If they do, that difference, as well as many other differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget will have to be ironed out in a “conference committee”. We are weeks off from that, but there is a lot that we can and should do starting right now.
We were surprised and even somewhat taken aback when the Spear amendment passed in the House three weeks ago. As you all will recall, we had just gotten geared up for a long fight. We were busy sending emails and calling the members of the various House committees; we were writing letters to the editor, tracking and logging-in on online discussions, carrying on Twitter and Facebook conversations, etc. Then the Spear amendment passed and we went into thank-you mode and wait-and-see mode as regards the Senate.
Well, unfortunately the Senate seems determined to backtrack on this and we need to pick up where we left off three weeks ago, only now our attentions have to be directed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Write emails, call, write letters to the editor, Facebook and Twitter! Get it all going again and NOW. Our audience is the Senate Appropriations Committee – their contact info is below. They need to hear from us in huge numbers and constantly over the next several weeks. The message must be short and polite, but firm. Pick one or two of the points below and LET THEM KNOW:
The Spear Amendment exempting the Ocracoke/Hatteras ferry from the toll plan was passed in a strongly bipartisan House vote, with both Republicans and Democrats putting aside their differences to recognize the inequity the proposed toll would create.
We are not asking for a special privilege – on the contrary we do not want to be singled out as the only North Carolina residents who must pay a toll to come and go from home.
Our only access is by ferry and one route is already a toll route.
The ferry division is under the Department of Transportation, which is funded by the gas tax,which we pay, just like everyone else in NC.If put in place, the proposed Ocracoke/Hatteras toll would raise only two tenths of one percent of the DOT budget – this would not solve the state’s fiscal problems but it would create huge problems here in Ocracoke.
Our access by ferry is no different than access to Oak Island and other locations which are served by costly bridges – as long as they are not tolled, we should not be tolled.
Our economy is very dependent on the tourist trade, tourists eat at our restaurants, stay in our motels and cottages, buy gifts, groceries and services, pay for boating and other activities, buy ice cream, buy gasoline, go to our museums and book stores. A toll will act as a tax on their visit and especially for those who intend to stay short term, a toll will simply drive them away.
The health of Ocracoke’s economy is key to the health of Hyde County. Hyde is one of the poorest counties in NC – cutting off its main source of funding is counter productive in the extreme and will only result in the State having to cough up more tax money to support a cash poor county.
Ocracoke is not a wealthy community. Our average family income is below that of the state as a whole.The effect on me of a toll will be ___________ to my business, to my family, to my ability to earn a living…..
Thank you for all you have done and will do.
Contact Information:
| (919) 733-7850 | ||
| (919) 733-5850 | ||
| (919) 733-5653 | ||
| (919) 733-5745 | ||
| (919) 733-5620 | ||
| (919) 733-4809 | ||
| (919) 733-5752 | ||
| (919) 715-0690 | ||
| (919) 715-3034 | ||
| (919) 733-5955 | ||
| (919) 733-5743 | ||
| (919) 733-5650 | ||
| (919) 733-5734 | ||
| (919) 733-7223 | ||
| (919) 733-5705 | ||
| (919) 715-3032 | ||
| (919) 715-3001 | ||
| (919) 733-5621 | ||
| (919) 733-5655 | ||
| (919) 733-7659 | ||
| (919) 733-5651 | ||
| (919) 733-5870 | ||
| (919) 733-5804 | ||
| (919) 733-5748 |
If you would like to email all the senators at one time, here's their e-mail addresses in an easy to use cut and paste format.
Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net, Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net, Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net, Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net, Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net, Harris.Blake@ncleg.net, Dan.Blue@ncleg.net, Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net, Harry.Brown@ncleg.net, Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net, Don.East@ncleg.net, Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net, Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net, Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net, Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net, Edward.Jones@ncleg.net, Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, Louis.Pate@ncleg.net, Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net, Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net, Michael.Walters@ncleg.net, Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net, Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net, David.Rouzer@ncleg.net
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