Washington, Oct 1 -

I am writing in response to the Hickory Daily Record’s September 29th editorial titled “Quit bickering, look for solutions.” As your congressman, there is nothing more important – nothing more critical – than taking a stand for the economic future of western North Carolina. The Interbasin Transfer (IBT) proposal is one such issue where I refuse to keep silent and let the chips fall where they may. Over recent years, we have implemented a number of economic initiatives to revitalize our local growth and development – however, this proposal will undermine our efforts for decades to come.

I sent a letter to Governor Easley requesting he meet with me and members of the IBT Task Force, a group of local elected officials who represent those of us who will be directly impacted by the IBT plan. The governor responded that we should meet with one of his assistants – an unelected official – regarding this crucial matter. I then called the governor to personally request a meeting – instead of talking to me, the governor directed his assistant to contact my office and relay the message that he would not be available to speak with me.

I am appalled that the governor refuses to meet with the very people who the IBT will affect. Surely he has 30 minutes in his schedule to meet with us. The right thing for the governor to do is to gain firsthand knowledge of a plan that will harm hundreds of thousands of his own constituents. I was hopeful that we could come together and get some answers – I was hopeful that it would be a constructive process.

As reported in the Hickory Daily Record, Governor Easley responded to my public request for a meeting by saying that, “state law prohibits [his] intervention in this matter.” Is he suggesting that state law prohibits meetings with the people he represents? Furthermore, is he suggesting that he has no influence over the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) – a 19-member commission comprised of 12 of his own appointees?

I would hope the governor would have the same ‘open door policy’ with his constituents that I have with the people I represent. He has shown us neither courtesy nor consideration – and the IBT proposal is too important for North Carolina’s chief executive to ignore.

The governor accuses me of “grandstanding.” He is half-right – I am “standing” for the people that I represent regarding an issue that will determine our future economic growth and development opportunities.

I sent a letter to Governor Easley requesting he meet with me and members of the IBT Task Force, a group of local elected officials who represent those of us who will be directly impacted by the IBT plan. The governor responded that we should meet with one of his assistants – an unelected official – regarding this crucial matter. I then called the governor to personally request a meeting – instead of talking to me, the governor directed his assistant to contact my office and relay the message that he would not be available to speak with me.

I am appalled that the governor refuses to meet with the very people who the IBT will affect. Surely he has 30 minutes in his schedule to meet with us. The right thing for the governor to do is to gain firsthand knowledge of a plan that will harm hundreds of thousands of his own constituents. I was hopeful that we could come together and get some answers – I was hopeful that it would be a constructive process.

As reported in the Hickory Daily Record, Governor Easley responded to my public request for a meeting by saying that, “state law prohibits [his] intervention in this matter.” Is he suggesting that state law prohibits meetings with the people he represents? Furthermore, is he suggesting that he has no influence over the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) – a 19-member commission comprised of 12 of his own appointees?

I would hope the governor would have the same ‘open door policy’ with his constituents that I have with the people I represent. He has shown us neither courtesy nor consideration – and the IBT proposal is too important for North Carolina’s chief executive to ignore.

The governor accuses me of “grandstanding.” He is half-right – I am “standing” for the people that I represent regarding an issue that will determine our future economic growth and development opportunities.

Sincerely,

Patrick McHenry
Member of Congress