RALEIGH REPORT

15

Celebrating Spring

Health Matters! The best healthcare is taking care of your health. I had the pleasure of joining a large group of Tai Chi enthusiasts at Angie's Dance Studio in Haywood County to deliver our Governor's proclamation declaring April 27 th as World Tai Chi Day. "You might want to check this out, it's good for you!" - Dr. Kate Queen

Greening Up the Mountains I had the chance to see many of my constituents at the annual Greening Up the Mountains street festival in Sylva. This wonderful event celebrates the spring blooms as the leaves return for the season. This festival began as an Earth Day celebration, and today it celebrates our unique mountain landscape and the local businesses, craftsmen, and communities that make Western North Carolina such a great place.

I joined one of our Jackson County farmers, Dawson Green, at his booth at Greening of the Mountains.

Joe Sam's Notes

Legislative Update: Protecting our Mountain Way of Life Last week if filed House Bill 970 in coordination with my fellow WNC Representatives, Kevin Corbin, Brian Turner, and John Ager. This bill will reduce the tax burden on our beginning mountain farmers, especially for our small mountain farmers.

I recently toured the Mountain Research Station with Superintendent Will Morrow, Rep. Brian Turner, and Dept. of Agriculture Liaison Laura Kilian. We're all working hard for our mountain farmers!

I filed House Bill 632 to ban dangerous fracking in our state. We in the mountains know just how precious our groundwater resources are. Water is an incredible gift, a biblical blessing, and we cannot pollute it for a pittance. In NC, the right to clean water is enshrined in our Constitution, and I have pledged to defend it.

I sponsored House Bill 567 to make sure that Duke Energy is held accountable for its actions. Ratepayers in North Carolina shouldn't shoulder the burden for coal ash cleanup. If you pollute, you pay to clean it up. Our Attorney General, Josh Stein, has filed an appeal to overturn the Utility Commission's decision to allow Duke Energy to bill customers for its coal ash cleanup costs. I support his efforts. You can read the article about his efforts here.

Pictured: Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good.

Stay tuned for my report on the House Budget next week

Sincerely,

Please share this with your friends! 

P.S. check out our legislative web page at www.joesamqueennc.com . You can find all of my previous newsletters and more!