FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Fwd: SB 155 Goes To House Floor - Your Calls Needed

[Beckhambc@xxxxxxx]

Pleae call as this needs immediate action.

Pat Bell
Louisville


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• From: FitzKRC@xxxxxxx
• To: undisclosed-recipients:;
• Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 22:18:33 EST

SB 155 Goes To House Floor - Your Calls Needed
 
Today, House leadership sent Senate Bill 155 to the House Floor, where it  
may be called for a vote as early as tomorrow (Friday) morning.   Senate Bill 
155, written by the billboard industry, would creating a permitting  system 
allowing billboard companies to remove trees in public rights-of-way in  order 
to 
improve visibility of commercial billboards.
 
Less attention has been given to provisions in the bill that extend the  life 
of "nonconforming" billboards - those that do not meet federal guidelines  
and are to be phased out as their normal lifespan passes.  The bill  redefines 
"destroyed" and "routine maintenance" to allow extensive  reconstruction of the 
billboards, defeating the goals of the federal Highway  Beautification Act.
 
Remarkably, it was only this week that the Federal Highway Administration  
was made aware of the bill.  Since Kentucky is a "bonus agreement" state  that 
made certain commitments in return for federal highway dollars, there is a  
possibility that SB 155 could require the state to repay that some 2.5  million 
dollars in bonus agreement monies.  The Federal Highway  Administration is 
reviewing the agreement and their policies and is expected to  have an answer 
within the next few days.
 
PLEASE CALL 1-800-372-7181 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ALL HOUSE MEMBERS TO  
OPPOSE SENATE BILL 155.  SEND AN EMAIL ALSO TO _legislators2007@xxxxxxxxxxx 
(mailto:legislators2007@xxxxxxxxxx)  ABND ASK  THEM TO OPPOSE SB 155.  Thank 
you!. 
 
We are  creating a less stable and interesting place for our descendants to 
inherit.  They will understand and love life more than we, and they will not be 
inclined  to honor our memory.
E.O. Wilson, The  Creation
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