Daren,
Looks like the House Finance Committee Meeting tomorrow will be make it or break it for annexation reform. There were amendment proposals from both sides being bantered about the halls of the legislature this afternoon before the 3:00 deadline for submission to the committee clerk.
One thing has become clear during this session ? folks are mad and they aren?t going to take it anymore. Citizens tired of the abuses of forced annexation have found each other, formed a powerful coalition and have made their outrage clear, from wearing red shirts to the meetings to lobbying lawmakers to writing scathing letters to the editor to their local newspapers. These folks are mad and they are organized and they are not going to back down. Unless real reform like allowing a vote of the citizens being annexed, making cities provide meaningful services, and providing some kind of oversight is added to the bill tomorrow, these folks will be back. They are mad, they are in no mood to be manipulated and they will hold their elected officials responsible.
Reminder: The fireworks start tomorrow morning 8:30 am in Room 544 LOB when the House Finance Committee members consider House Bill 524, Annexation – Omnibus Changes. You can listen in from here.
