The Wisconsin GOP is attempting to pass a bill called Assembly Bill 426. Assembly Bill 426 is a bill that was introduced without an author, a bill that to this day cannot get a single person to claim ownership. What this bill does is peel back decades of legislation as it pertains to the mining industry. It allows mining companies to use land in Wisconsin with very little regulation. The reason for the bill is simple. The mining companies were upset that they needed to be regulated. In an attempt to counteract this they wrote a bill, without an author, and had it introduced. The Republicans then said that there was no need for a public hearing on this bill and would not allow public input. Wisconsin State Representative Janet Bewley disagreed and called a public hearing in West Allis, over fifteen hours round trip from the proposed site of the mine.
The locals showed up, despite the distance. It was then that a second public hearing was scheduled, at the request of the Democrats. This hearing took place at a small hotel in Hurley, Wisconsin, much closer to the proposed mine site than West Allis. At this hearing the people spoke at length and a local consensus was assumed. The consensus, however, was that while the locals would like to see mining, they do not want this bill. This bill is far too broad and allows for a $12 billion mine that would destroy Northern Wisconsin. Northern Wisconsin currently has a lot of natural beauty. There are also several tribes in this area, all of which have Federal peace treaties. Many of the tribes showed up today as the Assembly debated the bill. They worry for their land, their air, and their water. Smaller mines than this one have caused major issues. But rather than work with the tribes and local people, Republican Representative Jeff Stone said it was not his job to provide a seat at the table for tribes. They kept the bill as is.
Tribal land is considered its own sovereign nation. As with every sovereign nation, we have treaties so that we can keep the peace. It was agreed, by treaty, that these tribes would not have their resources infringed upon. This mine, however, would destroy their water and air, breaking the Federal treaty and declaring war on a sovereign nation. Treaties are not optional. The passage of this bill literally and legally declares war on the tribes of the north.
One day longer. One day stronger.
Jeremy Ryan
Executive Director
Defending Wisconsin PAC
jryan@defendingwisconsin.org
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Note: Segway Jeremy Ryan has become a full-time member of the protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Formerly a businessman, he gave up his business to join the fight for the middle class in the State of Wisconsin. Through videos and writings he has informed hundreds of thousands of people about what was going on at the Wisconsin State Capitol once the mainstream media had mostly abandoned the protests. His full-time activism is completely funded by the people. If you would like to help out please click here.
What gets me is why are the Republicans doing this for a mining company out of Florida? The profits would be sent back to Florida instead of staying in WI. If the Reublicans really want to bolster the state’s economy why not help the Tribes start their own mining company so they would have control over their resources and the profits would stay in WI.
They don’t need to break treaties of course – they can mine up to the borders, they can shove any old garbage into the water upstream of Native American dwellings, they can overrun small towns with company workers and manipulate local politics. Dubya paved the way, now you’re reaping the whirlwind.
Sounds like the American Communist Tea Party is at it again.
“WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!”
this is wrong and cannot be allowed to pass. hasn’t anything been learned?
I don’t live in Wisconsin… but who ever is behind this is a coward! and the R’s supporting it are worse than that~ the person that proposed this bill doesn’t even put his name on it… yet, I guess their thinking is, ‘they’re on OUR property, so we can do want we want”… WRONG.. how can we educate these ignorant policy-making, money hungry, irresponsible Politicians… sorry, I know all the adjectives are redundant – Wisconsin! DO THE RIGHT THING FOR A CHANGE and VETO this obscenity before it goes any further!
Where does Wisconsin GET these trolls? Has not ONE of them read ANY law, EVER? Contitution, Bill of Rights, how about Hoyle or even the rules to Monopoly (oh right, they play with real properties and industries and they ALL have Get-Out-of-Jail-Free cards.)
Shows what can happen when you let the corporate mindset into government. In business there ARE no rules. Ha! You want to say there is ONE rule – don’t get caught. But that’s wrong. If they get caught stealing a billion dollars, they don’t have to give it back, just pay a 10 million dollar fine – out of the booty (and take that word either way…)
When evil rules, evil makes the rules. When good rules, evil STILL makes the rules, because, like Wisconsin, the evildoers refuse to play by the rules the rest of us follow. Pay close attention to that fact – the law only applies to those who agree that it does. The alternative? Catch me if you can.
That’s the new GOP politics. Stop mebefore I kill again. And again. And again. Thanks, GOP, for stealing our country. We had no use for it. But then, obviously, neither do you.
“Assembly Bill 426 is a bill that was introduced without an author,”
It’s the Immaculate Introduction!
“Federal peace treaties”…I fail to see where the state has authority to circumvent Federal treaties.
But I guess one should never underestimate the arrogance of a particular party, no matter what the level of government.
I also wondered how this bill managed to create itself let alone get itself introduced into legislature. I guess it’s a political miracle.
As long as the grass grows and the river flows; still doesn’t mean squat to the white dudes.
This is one of the more alarming examples of the Republican preference for ruling by fiat. If the American public doesn’t wake up this time around and realize what a power grab is being made, we’ll all find ourselves in the same boat as the Wisconsin tribes.