Citizens of Columbia County need to speak up on issue of secrecy

Editor:

The Sunday letter from Sam Booher ("Industrial Development Secrecy Act would leave citizens in the dark") was right on target. Also, the Feb. 23 editorial in The News-Times ("Bill disrespects citizens through secrecy") spells out who is pushing the bill and why it might pass. The Augusta Chronicle on Monday listed the amounts of money our legislators are getting from lobbyists.

House Bill 218, the Industrial Development Secrecy Act, violates the "Sunshine" laws.

The people of Columbia County need to get involved. Booher's letter and The News-Times' editorial call for citizens to speak up on this issue. If you don't speak up, you could be the one with the tire-shredding plant in your back yard.

Two of the Georgia legislators listed are the same ones who brought you the "rain tax." They obviously think that they know best what is good for the people of Columbia County and that you, the citizen, are incapable of knowing what you want. Their arrogance is totally unbridled. Their contact numbers and e-mail addresses are in the paper and can be pulled up online. (See box.)

If you like living in Columbia County, get involved, contact your reps today.

Speak now or forever hold your tongue.

Bob Cipperly

Evans