Wisconsin #Occupy, WI Jobs Now, and Anti-mine Activists Converge on Madison

On the day of Governor Scott Walkers State of the State Address, #Occupy Wall Street, the 99%, Wisconsin Jobs Now, and those opposed to the Iron Ore mine in Northern Wisconsin converged today on the Capitol building here in Madison today.

Wisconsin Citizens Occupied the Senate Parlor room in order to show their dis-content with the current actual state of the State. According to many experts, many of the statistics put out by the Walker administration have been “tailored” to reflect not the actual status of jobs and the budget, but numbers and statistics that have been hand picked to mislead the electorate. Many say the true numbers reflect a far different situation. One that shows that the Corporations and the rich have done very well … at the expense of working Wisconsinites, those who labor, and the poor. Many state that general as well as advanced education have also taken a hit under Walker's tutelage. One must wonder as the majority of Americans seem to lean more to the left as their education rises. It may benefit the GOP to desire a less educated electorate, as the least educated seem to lean towards the pro-rich, pro-corporate positions of Republicans.

Although most were there to show support for the #Occupy Wall Street movement, corporate control of our lives and government, and general economic disparity, many of the Wisconsin citizens who Occupied the Senate Parlor room were there to show discontent with the proposed Iron Ore mine in NW Wisconsin. Supporters insist the mine will be an economic boon, creating hundreds of good-paying jobs that will re-energize the impoverished region. However, environmentalists and tribal leaders worry the mine will contaminate one of the most pristine regions in the state. It will in the least definitely effect the natural state of the area, all agree.

As expected, the mining bill designed to make it cheaper and easier (less regulations, more pollution) for the mine has passed the House and is on it's way to the Wisconsin Assembly. The Bill was basically written by Gogebic Taconite, who have plans for an iron mine in the Penokee Hills in Ashland and Iron counties.   Over the past six months, the mining company Gogebic Taconite LLC spent $114,883 lobbying state officials to get their support for the proposal to create an iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin. State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, who represents the local district, stated “a complete waste of money.” There are now many different groups working against the mine. Their diversity represents a quite large range of our society. One such group is Gogebic Taconite | WisconsinWatch.org. Supporters insist the mine will be an economic boon, creating hundreds of good-paying jobs that will re-energize the impoverished region. However, environmentalists and tribal leaders worry the mine will contaminate one of the most pristine regions in the state.

There will be an assembly and protest at the Capitol tonight at 5pm.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to be present, but will however get updated by by tribal members.  We will be going up north to check it all out.

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