Assembly Bill 499 would remove the “Prove it First” law requiring mining operations to provide proof that a sulfide mine can operate without polluting.

MADISON, WI – The future of Wisconsin’s clean water is in danger as Republicans in the State Senate are poised to weaken environmental protections. Assembly Bill 499 (AB 499) would remove the “Prove it First” law that requires mining operations to provide proof that a sulfide mine can operate without polluting groundwater and surface waters with acid drainage.

“If these minerals could be safely extracted without endangering our water and land, companies would be mining today under current law,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “Similar to the Foxconn bill, this will end up costing every single Wisconsin taxpayer in clean-up, legal, and health costs. Rather than letting special interests write their own set of rules, we need to take a balanced and commonsense approach to protect taxpayers, local communities and access to clean drinking water.”

As the most toxic industry in the U.S., sulfide mining is responsible for poisoning the environment with dangerous carcinogens and neurotoxins like arsenic, mercury and lead.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/wisconsin-koch-industries-s5.jpgSen. Leah Vukmir was on the budget committee that quietly pushed through the repeal to Gov. Scott Walker who killed the anti-fraud law; while AG Brad Schimel advised repeal even though it means Wisconsin can recoup less money from corporate fraud.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/foxconn-deal-s5.jpgLegislators given less than two days to review billion-dollar contract before WEDC vote, public locked out.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/capitol-night-wisc-s5.jpgTuesday’s State Senate calendar contains several bills that need time for proper debate, amendments to address significant concerns raised by the public, and bills that were sold as one thing and ended up being very different.

The Wisconsin State Senate will vote Tuesday on a Constitutional Convention, protecting water quality, and more. Get involved and call your own Senator.

MADISON - The Wisconsin State Senate will vote Tuesday on a reckless proposal to convene a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of adding a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Amending the U.S. Constitution is a radical tactic that puts at risk every citizen right that is currently protected in the Constitution.

If you haven’t called your State Senator about this yet, now is the time to do it! Tell her/him that a Constitutional Convention to pass a balanced federal budget is a reckless proposal, and it should be rejected.

The State Senate will also be voting on AB 499, which protects water quality in Wisconsin. Current law prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from issuing a permit for sulfide ore mining until it determines that such an operation can exist without resulting in groundwater or surface water pollution or the release of heavy metals. AB 499 would repeal this prohibition.

Contact your State Senator and urge her/him to vote NO on AB 499 to protect our water quality.

Both of these proposals have already been passed by the State Assembly. The Constitutional Convention proposals do not even need to be signed by the Governor. Act now to protect our citizen rights and our water quality in Wisconsin.

For contact information for your own Senator, click here and enter your address above Find Your Legislators, near the little map of Wisconsin.  

You may also wish to join a gathering of people opposed to the Constitutional Convention at 9AM tomorrow at the State Capitol.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/critical-illness-2-s5.jpgBioscience and lifesaving medical advances threatened by proposed ban on research that could one day lead to cures for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.