Progressive's TownHall - Rock County

EXPIRED BULLETIN

Rock County Progressives & MoveOn present…

Town Hall on what can be done to stop corporate takeovers in Washington DC

Wednesday, May 5 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at Hedberg Public Library, 316 S. Main St. Janesville

Register for the event at the MoveOn website (seating will be limited).

Outraged by the recent Supreme Court decision unleashing a torrent of corporate funds in elections, corporate bailouts, rising foreclosures and other issues… we will be gathering to talk about what can be done to stop corporate takeovers in Washington DC.

A few relevant facts…

* The six biggest banks now control over 63% of Gross domestic product

* The financial sector spends more than $1 million per day lobbying Congress and fighting financial reform.

* ExxonMobil reported a record $45.2 billion profit & paid NO federal income tax in 2009.

We hope you’ll join us!

RockCountyProgressives@gmail.com

Legislative Alert! - Working Lands Initiative

Protect Wisconsin’s popular Working Lands Initiative

Please contact your legislators now: Ask them to resist last-minute efforts to weaken farmland protection.

Local interest is high in new tools like purchase of agricultural conservation easements and agricultural enterprise areas. But the Wisconsin Realtors Association is behind bills (SB-576 and AB 863) that would weaken these tools by repealing or delaying the conversion fee on lands removed from farmland preservation zoning districts. A last-minute vote on this bill may be sought in the remaining days of this legislative session.

It’s important that we act now. Please tell your legislators to “Stand Tall for Farmland Preservation” and resist this effort to weaken Wisconsin’s Working Lands Initiative. Contact information for legislators is below. Here are some talking points:

The conversion fee is an important part of the Working Lands Initiative. It supports many aspects of the program, including:
· Agricultural Enterprise Areas
· Grants to counties to update farmland plans
· Agricultural conservation easements

Facts about the conversion fee:
· The conversion fee increases the value of land for agriculture by reducing potential land use conflicts and providing security for farmers looking to locate or expand their farm operations. The cost of the conversion fee will most likely be passed on to the person developing the land or buying a house in prime farmland. Isn’t this appropriate?
· The fee applies only to land rezoned out of farmland preservation zoning districts.
· Farmers with existing farmland preservation agreements are not subject to the conversion fee for removing land from the agreement.
· The conversion fee is not new. It has always been a part of Wisconsin’s farmland preservation programs.
Here’s what authentic rural voices are saying about this issue:
Farmer and Working Lands Steering Committee Chair Dan Poulson explains importance of conversion fee.
Farmer Bob Uphoff comments on conversion fee.
Contact your legislators and tell them to “Stand Tall for Farmland Preservation.”
Call your State Senator and Assembly representative on the legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472. If you need help finding your legislator, go to:
http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.

Remember: Personal contacts are best.
For more information, contact:
Bill Berry
American Farmland Trust’s Campaign for Wisconsin’s Farm and Forest Lands
1973 Strongs Ave.
Stevens Point WI 54481
715 341 9119
715 321 0589 (cell)
billlnick@charter.net

Bob Wagner
Senior Director Farmland Protection Programs
American Farmland Trust
413-586-9330 Ext. 12
bwagner@farmland.org