T. Allen Hoover

My name is T. Allen Hoover, a citizen of Idaho, and I speak for the RECORD.

It seems that we all meet here each year, to debate the merits or failings of two proposals to reform the current annexation laws. One written by the cities, the other written by the people. This City annexed these people, without the voters approval, they said it was their right, they said it was necessary. And so it is that the cities here today will plea necessity.

"Necessity",warned William Pitt, in a speech to the House of Commons "is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

My argument is NOT on Constitutional grounds, my argument is pre-constitutional, I refer of course to the Declaration of Independence itself, that most eloquent document that defines the fundemental concept under which our government is given its authority, and defines what is the very SOUL of America, to wit I quote portions of the second paragraph

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just Powers from the CONSENT of the GOVERNED" The Consent of the Governed. These people here today testifying in behalf of SB1334 gave no consent to be annexed, nor did they have the opportunity to VOTE to give or withhold consent. Current state law and the cities proposed bill DENIES them this basic right of Consent. The City Governments do not derive JUST Powers from them, they JUST assume the power.

Professor Jim Weatherby, teaching Political Science at Boise State University, in his State and Local Government class admitted that annexation is a hard sell for cities, as in most cases, the areas to be annexed already pay the private businesses which provide the electrical, gas, garbage, and other services, and also already pay road district and sewer district and fire district taxes and fees, and that for the near doubling of their taxes, directly and thru "franchise fees", they gain only the dubious privilege of saying that one lives within a city.

As for myself, I was not annexed, I already reside well within the city, I come here because friends were annexed, they fought but little, for they had resigned themselves to the "You can't fight City Hall attitude". But that was before September 11th happened, now the strength of the American Spirit, our American purpose and principle is renewed in their hearts, they now know, more clearly then ever just who, what and why we are what we are.

The Declaration of Independence continues on to state: 'That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it'.

These people here in favor of HB 1334 seek to ALTER existing law so as to make it COMPLY with the principle that Just Powers are derived from the Consent of the Governed.

To fail them in this effort is to abandon the very soul of America for which the founders pledged their very Lives, their Fortunes and their Sacred Honor.

Heed well the "will of the people" for this is a bill whose time has come.

Thank you.

Copyright 2002 - 2008 T. Allen Hoover Permission granted to reproduce only if: verbatim, en toto and with full credit. Feb. 4, 2002