PRIVATIZING WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FAILS MISERABLY – AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ARE RECLAIMING THEIR PROPERTY FROM THE PRIVATIZERS

PARKESBURG, PA –Wednesday night the Independent Congressional Candidate for the 16th District testified against American Water Corporation’s attempt to increase rates by 111%. Murphy told the judge and the citizens of Parkesburg that this is typical of what happens when a municipality loses control over the people's water and sells it to a private company whose primary interest is in making profit not providing service to the community.

Murphy told the Public Utilities Commission that "community after community in the United States has begun to restore local, democratic control over their water and wastewater systems through community government". He explained how some communities which had their rates increased by 2000% had fought back and kicked out the privatizers. But he also cautioned the people that American Water was relentless and would fight viciously to prevent the people from reclaiming their property. Murphy urged the community to begin to fight back now with legal action under the concept of eminent domain. He further cautioned that "reclaiming the people's property would not be easy".

Murphy testified that "we cannot have for-profit corporations controlling our water anymore than we can have them controlling our health care or our educational institutions". He explained that the American Water Corporation had a "twofold growth strategy: raising rates by convincing people that water is under-priced and leading the next wave of industry consolidation".

Murphy continued his testimony insisting that "we must recognize that we need legislation that promotes the public's right to water just as we need legislation that promotes the public's right to health care. These vital human resources cannot be thought of as commodities to be managed by for-profit corporations. We must establish, at the national level, a permanent trust fund to improve access, affordability and quality of water. A resource so essential to life must not be controlled by for-profit corporations. Rather, these resources must be safeguarded by the public with strong local oversight and accountability measures.

"Every human being has the right to clean and affordable water. The cost of providing water should not be based on a company's share price. Rather, the bottom line should be tied to protecting the public by providing a safe and reliable service to all citizens".

John Murphy dramatically concluded his testimony in a loud voice saying: "whether this particular rate increase is approved or denied, the handwriting is on the wall. Eventually the privatizers will be charging us more for a gallon of water than we pay for a gallon of milk. The longer we wait to get rid of American Water the more difficult the battle. These privatizers are like ticks which dig into the community and suck its very lifeblood".

"The Corporate-Free Candidate"