannon
Hendersonville
