To my out-of-state and international friends who want to know what to do: I recommend you do your own phone banking or mass emailing event. With a little review online you can find out the names/numbers of Wisconsin state GOP senators and Assembly reps who are supporting this bill. You can also find out which ones are in danger of recall.
Then, you can have your callers explain to the legislator’ staffers on phone or in email that you consider the Wisconsin state line a PICKET LINE. No more dollars into Wisconsin. No more purchasing of Wisconsin products. Publicity ALL OVER YOUR LOCAL AREA (issue a press release) of what you’re doing. This is my advice here.
I can try to get more info regarding names and numbers, or if someone has a cheat sheet, please let me know. You can start with this list from the Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/19/947160/-Recall-Wisconsin-Republican-Senators
And use lookup info from: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/EmailDirectory.aspx?house=senate
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/EmailDirectory.aspx?house=assembly
Hopper, in particular, is vulnerable, having won by only 163 votes, in 2008. In addition, you can get information about the unbelievable provisions of SB 11, including:
– the privatization of state-owned power plants, to be sold on a no-bid basis to whomever the state decides
– the rejection of MILLIONS of federal dollars for public transit, due to contingencies around collective bargaining for employees, that will SHUT MUNICIPAL BUSES DOWN, stranding thousands upon thousands who rely on bus travel to work every day
– the decimation of state heath care funding for those who have no other heath care
These are just a few of the other items not receiving as much coverage, but worthy of immediate action and mention.
Finally, in other quarters, Walker’s appointees are rejecting millions from the federal government for state broadband service, intending to funnel state money to Walker campaign donor AT&T:
Please mention any or all of these issues in your communications with Wisconsin state legislators. Thank you.
Would you like to donate some funds to a clearinghouse group coordinating efforts on the ground? Visit: http://www.defendwisconsin.org/
By Sarah Roberts