Wisconsin-Report

Center For Media And Democracy: Americans For Prosperity “Organized Buses To Carry Some Thirty-Odd
Supporters Of The Mine To The Capitol From Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha And
Milwaukee.” According to the Center for Media and Democracy, “SB 1/AB 1, commonly called the ‘Mining Reform Bill,’ is
a renewed effort by supporters of a Florida-based mining company called Gogebic Taconite, or GTAC, to loosen
environmental rules so the company can build an open-pit, iron ore mine in rural Northern Wisconsin. […] The bill has
sparked controversy and heated debate this year, just as it did last year, but with a few unlikely players throwing in their
support. Americans for Prosperity, David Koch’s Tea Party-affiliated astroturf group, organized buses to carry some thirtyodd
supporters of the mine to the Capitol from Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha and Milwaukee. The
group gathered in the Wisconsin State Capitol to get their talking points from Bill Williams, CEO of GTAC.” [Center for
Media and Democracy, 1/24/13]
AFP-Wisconsin Communications Director David Fladeboe Wrote Off Environmentalist Opposition To Mining,
Stating: “We’ve Had Mining In The State For One Hundred Years, And The Environment Up There Coexists With
The Remnants Of The Old Mining Days. We Still Have Clean Water, We Still Have Great Wildlife.” According to the
Center for Media and Democracy, “AFP states its interest in the mining bill stems from its goal of economic prosperity. ‘We
want jobs in the state,’ said Communications Director of AFP-Wisconsin, David Fladeboe. ‘We want prosperity for everyone,
and this bill will bring, or set into process to bring, thousands of jobs to Wisconsin and help improve the economy.’ Fladeboe
writes off the environmentalist opposition to the bill, by stating: ‘We’ve had mining in the state for one hundred years, and the
environment up there coexists with the remnants of the old mining days. We still have clean water, we still have great wildlife...
and we can have both economic prosperity and environmental protection at the same time.’ For a factsheet on the regulatory
actions and high-dollar fines applied to iron-ore mines in the region, click here.” [Center for Media and Democracy, 1/24/13]
Huffington Post: AFP “Jumped Into An Iron County Board Of Supervisors Election In Northern Wisconsin To
Attack Candidates Opposed To An Iron Ore Mine.” According to the Huffington Post, “Almost no issue appears to be
too small for the Kochs’ activists. Americans for Prosperity jumped into an Iron County board of supervisors election in
northern Wisconsin to attack candidates opposed to an iron ore mine.” [Huffington Post, 8/14/14]
• Americans For Prosperity Mailed Fliers To Iron County Residents To “Decry The Influence Of Wealthy
Radical Environmentalists Who Oppose A Mine In Iron County, And Point The Finger At Seven
Candidates. According to WXPR, “A conservative political advocacy group funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers
is dipping its hand into Iron County board elections. Americans For Prosperity has been mailing fliers to Iron County
residents. The fliers decry the influence of wealthy radical environmentalists who oppose a mine in Iron County, and
point the finger at seven candidates who are challenging county board seats in next week’s election.” [WXPR,
3/27/14]
Politifact Rated AFP’s Claim That “Under The Administration Of Gov. Scott Walker, Northern Wisconsin’s Mining
Economy Is Moving Forward And More People Are Getting Good, High-Paying Jobs” As “Mostly False.” According
to Politifact, “A direct mail flier from Americans for Prosperity says that ‘Under the administration of Gov. Scott Walker,
northern Wisconsin’s mining economy is moving forward and more people are getting good, high-paying jobs.’ It cites the bill
aimed at the iron mine as its evidence. But that mine is far from being constructed or open. About ‘maybe 10’ well-paid
operating engineers have worked there. To be sure, there’s been a boom in the state’s sand mining industry. But that’s not the
subject of the statement. We rate the claim Mostly False.” [Politifact, 10/16/14]
The MacIver Institute Resorted To Utilizing Propaganda And Mudslinging Targeted At Wisconsin Native
American Tribes In Pursuit Of Its Pro-Mining Objective
MacIver Institute: “If Minnesota Has A Strong And Safe Mining Industry, Why Can’t Wisconsin?” According to the
MacIver Institute, “If you ask the residents of Hurley and Ashland counties, they will tell you saying yes to this project is a nobrainer.
And we did just that, when we produced our mini-documentary Mineshaft. Everyone we talked to on Main Street told
us how much the mine would mean to the local economy and how much it would help in keeping young people from moving
away just to find good-paying jobs. We also heard that if Minnesota has a strong and safe mining industry, why can’t
Wisconsin?” [MacIver Institute, 9/19/13]
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