From Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative: Hearing Records show overwhelming opposition to Wisconsin Mining Bill

By Barbara With*
Posted Feb. 11, 2013, on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative

MADISON, WIS. -- Almost three weeks after the only public hearing was held on controversial (Wisconsin) mining bill SB1/AB1, the chairs of the legislative committees charged with vetting it  have yet to release the results. Neither Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) nor Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford) has publicly announced information on testimony presented at the January 23, 2013, hearing.**

However, Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative (WCMC) obtained a copy of the final tally of public appearances through the office of Rep. Evan Goyeke (D-Milwaukee) which reveals overwhelming opposition to the bill. Of the 976 people who registered or testified at the hearing in Madison, 149 did so in support of the bill, while 815 people opposed it, with 12 listed as "for information only."...

Click here to read the rest of this article, including the transcript of WCMC's phone call to Sen. Tiffany's office requesting official records of the hearing ...

* Citizen journalist Barbara With is pictured above, left, testifying at the Jan. 23, 2013, public hearing in Madison on the proposed Wisconsin mining bill. (Photo © and courtesy Rebecca Kemble) 

** See our Jan. 31, 2013, article, "Articles, videos report testimonies at 12-hour Jan. 23 hearing on Wisconsin mining bill," posted with help from other WCMC reporters.