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Frac Sand Mining Companies Could Benefit From "Polluters Over People Bill"

by Sara Jerving — October 28, 2011 - 10:00am
  • Topics: Corporations, Environment

    • Wisconsin's environment and the health of its population might be on the chopping block as state Republicans push for mining deregulation in the name of "jobs."

    A few bills are floating around in the Wisconsin legislature that could jeopardize the state's natural resources in order to make the state more attractive to mining companies. An official mining bill is currently being drafted, led by assembly Republicans, to expedite mining permits in the state. Another bill introduced last week in both the Senate and Assembly has been dubbed the "Polluters Over People Bill," and aims to overhaul the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permitting process.

    Opponents to those bills argue they could lay the groundwork for a massive iron mine, violate Wisconsin's "public trust doctrine" for publicly-owned waters, and otherwise benefit polluters by selling off the state's natural resources.

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    At OWS, Cenk Uygur Announces Effort to Amend Constitution, Get Money Out of Politics

    by Brendan Fischer — October 28, 2011 - 8:04am
  • Topics: Activism, BanksterUSA, Corporations, Democracy, Election Protection, Media, Politics

    • The "Occupy" movement has been inspired in part by the increasingly outsized political power of the top 1%, which has made elected officials more responsive to deep-pocket donors than those they were elected to represent. In response to the other 99% being left politically and economically disempowered, former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur has announced plans to work toward amending the U.S. Constitution to get big money out of politics and restore representative democracy.

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    Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source

    by Sara Jerving — October 27, 2011 - 8:00am
  • Topics: Journalism

    • As newsrooms across the country shave off staff due in part to slipping ad revenue and corporate media conglomeration, the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, is rushing to fill the gap. The group has 43 state news websites, with writers in over 40 states. Its reporters have been given state house press credentials and its news articles are starting to appear in mainstream print newspapers in each state. Who funds Franklin and what is its agenda?

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    Lessons from the Original Occupation: Madison's Sheriff Dave Mahoney

    by Mary Bottari — October 27, 2011 - 7:24am
  • Topics: Democracy, Economy, Wisconsin Protests

    • On February 11, 2011, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker introduced a bill that would limit the collective bargaining rights of public employees, require 100% voter participation in union recertification and end the state's practice of withholding and reimbursing union dues. The bill was perceived as a death blow to public employee unions and prompted massive, sustained and peaceful protests inside and outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in the winter of 2011.

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    Wisconsin Democrats Allege Governor Walker Used Taxpayer Dollars for Campaign Website

    by Brendan Fischer — October 26, 2011 - 8:11am
  • Topics: Internet, Election 2012, Democracy, Ethics, Politics, Real Economy Project, Wisconsin Protests

    • Governor Scott Walker's new "Reforms and Results" website touting the successes of his policies is allegedly a campaign website funded by taxpayers, according to a complaint filed Tuesday by the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

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    Wisconsin Voter ID Law Challenged by League of Women Voters

    by Brendan Fischer — October 21, 2011 - 8:51am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Election 2012, Corporations, Election Protection, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • Wisconsin's American Legislative Exchange Council-inspired voter ID law, which will make it harder for students and people of color to vote, is being challenged under the state constitution by the League of Women Voters.

    The law requires potential voters to show a valid state-issued driver's license or identification card before they can cast a ballot, rendering many state residents ineligible to vote. Wisconsin, like thirteen other states, passed the law earlier this year based on the ALEC "model" voter ID bill.

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    Local Dinner to Recognize Food & Farm Hero John Kinsman and Beginning Farmers

    by Rebekah Wilce — October 21, 2011 - 7:00am
  • Topics: Agriculture

    • On Saturday, November 12th, the Family Farm Defenders (FFD) hosts the "First Annual John Kinsman Beginning Farmer Food Sovereignty Dinner" at the Goodman Community Center on Madison, Wisconsin's near east side.

    The Center for Media and Democracy's Food Rights Network featured John Kinsman as our first Food and Farm Hero earlier this month.

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    Flu with that Burger? ALEC Wants Sick People Serving You Food

    by Rebekah Wilce — October 19, 2011 - 7:00am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Labor, Politics

    • Last week, the city of Philadelphia mandated paid sick days for "workers whose employers have contracts with the city or apply for city subsidies." Last month, Seattle also passed a paid sick leave ordinance. Connecticut passed a bill in June that will make it the first state in the nation to mandate paid sick leave for service workers. Food service workers are a special concern of such laws.

    Workers in these locations will no longer have to come to work with the flu or other infectious illness, endangering the health of their coworkers and customers and exacerbating their own health.

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    CMD Demands Investigation of Facebook's Impact on Privacy

    by Patrick Moran — October 18, 2011 - 10:27am
  • Topics: Internet, Corporations, Democracy

    • CMD has signed onto a letter with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and seven other pro-privacy groups requesting that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate changes Facebook has made to user accounts that undermine the privacy rights of millions of users.

    The letter focuses on two recent policies implemented by Facebook called "frictionless sharing" and "post-log-out tracking." According to the letter, "frictionless sharing and post-log-out tracking harms consumers throughout the United States by invading their privacy and allowing for disclosure and use of information in ways and for purposes other than those to which users have consent and relied upon."

    Frictionless sharing is "Facebook's term for allowing applications to automatically share users' activity rather than having users initiate each instance of sharing themselves." Facebook developed two new features called "Ticker" and "Timeline" to promote this concept.

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    Wisconsin Legislature Holds Hearings on Affirmative Action: Students Criticize Priorities

    by Brendan Fischer — October 18, 2011 - 9:54am
  • Topics: Activism, Right Wing, Education, Race / Ethnic Issues, Wisconsin Protests

    • MADISON -- Wisconsin legislators heard Monday from the president of a group alleging the University of Wisconsin's admissions policies discriminates against whites. Students had protested when the group's report was first released in September, but on Monday they stayed out of the Assembly hearing to communicate to legislators there are more important issues facing the state.

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