>Resent-Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 20:39:39 -0800 (PST) >From: "Lois Mauk" <lawofficeinformationsystem@worldnet.att.net> >Old-To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> >Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 23:51:15 -0500 >X-MSMail-Priority: High >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 >Subject: [INPCRP-L] Lois' Report on 2/8/99 House Hearings >Resent-Message-ID: <"_dQJuB.A.tS.Kw7v2"@bl-14.rootsweb.com> >To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com >Resent-From: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com >Reply-To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailing-List: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/541 >X-Loop: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com >Precedence: list >Resent-Sender: INPCRP-L-request@rootsweb.com >X-UIDL: 4523f10ffbe4c536942398d4263651b1 > >We left Jeffersonville about 10:30 Monday morning and drove to Indianapolis. >I wanted to be there earlier than the "appointed" starting time of 2:30 P.M. >as I feared the general meeting of the House might end earlier than expected >and that the hearings would be over with before we could get there. SILLY >ME!!! > >We arrived at about 1:15 P.M. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER, we went into the >House Chambers (about 5:45). > >I must admit that, other than the endless standing on those hard marble >floors, I really enjoyed the fellowship with so many people who share my >concerns and interests. In all we had about 15 good-spirited, >long-suffering people who waited it out with us. But it was WORTH IT! > >Our SECRET WEAPON worked BEAUTIFULLY. My friend Donnie Loweth (whose family >cemetery here in Clark County was blacktopped and turned into a parking >lot -- graves notwithstanding) took his beautiful 8-year-old daughter Ashley >out of school for the day and we brought her with us to the Capitol. > >When the hearing began, because of the lateness of the hour, Rep. Markt >Lytle thanks us several times for our fortitude and explained that, rather >than receiving comments on individual pending bills, the Committee would >hear brief testimony from anyone wishing to speak about the situation in >general. > >I got up and did my little song-and-dance. Then Rep. Lytle called Ashley. >Though she was conspicuous as the only child present, I think all of them >were a bit stunned when she got up to speak. Ashley approached the >microphone and, in a very clear, calm voice, said: > >"Good evening! It makes me very happy and proud to speak before you today, >but it also saddens me for the reason that I am here. > >"My name is Ashley Loweth. I'm 8 years old and I'm in the third grade. > >"The reason I am here today is, we write laws every day to protect ourselves >and our rights. That is great. But what about after we leave this world? > >"I am a descendant of the Nathan Hale you may have read about in your >history books. I have three generations of great-grandparents buried in a >little lonely cemetery in Clarksville, Indiana. What is sad about this is >that three-fourths of the cemetery is now under blacktop and the law says, >'This is okay. As long as the property owner is paying taxes, they can do >what they want.' > >"I don't understand all the laws, but I really don't understand how this one >got passed. > >"How would you feel if your Grandma took you to put flowers on your >great-grandparents' grave and you were told, 'There they lay, under that >blacktop!' > >"Well, I know that feeling and it hurts! Not only blacktop, but there are >two pay phones and a utility pole with guide wires going into a grave. >That's not all. They even have an EPA monitoring device in the middle to >monitor the ground for their gas pumps." > >"I am asking you to please change this law for some day I will want to take >my children to this very same lonely little cemetery and be able to say, >'This is where we came from. This is our roots! > >"Thank you." > >Little Ashley received a standing ovation. I don't believe there was a dry >eye in the house. She left the Representatives speakless. Rep. Lytle >jokingly asked, "Does anyone on the committee have any tough questions for >Ashley?" Of course, there was nothing they could say. She'd said it all. > >The rest of us had our opportunity to speak and I'm very proud of each and >every one of you who toughed it out with us. I don't believe, however, that >there's much question that little Ashley stole the show and the rest of us >were just there to lend our support to her plea. > >Good night. I'm going to bed! It's not midnight yet and my body will >probably go into shock if I get more than 4 hours sleep, but I'm willing to >risk it at this juncture! > >Lois > > > >==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== >Please do not send querries through this list. > > >