We Are Ready To Make Our Stand At The NC General Assembly! | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: We will continue to bring our readership the expressed work by Beaufort County's legislative lobbyists seeking to roll back the Ferry Toll increases here in our county. This press release is a 1st amendment guaranteed rebuttal to the recent action by the North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

Press Release:

    Dear Ferry Tax Opponents: The North Carolina civics lesson continues! Our journey is not over. Just because the NC Attorney General "sided with the legislature" does not mean we have won or lost. It is only the next step. We are in the midst of petitioning our government about our grievance, as per the First Amendment, US Constitution).

    The opinion reported yesterday was issued by the Attorney General's office at the request of the NC Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation. The NC Attorney General has not ordered the Ferry Division to collect tolls. The AG's office rendered a legal opinion, as it was asked to do.

    The Governor is holding strong, and says she is both "legal and right". The Ferry Division says it will not collect tolls for now because the Governor has directed it not to collect the new tolls.

    The resolution to this dispute and our victory lies in the NC General Assembly. The Legislature is the branch of government on which we must focus. It is time to intensify communication with our Senators and Representatives. Joe and Henri are receiving good responses from many legislators.
Beaufort County Ferry landing crossing the Pamlico River at Gaylords Bay: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    Our Next Move: Rep. Tim Spear (Democrat from Washington County), member of the Jt. Leg. Oversight Committee on Transportation has proposed all new ferry taxes be abolished, in view of eastern economic hardship and damage from Hurricane Irene. He has been told the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation will vote on his proposal on Monday, April 23, 2012. (This is the same day as a "skeleton session" of the NC General Assembly.) What should we do? Prepare the hearts and minds of the members of this committee! Call and email them, beginning now.

    It is clear all members of the Jt. Leg. Oversight Committee on Transportation must hear from us! We want them to SUPPORT Rep. Tim Spear's proposal. Click on the following link to find the names of all Senators and Representatives who serve on this committee (click on each name for contact information): http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee &sActionDetails=Non-Standing_468.

    Our Appearance En Masse on Opening Day, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in Raleigh: The NC General Assembly convenes on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 12:00 noon. We invite you to travel to Raleigh and stand with us on Opening Day. With your participation, Opening Day will define the NO FERRY TAX movement as one of the most important issues of the 2012 legislative session.

    The opening day of the Legislature draws political reporters from across North Carolina. Blogs and wire service reports will be written about who came to the Legislature and why. OPPONENTS OF FERRY TAXES will be visible and numerous! Join us to make our stand at the Legislature!

    We will provide detailed instructions and plans prior to this trip to the NC General Assembly, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC.

    Travel Plans Must Be Coordinated In Each County: Beaufort, Hyde, and Pamlico Counties have appointed travel coordinators for this bus trip: Lisa White, Beaufort County, office (252) 946-0079, lisa.white@co.beaufort.nc.us; Megan Shaw, Hyde County, (252) 926-4373, cell (252) 542-0842, mshaw@hydecountync.gov; and, Jayne Robb, Pamlico County, (252) 745-3081, cell (252) 670-2084, jayne.robb@pamlicocounty.org. If you are in Oriental, contact Larry Summers, (252) 675-0467, larsum@aol.com. Please advise these coordinators of your travel plans. You do not have to ask permission, but rather provide your plans to them so we can have the big picture of how many persons plan to travel to Raleigh on 5/16/12. Thank you for working together for a smooth and effective demonstration on 5/16/12.

    Keep The Buzz Going! There is talk in Raleigh every time something happens, such as the Committee meeting yesterday. We must spread the word to all the legislators on the Committee. Let them know you remain as interested as ever. Repeat your excellent talking points. It is okay to repeat the points you have mentioned on prior occasions. Keep making the arguments. Keep telling them what is really happening in eastern NC.

    Want more information? Please call Joe and Henri McClees. We are here to help you. We will be in Raleigh every week, as well as visiting legislators in their home districts. Keep in touch. Best regards, Henri and Joe

    Joe McClees & Henri McClees
      McClees Consulting, Inc.

      Post Office Box 430
      Oriental, NC 28571

      Office (252) 249-1097
      Fax (252) 249-3275
      www.mccleesconsulting.com
      Joe McClees's mobile (252) 671-1585
      Henri's mobile (252) 671-1559