By The Way, Wisconsin HAS A Mining Law
Under which GTAC mining could have applied more than a year ago for a permit to mine iron ore up north. But they wanted a process rigged for approval, with the public shut out - - the same way the so-called 'streamlining' bill was written in the Assembly - - and when they couldn't get it even in the GOP-controlled Senate, they're done, - - or so they say.
2 comments:
THANK YOU for pointing this out. PLEASE CONTINUE to point it out. Many people have noted it but each time the point gets lost in the shit storm of controversy swirling around the new legislation. Because the "new" legislation is so horrible in so many horrible ways.
Another thing; the Wisconsin Mining law in place NOW is a perfectly good and serviceable mining law. Goegibic decided it didn't want to play by the rules and set about to influence legislation and legislators to create a new law that would guarantee it a permit, without going through the process that everyone else has to follow.
In that scenario, what's the point of having legislation at all?** Why not just say, if you want to mine here, you have our permission. Start digging. Dig as deep and wide as you want. Pollute the air and water and destroy the ground, disturb the toxic materials and leave it however you want. No problem, mon! We LOVE your 10 jobs!
**I think I know the answer to this one: by creating legislation, the Walkers can legally extract a 50% cut of the mining revenues otherwise headed for local communities (who will be stuck with clean-up costs and a forever damaged environment) and slip use it to fill budget holes created by their unwillingness to collect any taxes from the corporations who fund their campaigns. In doing so, they condone hostage-taking (Gtac holding jobs hostage), stealing (50% of revenues from local communities), raping (the environment) and--biggest sin of all--raising taxes! (because a 50% bump in revenues where there wasn't one before is still a tax increase). Call Grover Norquist!
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