ACORN walked in Weatherford

Weatherford Telegram - on, May. 07, 2007

ACORN walked in WeatherfordA busload of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) members were in Weatherford Saturday to “turn up the heat” on State Representative Phil King.
Allison Brim, ACORN organizer, said that 45 members from Fort Worth, Dallas and Irving walked the Willow Creek neighborhood near Azle Highway, knocking on doors and asking residents to sign letters that would be faxed to King.

As the head of the House Regulated Industries Committee and one of five House members of the Conference Committee now reviewing House Bill 482, King, (R) Weatherford, wields a great deal of power in the fight for affordable utilities in Texas, Brim wrote in a press release announcing the event.

“Amendments in HB 482 include a summertime moratorium on electric disconnects, a 15 percent rate discount for consumers and restoration of the System Benefit Fund,” she wrote. “Toward the beginning of the legislative session, King appeared to side with consumers. On Feb. 28 the Star-Telegram reported that ‘… King and consumer groups said the cuts should be at least twice [the 6 to 10 percent proposed by TXU].’

Later reports from the House floor indicated that King changed his mind – that he wishes for the Conference Committee to eliminate the 15 percent consumer discount from HB 482, Brim wrote.

She added that ACORN members came to King’s home district to let his constituents know what their representative has been doing in Austin when it comes to electric rates, and to ask for help in winning strong statewide affordable utilities legislation.

“We just wanted to find a neighborhood that was the right size for us to door knock,” Brim told the Weatherford Telegram. “What was important was to be in his district. People in the neighborhood we went to were very sympathetic to people who are paying high electric bills. They’re on municipal utilities, so their rates aren’t exorbitant.”
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To receive updates on ACORN’s work every two weeks go to http://acorn.org/getinvolved.

Some content contributed by Allison Brim, head organizer for Dallas/Fort Worth ACORN, 5353 Maple Ave. No. 200, Dallas 75235, 214-823-4580.

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