Plastics and CP SOTU Update

The city is posed to approve plastic recycling in La Crosse. This is a major step - for decades, the argument has been that the city's contract for waste to the "waste to energy" plant required as much burnable waste as possible to remain in the stream. However, with stricter pollution controls required and apparently a reduced plastic waste stream (where ARE all those water bottles going??!!), more emphasis on recycling would be a good thing.

However, more emphasis on not manufacturing/purchasing/disposing of plastics would be a better thing.

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Update on tablers for the Jan. 29 State of the Union:

[Updated 1/19/10] - Confirmed so far:
> La Crosse Area Freethought Society
> LGBT Resource Center for the Seven Rivers Region
> Climate Commitment Projects at Western Technical College
> American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
> Ramona Gonzalez for Court of Appeals
> UW-L Progressives
> Lynnwood Farm and CSA
> Small Family CSA
> Three Rivers Waldorf School
> Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
> La Crosse Interfaith Justice and Peace Network
> The Root Note
> Coulee Partners for Sustainability
> La Crosse Area Planning Committee
> CouleeCap Job and Business Development

(invited/still working on)
* High school student groups
* Coulee Region Sierra Club
* Active Living La Crescent
* many more - email couleeprogressive@hotmail.com for table info or to sign up!

Tom Barret in La Crosse Monday

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett will be in La Crosse on Monday.

Monday, January 18th
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
City Brewery Hospitality Center
1111 3rd Street South
La Crosse

All Contributions Gratefully Accepted

For more information regarding sponsoring this event, please contact Kelsey at (608) 432-5597 or kelsey[@]barrettforwisconsin.com

or

Please send contributions to:
Barrett for Wisconsin
PO Box 510796
Milwaukee, WI 53203

or online.


State election law allows individuals to contribute up to $10,000 per year, corporate checks are not accepted. Contributions to Barrett for Wisconsin are not tax deductible.

6th Annual State of the Union - It's up to US! - updated

Join the local progressive community to share ideas, learn about what needs work and energize for the new year!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Concordia Ballroom, 1129 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin

[Update - UW-L Progressives are screening the new film "RETHINK AFGHANISTAN" at 3 p.m. on this day - see the film website to sign up and for more info.]

We expect about 30 to 40 tablers at our ACTIVIST FAIR where you can sign up for a cause, debate a strategy or share an idea.

[Updated 1/12/10) - Confirmed so far:
> La Crosse Area Freethought Society
> LGBT Resource Center for the Seven Rivers Region
> Climate Commitment Projects at Western Technical College
> American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
> Ramona Gonzalez for Court of Appeals
> UW-L Progressives
> Lynnwood Farm and CSA
> Small Family CSA
> La Crosse Interfaith Justice and Peace Network

watch for more updates!

A variety of soups and breads plus plates and utensils will be provided at our COMMUNITY POTLUCK but if you can bring a fruit or appetizer or dessert to share, that would be great! Cash bar.

Our PROGRAM will include the annual Coulee Progressives Year in Review and we hope to have a speaker, too.

ADMISSION is by sliding scale fee ($2 to $20). No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but remember, you'll get free food and a warm place to hang out for a few hours on a cold January night!

If you can bring a NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEM for area food pantries, we will gladly accept and deliver it.

Sponsored by Coulee Region Progressives, UW-L Progressives and UW-L Native American Students Association.

For more info about securing a table space for your group, organization or cause, please email couleeprogressive@hotmail.com or call 608 788-4039.

See you there!

Rate hikes and serfdom

For Xcel's explanation of its rate increase request, read this document.

I can't tell if the public comment period is over or not, but you can email the PSC (docket #4220-UR-116) with your comments on the proposed rate increases. This page talks about how to provide comments to the PSC.

It seems other Xcel states are none too happy about paying higher rates when Excel execs waste money on extravagant dinners, spas, box seats at sports events and other luxuries.

In this Wednesday, Nov. 11 article from the Colorado Independent, we learn that:

Some of those 2008 travel and entertainment expenses include $9,524 of a $41,890 bill for a board retreat at the plush St. Julien Hotel and Spa in Boulder; $5,410 of a $9,721 bill for Colorado Avalanche games; $19,323 of a $26,639 bill for “other employee related sporting activity”; $3,746 of an $11,958 tab at McCormick’s Fish House and Bar in Denver; and $3,458 of a staggering $15,211 bill at Frasca restaurant in Boulder.

Really, have we progressed all that much?

Serfdom.

Surprise hearings - energy, health care

Democracy depends on an informed electorate ... unfortunately, finding out where and when the information will be dribbled out often takes some keen sleuthing.

In Saturday's paper, uncovered by Guy, was a notice of an Excel rate increase teleconference hearing on WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. in room 104 Wing Technology Center, UW-L. (Note - this overlaps with Wednesday's Racial Profiling listening session, 4 to 7 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library.)

According to the LaX Tribune: "Xcel filed June 1 with the PSC for an electric rate increase of 5.7 percent and proposed to keep its natural gas rates the same. The PSC staff recently suggested a 2.7 percent electric rate increase and no change in natural gas rates."

Guy says, "Please consider coming and voicing your concerns about money
for laying the plan for 345Kv, 150 powerlines; for upgrades to
increase nuclear power and nuclear storage at Prairie Island
Mdewakaton Dakota Community (even while Xcel is fighting basic safety
measures requested by the Tribe and City of Red Wing, and
all the while raising rates on low income individuals."

I suppose this is better notice than that of Wednesday's Ron Kind Health Care sort-of listening session by proxy

At the start of the call at about 6:35 p.m., a random selection of households in the district will receive a call inviting them to participate. Those who stay on the line will hear some comments from the La Crosse Democrat and will have the opportunity to ask questions. Interested constituents may also dial in themselves by calling 1-877-229-8493 and using the code 15311.