They are now trying to take away any hope for new mass transit
Dear Listizens,
In going through upcoming legislation, I noticed the house bill shown below. Basically, it would require that each and every county approve by referendum any new passenger rail line, which would allow any single county to block a rail line. This would cripple any efforts to develop a rational, regional passenger rail system. I have no earthly idea why they want to do this, unless it is sponsored by road building interests.
In any case, please contact your legislators and tell them you oppose this ill-conceived and unfair piece of legislation which creates barriers that are not there for road building or other forms of transport. Especially in a time when sprawl, pollution, traffic, and population growth are straining our infrastructure, it makes no sense to throw up additional roadblocks to rail.
Here are links for contacting your representative:
The Honorable Senator Ralph Hudgens: ralph.hudgens@senate.ga.gov
The Honorable Senator Bill Cowsert: bill.cowsert@senate.ga.gov
The Honorable Representative Keith Heard: keith.heard@house.ga.gov
The Honorable Representative Doug McKillip: doug.mckillip@house.ga.gov
Please take a moment and use these links. I was at a meeting with our legislative body and raised this issue and specifically suggested that they need to hear from constituents about it.
Thanks, and please help spread the word.
Mark Ebell
House Bill 269
By: Representatives Davis of the 109th and Lakly of the 72nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 9 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mass transportation, so as to provide for a referendum to approve funding for a commuter rail project within or through a county or municipality; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 9 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mass transportation, is amended by adding a new Code section to the end of such chapter to read as follows:
"32-9-13.
No county or municipality may provide funding for a commuter rail project established or operated within or through such county or municipality for operation and maintenance costs wholly or partially by fees, assessments, or taxes levied and collected within the county or municipality, unless such project and funding are approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting in a referendum in such county or municipality in a special election which shall be called and conducted for that purpose by the election superintendent of such county or municipality. The referendum question shall include the amount of funds proposed to be provided by the county or municipality for the project."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Mark H. Ebell MD, MS
Deputy Editor, American Family Physician (www.aafp.org/afp)
Consulting Editor, John Wiley Inc. (www.infopoems.com)
ebell@msu.edu
In going through upcoming legislation, I noticed the house bill shown below. Basically, it would require that each and every county approve by referendum any new passenger rail line, which would allow any single county to block a rail line. This would cripple any efforts to develop a rational, regional passenger rail system. I have no earthly idea why they want to do this, unless it is sponsored by road building interests.
In any case, please contact your legislators and tell them you oppose this ill-conceived and unfair piece of legislation which creates barriers that are not there for road building or other forms of transport. Especially in a time when sprawl, pollution, traffic, and population growth are straining our infrastructure, it makes no sense to throw up additional roadblocks to rail.
Here are links for contacting your representative:
The Honorable Senator Ralph Hudgens: ralph.hudgens@senate.ga.gov
The Honorable Senator Bill Cowsert: bill.cowsert@senate.ga.gov
The Honorable Representative Keith Heard: keith.heard@house.ga.gov
The Honorable Representative Doug McKillip: doug.mckillip@house.ga.gov
Please take a moment and use these links. I was at a meeting with our legislative body and raised this issue and specifically suggested that they need to hear from constituents about it.
Thanks, and please help spread the word.
Mark Ebell
House Bill 269
By: Representatives Davis of the 109th and Lakly of the 72nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 9 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mass transportation, so as to provide for a referendum to approve funding for a commuter rail project within or through a county or municipality; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 9 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mass transportation, is amended by adding a new Code section to the end of such chapter to read as follows:
"32-9-13.
No county or municipality may provide funding for a commuter rail project established or operated within or through such county or municipality for operation and maintenance costs wholly or partially by fees, assessments, or taxes levied and collected within the county or municipality, unless such project and funding are approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting in a referendum in such county or municipality in a special election which shall be called and conducted for that purpose by the election superintendent of such county or municipality. The referendum question shall include the amount of funds proposed to be provided by the county or municipality for the project."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Mark H. Ebell MD, MS
Deputy Editor, American Family Physician (www.aafp.org/afp)
Consulting Editor, John Wiley Inc. (www.infopoems.com)
ebell@msu.edu
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