Publication: The Dominion Post; Date:2008 May 30; Section:0pinion; Page Number: 12-A

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ELECTION 2008

Frich stood against user fee from outset

When the Legislature passed SB673 to enable the $2 user fee, Delegate Cindy Frich was our only legislator in the region to vote against it. County commissioners were urged by Democratic Party office holders to not hold the service fee vote during the 2006 general election for fear that Frich would speak against the measure. They also wanted to protect the lawmakers who had done their bidding from any backlash the voters might feel about the fee.

After their friends smeared Frich in order to eject her from office, they proceeded with their plans. Lawmakers had all of 2007 to propose legislation to protect minimum wage earners from the service fee. But no, they waited until 2008 to introduce legislation, when poll workers were already being sought for the user fee election.

Our legislators were merely engaged in their typical CYR (cover your rear) efforts to distance themselves from what had become an obviously unpopular bill. Their bill to "fix" the user fee was never going anywhere.

Not all legislators are cut from the same cloth. Frich stood her ground against bad policy early and never faltered, despite the political pressure applied to her. We need delegates like Frich working for the taxpayer

Connie Ammons Maidsville