Carolina Politics Online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen

April 7, 2008
(202) 225-2071

Foxx to host Fifth District Telephone Town Hall

‘Tax Day’ town hall will focus on federal taxes and spending.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-On Tuesday, April 15 Congresswoman Virginia Foxx will
host a telephone town hall on the topic of federal taxes and spending
for Fifth District constituents. Constituents can call into the town
hall meeting by dialing 1-877-850-4133 at 7:00 pm and entering the
password FOXX (3699).

“It is tax time and many constituents want to know what the government
is doing with their hard-earned tax dollars,” Foxx said. “North
Carolina taxpayers rightly demand fiscal responsibility in Washington
and I am looking forward to listening to constituents’ concerns about
taxes and the federal budget.”

Constituents will be connected to a live conference call with Rep. Foxx
and other constituents in the Fifth District when they call
1-877-850-4133 on April 15 at 7:00 pm. All participants will need to
enter a password for the call: the password is F-O-X-X (3699). After
joining the call, participants will be able to ask Rep. Foxx questions
about the federal budget, taxes and spending.

“Please join me on this telephone town hall,” Foxx said. “This will be
a great opportunity for constituents to let their voice be heard on the
important fiscal issues facing Congress.”

This telephone town hall is open to constituents in North Carolina’s
Fifth District.

Individuals can visit Rep. Foxx’s website, www.foxx.house.gov
<http://www.foxx.house.gov/> or click here
<http://www.foxx.house.gov/index.cfm?SectionID=116&ParentID=22&SectionTy
peID=5&SectionTree=22,116> to determine if they are a Fifth District
resident.

Though they’re under pressure to vote tonight, Charlotte City Council members said Sunday they were still searching for ways to avoid a 15 percent hike in the city’s water rate.

The rate increase is needed because of water conservation during a time of record drought, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities says. But critics say the utility is punishing the public for heeding its call to conserve.

Charlotte Observer

That’s a valid point. The state gets hit with a drought. The governor and the city council implement water restrictions and push residents to conserve. They follow through with the request and now they get punished for it with a hike in their water rate. What kind of message will this send to the residents of Charlotte next time a drought hits and they are told to conserve again? 15% is quite a hike.

Asheville – The City Council has removed Mayor Terry Bellamy as lead overseer of important city staff, a move some council members decried as a “power grab,” but that others said would improve management of key personnel.

“I think this is one of the most reprehensible, disrespectful actions toward a mayor that I have ever seen,” said Councilman Carl Mumpower, following the 4-3 vote last month to create a permanent personnel committee with Councilman Bill Russell as chairman.

Mumpower and other dissenters said the change was unnecessary, upset traditional city roles and appeared to be motivated by reasons not named by the committee’s supporters.

Asheville Citizen-Times