Today is February 27, 2013. I am still living on the farm that is still in the family since the time of my  great grandfather in 1870. I am the only "family" member left living on the farmland that was settled in the 1870's. Before that time, the land was government land, and Gr Grandfather Erhart purchased it from the government after serving in the Civil War. He was married to Anna Kindschi, and they had 8 children. My grandfather was the 7th child, and he bought the farm from Andrew, who was the oldest member of the family.
          Today, the state legislature, the senate to be specific, is voting on whether or not to allow mining to enter the state and they are taking away the protections we have had in place for years. A west Virginia coal company came and wanted Wisconsin to lower environmental standards and they did not want to pay extraction fees. This is wrong, but we'll see what happens. I'm writing this as a record, and I'm listening to Senator Tim Cullen at this time as he speaks about the wrong direction our state is taking. He is saying the Army Corps of Engineers will be deciding IF the mine will be permitted. Now, he is saying the Wis Constitution..says our WATER shall be forever FREE!. Since 1848, the water does not belong to an individual, or corporation..it belongs to the people. The PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE. No waste is to be dumped into the water, because it is the PUBLIC's water. 4 Republican Senators spent time learning were part of the hearings that Tim Cullen went to..Senate Substitute Amendment III does not lower environmental standards and is 26 pages long. Ensures compliance with the public trust Doctrine. The committee had experts in MINING testified, environmental groups, DNR, WMC testified. The MINING bill will affect ALL of Wisconsin, and did not include Gogebic Taconite or the Bad River tribe. People of the area of the Penokee hills on February 9th..and the affect of this mine on them. History back to Andrew Jackson "Indian Removal Act" tried to make the Indians move west of the Mississippi, and treaties were signed giving the Indians of small parcels of land..rights to their water. Minnesota is cited as an example to look to..they have a gross tonnage/extraction royalty..and it is in the bill submitted by Tim Cullen. Texas, Alaska, North Dakota, West Virginia, Michigan, Minnesota all have extraction tax as a way of reimbursing citizens for cost of product. Senate Bill III has a cost 20% lower than Minnesota...but bill as submitted by Walker has NO fee for extraction. Time lines for how quickly the mine is permitted and is in the Bill...DNR gets 2 years after mining company does borings..and gets 1 six month "pause". Mining company can take as many as they want.
Senator Tiffany, a Republican shill for the mining companies, is testifying and saying the Corps of Engineers did have time to testify..Senate Bill I (he says) is long because it protects the environment (lying). He's NOT for environmental protection. He doesn't feel "rules" are in order..
Senator Dale Schultz now testifying and says that portions of the "wetland" bill have been folded into the new Senate Bill SBI/ABI. The bill DOES change environmental standards, and he says it is too narrow. Whether or not we are changing the the environmental "bar"..Substitute amendment III keeps environmental standard in place. Senator Cowles..is saying there have been significant changes, and he feels the protections are in SBI/ABI..Senator Jauch is speaking now and is saying people are being ignored by the people in the Republican Senate. Listen to the voices of the people, and not engage in a battle over the people's choice. "What kind of Government do we want to promote? Do we want a government subservient to the corporate interests?" Are we going to be a legislature that polarizes people? Mining is controversial, and complicated. Senator Jauch is a statesman who is an example of who we want in a legislator. A leader, and someone who is able to speak for our people.

It's snowing out, and we've had about 4 inches in the past 24 hours. I had an accident with the car last night..a deer ran into the side of it, wrecked the door, the mirror and front fender. It's an older model Toyota Avalon with over 200,000 miles on it..but we'll get it fixed. I just had 192.00 worth of work done on it yesterday (some electronic part), so we need to continue driving it! The deer got up and ran away, but left me with no window, and I had to turn around and head home..

I will continue to watch the Senate on Wiseye.org, but am saddened that the Republicans in this state are hell bent on destroying this state. I have been fighting for a couple years about frac sand mining that is destroying farm land in Western Wisconsin. We need to change the way this state is run, and we need to make sure we wake up to the destruction of farm land, water and air in this country for the benefit of a few "fat cats" who will not benefit anyone but themselves.