McHenry Calls Out Gov. Easley for Refusing to Meet with IBT Task Force
Congressman to Governor: “Show Some Spine and Take the Meeting”
Washington,
Sep 27 -
Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) today issued the following response to Governor Mike Easley’s refusal to meet with the IBT Task Force regarding the Interbasin Transfer (IBT) proposal. Congressman McHenry sent a letter last Tuesday to Governor Easley, requesting a meeting involving local leaders from western North Carolina – deemed the “IBT Task Force” – to discuss stopping the IBT plan. In response, Governor Easley directed his assistant to contact the congressman’s office and decline the IBT Task Force meeting – instead, recommending that McHenry and the IBT Task Force meet with Franklin Freeman, the governor’s senior assistant.
“As chief executive of the state, the buck stops with Governor Easley on the IBT proposal,” Congressman McHenry said. “His refusal to meet with me and local officials is one thing, but it’s another thing to stick his head in the sand and hope this public outcry goes away. Stopping the IBT plan is necessary to ensure future economic growth in our region – the governor better realize that we’ll continue to fight against this proposal.”
“My message to the governor is this: Show some spine and take the meeting,” McHenry added.
The IBT is a plan that could shift up to 36 million gallons of water per day from the Catawba River Basin into Concord and Kannapolis’ Rocky River Subbasin.
“The issue is simple,” Congressman McHenry said, “if the IBT proposal is approved, our resources will be stolen to foster another community’s economic development and opportunities. The governor’s silence is an endorsement of a plan that will harm hundreds of thousands of people throughout western North Carolina. His refusal to discuss the proposal shows outright disrespect for all of us who will be affected by the water transfer.”
“It is well-known that the governor keeps unconventional office hours. The IBT Task Force will accommodate his schedule and meet him anytime, any place, anywhere – this issue is too important for him to ignore,” McHenry said. “What is on the governor’s schedule that is so important that he can’t meet with us? Surely, he has 30 minutes to discuss this critical issue, which will determine the future of our region.”
Led by Congressman McHenry, the IBT Task Force is comprised of: Burke County Commissioner Wayne Abele, Lincoln County Commissioner Tom Anderson, City of Lenoir Mayor David Barlow, Catawba County Commissioner Kitty Barnes, City of Conover Mayor Bruce Eckard, State Representative Mitch Gillespie, City of Valdese Mayor James Hatley, Caldwell County Commissioner Faye Higgins, State Senator Keith Presnell and City of Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright.
“I call on Governor Easley – again – to accept the meeting with me and our local officials. It’s time for him to know, firsthand, exactly how bad the IBT proposal is,” McHenry said.
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