Letter: Mining bill a snow job by Dick and Gail Gumness
Editor:
It’s not like we don’t love the snow up here in the North, but we cannot believe the mining bill “snow job” coming up from southern Wisconsin, from congressmen in the senate majority, especially senate leader Scott Fitzgerald.
Reading the news from many Wisconsin newspapers these past few weeks, it is not hard to see the same Republican leaders boldly lying to get what they want...their same arrogance and their willingness to continue to disenfranchise Wisconsin citizens.
Get this: Sen. Cullen, (D-Janesville) said “It is incomprehensible to me that an elected official, who took the oath to serve the best interests of the people of Wisconsin, could endorse and vote for a bill which allows an out-of-state company to mine our natural resources and never pay a tax.”
Under Senate Bill 1, the mining company would pay little or no property, corporate income, net proceeds or other taxes to the State of Wisconsin, forcing taxpayers to pay the bill.
To make it even worse, the notorious Republican Grover Norquist of Washington, D.C., has stepped into Wisconsin politics by writing our politicians Wednesday, saying a tax on extracted iron would break the promise a number of state senators made to refrain from raising taxes.
Sen. Jauch, (D-Poplar) said, “Grover Norquist can’t find northern Wisconsin on a map, and in opposing a plan that would help Wisconsin taxpayers, he shows his ignorance of the issue.”
Where does Grover Norquist get off telling us here in Wisconsin what to think or do? He’s made an absolute mess out of the Republican Congress in Washington, D.C., putting it into the infamous “no” and “do-nothing” Congress mode, that the majority of American citizens totally disapprove.
So, Mr. Norquist, keep your twisted advice. We don’t like it or you.
State Sens. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville), Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) are sponsoring Bill 3, an alternative mining bill that includes a gross tonnage tax that we, up North, can give our support to. We are grateful for your initiative and courage and will do our best to spread the word. Keep up your good work.
Dick and Gail Gumness, Woodruff
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4 Comments for "Letter: Mining bill a snow job by Dick and Gail Gumness"
As guardians it is our responsibility to protect our children. Once the ground water is contaminated there's no going back.
You can keep your riches now; just say no.
Show your children how you do your part to protect the earth.
God's country is not for sale for damage.
Food for thought
Craig Strid
Dirts Feb 26, 2013 10:25 AM
That mine is reportedly expected to use 43 million gallons of water in one day.
Thats equivelant to the demand of the population of Madison. What happens to the ground water if we suffer another drought because they will continue to use 43 million gallons of water a day.
Food for thought
Craig Strid.
Dirts Feb 27, 2013 3:16 PM
birch Feb 28, 2013 8:47 AM
I don't rank informing the public of the unpublished negatives of mining or the protection of the Northwoods environment complaining. Especially when health issues are in question for all. I believe that only a well informed public can make good decisions and the unspoken word serves no purpose.
I hope I answered your questions in regard to your thinking.
.
Dirts Feb 28, 2013 12:10 PM