|
 |
8/20/2008
Voice your opinion on onerous mercury rules
Today at 10 A.M. in the State Capitol, the Natural Resources Board’s proposed administrative rule (if it takes effect, it will have the force of law) will be given a public hearing. This administrative rule will require Wisconsin electricity users to pay tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce mercury emissions by 90% over the next seven years.
(Click here for meeting notice.) From State Representative Frank Lasee:
At the conclusion of this Notes, there is information for you to share your thoughts and opinions with the Assembly Natural Resources Committee members.
Early in July, my Notes explained how the Natural Resources (NR) Board of seven unelected members, (appointed by the Governor for six-year terms) voted to reduce mercury emissions by 90% over the next seven years from the 31 coal burning power plants in this state. Electricity users (you and me and employers too) will have to pay for this non-existent technology.
There is no real way of knowing the cost. Maybe it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the 31 Wisconsin coal-burning power plants, and maybe it won’t. Wisconsin has 3% of the 1,024 coal fired plants in the United States, and our NR Board says this regulation will make a real difference (to someone, somewhere).
Because of prevailing winds, Wisconsin electricity users will pay to clean the air Michigan and New Yorkers breathe. These new strict mercury controls will not benefit Wisconsinites. You know, at least we can feel good about ourselves, because we are doing something, somehow. Feeling good is a great benefit to some, even at any cost (as long as others have to pay, too).
Now is not the time to impose additional costs on the backs of electricity users. Our economy is weak, our energy costs are rising and our food costs are growing faster than our incomes. This unelected board has decided that all electricity users should pay more, whether we can afford it or not.
These rules are now in the legislature, the last stop before having the force of law.
The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources (Republican led) and the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (Democratic led) each have the mercury regulations, Clearinghouse Rule 07-036, in their committees for a short time. These committees have the power to postpone this rule.
If the committee objects to this rule, the next step is yet another committee, the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR). This committee is made up of an even number of State Senators and State Representatives (because of the split legislature, Democratic Senate majority, Republican Assembly majority, there is an even number of Republicans and Democrats). If this committee doesn’t act, the rule will take effect.
Without a majority of JCRAR voting to stop a rule, the rule takes effect. It becomes a part of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and has the force of law.
There will be no committee meeting of JCRAR unless both co-chairs, Representative Daniel LeMahieu (R) and Senator Robert Jauch (D), want one. Either chair can prevent a meeting on this Natural Resources rule or any other agency’s proposed rule.
Voice your opinion on this proposed rule by the Natural Resources Board. Attend the hearing this week, write or email the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Scott Gunderson, and ask that your email be included as testimony on Clearinghouse Rule 07-036. Write the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Mark Miller, and ask that he hold a public hearing.
. Email your own representative (click here if you don’t know who your representative is), especially if your representative is a member of either committee The members on the committees include, Representatives Scott Gunderson (Chair, R), Jim Ott (Vice-Chair(R), Garey Bies (R), Daniel LeMahieu (R), Mary Williams (R), Terry Moulton (R), Lee Nerison (R), Jeffrey Mursau (R), Spencer Black (D), Louis Molepske (D), John Steinbrink (D), Ann Hraychuck (D), Gary Hebl (D), Cory Mason (D) and Senators Mark Miller (Chair, D) , Robert Jauch (Vice Chair, D), Robert Wirch (D), Neal Kedzie (R), Dale Schultz (R)
Frank Lasee is a Republican and represents the 2nd Assembly District.
COMMENTS
It beats me how they can be so concerned about THIS, when the govt is also pushing for the new "energy saving" lightbulbs, that technically need a HAZMAT team to clean up if they break...they are LOADED w-mercury!
emily matthews (Wed Aug 20 08:57:19 2008)
While new rules are almost always a subject of concern, more disconcerting is the process by which they are "approved."
Many rules affect a large segment of the population--sometimes in highly negative ways. Yet these rules can, and usually do, get approved and published without ever coming to the floor for a vote! Even a dissenting vote can't stop rules. (Unless its from the JCRAR) For example, the fire sprinkler rule that recently was "passed" (which would significantly increase costs for apartment developers and consequently for tenants without any guarantee of saving even one human life, since almost all deaths recently occured sans a DETECTOR) was voted down by the Assembly Housing Committee, but still made it through to be published.
I must admit that I can't even explain the whole process since its so complicated and subvert. All I know is it has been challenged in court numerous times (once, in fact, for the mercury case in particular) and each time the court has ruled in favor of the state. To repair the system one would need to change the state constitution.
Adam Delikowski (Wed Aug 20 09:11:31 2008)
The new mercury regulations will make a positive difference to someone, somewhere, and sometime.
The time is now and it will extend into the future. The regulations will benefit our environment and Wisconsinites while at the sametime benefiting those who live downwind. What a wonderfull opportunity!
Ron Tank (Fri Aug 22 09:01:00 2008)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
