Archive | 2013

Amidst Controversy, Superior Days Promotes Mining Legislation

February 14, 2013 by Barbara With and Rebecca Kemble A long-standing and formerly non-partisan grassroots project that sends delegates from northern Wisconsin to Madison to lobby their representatives has included mining in the agenda this year, creating a violation of core principles of the 28-year-old group. According to the Superior Days website, the yearly effort […]

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Ashland Listening Session Sends Strong Message: “There Will Be No Mine”

February 12, 2013   by Barbara With and Rebecca Kemble A microcosm of the global struggle for clean water and land played out in northern Wisconsin last weekend at a listening session held in Ashland concerning SB1/AB1, the new Republican-sponsored mining bill. Impassioned testimony on behalf of the water and Lake Superior was given for […]

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Hearing Records Show Overwhelming Opposition to Mining Bill

February 11, 2013 by Barbara With Almost three weeks after the only public hearing was held on controversial mining bill SB1/AB1, the chairs of the legislative committees charged with vetting it have yet to release the results. Neither Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) nor Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford) has publicly announced information on testimony presented at […]

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Mining Heritage Argument Challenged

February 10, 2013  by Rebecca Kemble The O’Dovero-Flesia family farm lies in the shadow of the Penokee Hills in Ashland County, Wisconsin. Five generations have successfully farmed this land for 87 years.  Now a mountain top removal project proposed by Gogebic Taconite and a new law written to ease the way for its approval threatens […]

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Grothman to Mellen Residents: “Trust the Company”

February 9, 2013   by Rebecca Kemble Wisconsin’s north woods have been crawling with downstate legislators for the past few weekends as a controversial mining bill hurtles toward a final vote. AB1/SB1, a bill that would massively deregulate iron mining activities in the state, passed out of committee earlier this week. For the past two weekends, […]

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Mining Advocates’ Talking Points Fail

February 5, 2013  by Rebecca Kemble and Nicole Schulte On Monday, the authors of SB1/AB1, a bill that offers iron mining companies special exemptions from many of Wisconsin’s environmental protection rules and regulations, held a press conference in an attempt to put a bipartisan shine on several amendments they plan to introduce when Senate and […]

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Thursday, February 7

Committee on Housing and Real Estate Committee Members 10:00 AM 415 Northwest Informational Hearing Informational Hearing on the Housing Market in Wisconsin Invited speakers only. Invitees include the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Wisconsin Housing Alliance, Wisconsin Builders Association, and Wisconsin Realtors Association. Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee […]

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Wednesday, February 6

Committee on Jobs, Economy and Mining Committee Members 10:00 AM 417 North (GAR Hall) Executive Session Assembly Bill 1 Relating to: regulation of ferrous metallic mining and related activities, procedures for obtaining approvals from the Department of Natural Resources for the construction of utility facilities, making an appropriation, and providing penalties. Committee on Workforce Development, […]

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Tuesday, February 5

Committee on Consumer Protection Committee Members 10:00 AM 300 Northeast Informational Hearing The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection will provide an overview of the agency for the committee members. Invited speakers only. No public testimony will be taken during this informational hearing. Committee on Workforce Development Committee Members 10:00 AM 415 Northwest Informational […]

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Wisconsin Mining Bill Threatens Genocide

February 3, 2013 by Barbara With January 23, 2013. The only public hearing on mining bill SB1/AB1 is taking place in Madison, Wisconsin. Next up in the queue is Mike Wiggins Jr., Chair of Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, whose reserve is 300 miles north of the state Capitol and six miles west […]

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