[PDI] FW: [chicagowater] Water Privatization Bill in Illinois

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Please forward to people interested in water privatization.

To: chicagowater@yahoogroups.com
From: ecarroll@fwwatch.org
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:37:52 -0500
Subject: [chicagowater] Water Privatization Bill in Illinois

Dear Allies,
I write with some bad news: it appears that a bill encouraging water privatization has been introduced into the Illinois House of Representatives. We found out about the bill on Friday night. It passed out of the Public Utilities Committee yesterday. Food & Water Watch activists have already sent more than 1,000 letters to our state representatives asking them not to vote for HB 1955, but we need a lot more organizing and action to stop this bill from passing a House vote. HB 1955 (otherwise known as the water privatization bill) is labeled as a water evaluation bill but actually facilitates the acquisition of public water systems by privately-owned companies/utilities such that the municipalities served by the water systems lose ratemaking authority as well as public oversight of the utility.
You can read the full text of the bill here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=1955&GAID=11&LegID=59156&SpecSess=&Session=
First, please read the action alert below. Then, take action! I will be reaching out to you in the days to come to see how we can work together to fight HB 1955.
Thanks,
Emily
Begin forwarded message:From: "Emily Carroll, Food & Water Watch" <fwwatch@mail.democracyinaction.org>
Date: March 14, 2011 4:51:40 PM CDT
To: ecarroll@fwwatch.org
Subject: Kill the Bill in Illinois
Reply-To: fwwatch@mail.democracyinaction.org

See Your Alert Online

Kill the Bill: Stop Water Privatization in Illinois

Tell Your State Representative to Vote NO on HB 1955

March 14, 2011

Dear Supporter,

What's More Important Than Our Water?

Tell your Illinois representatives to vote "NO" on HB 1955!




We urgently need your help to prevent water privatization in Illinois. HB 1955 would make it easier for private companies to take over our municipal water systems, and to charge higher rates for our water. This bill will be voted on in committee tomorrow. This is our opportunity to kill the bill before it gets started: tell your state representatives to vote against HB 1955 NOW.

We need people in Illinois to speak out and ensure that our elected officials put our health and safety first. HB 1955 is a boon to private water companies at the expense of Illinois taxpayers — making it far easier for private water companies to acquire public systems and to dramatically raise water rates after such acquisitions. We've seen this happen time after time. Communities not only suffer skyrocketing water rates, but also poor service, which threatens public health and the environment. Tell your representative to step up and protect our water as a public resource.

Water privatization can be devastating to communities because corporations are concerned with making profits, not ensuring safe, clean, and affordable water for our families. Food & Water Watch will continue our hard work to protect Illinois' water.

Can you ask your Illinois representatives to vote "NO" on HB 1955?

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6157

Thanks for taking action!

Emily Carroll

Organizer, Midwest Region

Food & Water Watch

ecarroll(at)fwwatch(dot)org

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.
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Emily Carroll
Organizer
Food and Water Watch
27 E. Monroe Street, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (773) 318-3823
Fax: (312) 379-0313
ecarroll@fwwatch.org

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