mining

New National Report: How Gov. Susana Martinez's Big Business Agenda Endangers New Mexicans

September 28, 2011 by Democracy for N...

Just the facts! Food & Water Watch, joined by Conservation Voters New Mexico and the New Mexico Federation of Labor, today released a report (pdf) that outlines numerous examples of how Governor Susana Martinez has given special privilege to industries like oil and gas, industrialized dairy, homebuilders and mining -- at the expense of environmental protection and the local economy. The well-documented report also provide useful charts that demonstrate -- in no uncertain terms -- how and why the Martinez administration puts politics and campaign donor wishes ahead of the needs of New Mexicans and protecting our vital natural resources. 

GOP wants to stack mining committee; rejects Dem appointees

September 27, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Not only will Republicans have a majority on the new mining committee being appointed, but Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald wants to pick the Democratic members, too. WisPolitics.com in its report to subscribers, says Fitzgerald rejected two of Minority Leader Mark Miller’s picks for the Senate’s Select Committee on Mining Jobs.

Miller, D-Monona, said he wanted Bob Jauch of Poplar, Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee and Jon Erpenbach of Middleton on the committee because they represent the region of a planned mine, represent a district with residents involved in the production of mining equipment and have long ties to the environmental community, respectively.

But Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, has final say over committee appointments under Senate rules and instead appointed Jauch and Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Conover, to the committee. ..

“Sen. Kedzie, the committee chair, and the Republicans on the committee are going into this process with the ultimate goal of creating more jobs in Northern Wisconsin, not creating more politics in Madison,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s my expectation that Sen. Jauch and the full membership of the committee will share that goal.”

Quote, unquote

September 26, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

The question is what happens when mining goes wrong, because it will. If we don’t expect problems, then we have learned nothing from the BP oil spill... the Legislature needs to take its time in rewriting the mining law. A speedy job done within a couple of months to satisfy one company will not do..."-- Racine Journal Times editorial.

It is probably not coincidental that State Rep. Cory Mason, who has been asking some godo questions about the proposed open pit mine in northern Wisconsin, is from Racine.