This Thursday: our last stand to stop HB 759 in Tallahassee!

An important update from Susan Bottcher, who has led the charge on this issue: This is the final round and our last chance to kill this bill in committee. We have two tasks for you: (1) Email the Government Accountability Committee (GAC) members to ask they vote NO on HB759. The members' emails & suggested talking points are below. Yes, even if you’ve emailed them already, please do so again! (2) Plan to attend the final GAC meeting in Tallahassee THIS THURSDAY. Please contact jasonfults@gmail.com right away if you are able to attend the meeting. Final public testimony was taken last week in the GAC meeting. The next step is for the members to debate the bill amongst themselves - which is what this week’s GAC meeting is about. Rep. Clovis Watson has asked that we send as many people as possible to sit in the audience in support of his position against the bill. He said if a large number of Gainesville residents take the time to drive to Tally and attend the meeting it shows that we are united against the bill (contrary to what Clemons & Perry have claimed). Legislators rarely see citizens at these meetings so our presence will be very impactful. The more people there, the bigger the impact! Thanks again for your persistence & resistance! Best, Susan Bottcher 352-378-5492 (1) GAC Members Members of the Government Accountability Committee: Chair: Caldwell, Matt [R] matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5079 Vice Chair: Stone, Charlie [R] charlie.stone@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5022 Ranking Democrat: Watson, Barbara [D] barbara.watson@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5107 Abruzzo, Joseph [D] joseph.abruzzo@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5081 Albritton, Ben [R] ben.albritton@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5056 Burton, Colleen [R] colleen.burton@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717- 5040 Combee, Neil [R] neil.combee@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717- 5039 Drake, Brad [R] brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5005 Fant, Jay [R] jay.fant@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5015 Henry, Patrick [D] patrick.henry@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5026 Jacobs, Kristin Diane [D] kristin.jacobs@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5096 Latvala, Chris [R] chris.latvala@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5067 Mariano, Amber [R] amber.mariano@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717- 5036 Newton, Sr., Wengay M. "Newt" [D] newt.newton@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5070 Pigman, Cary [R] cary.pigman@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5055 Plakon, Scott [R] scott.plakon@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5029 Raschein, Holly [R] holly.raschein@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5120 Raulerson, Daniel D. "Dan" [R] dan.raulerson@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5058 Rommel, Bob [R] bob.rommel@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5106 Santiago, David [R] david.santiago@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5027 Smith, Carlos Guillermo [D] carlos.smith@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5049 Watson Jr., Clovis [D] clovis.watson@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5020 NOTE: Rep. Clovis Watson is our representative for the eastern portion of Gville & Alachua Co. He has steadfastly opposed this bill every year its been put forth. Willhite, Matt [D] matt.willhite@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5086 Williamson, Jayer [R] jayer.williamson@myfloridahouse.gov 850-717-5003 Talking points (You may use all or just one or two. The key is to keep your email brief. Please put your comments into your own words. You only need to send one email to the full GAC.) We don’t want this bill. If we wanted to change the way GRU is governed we could do it ourselves through a citizen petition process. The city commission, the county commission and Rep. Clovis Watson all oppose this bill. We don’t want Tallahassee legislators, who do not represent our community, to tell us what the composition of a governance board should be or what their duties and powers would be. This is a violation of our home rule to control how our local utility company is run. We don’t need this bill. The city commission already installed a new dependent governing board with the Utility Advisory Board. These are local business people with skills and qualifications that are the same as what is mandated in HB759. Let our UAB do their work. This bill won’t “fix” what some claim is “broke” about our utility: high rates. HB759 does not mandate what rates should be - it only dictates who and what powers an independent board would be. This bill would force another level of bureaucracy on the city and GRU. The costs and fiscal impacts are unpredictable. This bill only grows government and violates the tenets of small government principles.