what is happening here?

Wisconsin politics are crazy, and I say this coming from Illinois. In the wake of the recall of State Senator Alberta Darling, the Republican party recruited a fake Democrat to run in the primary to give Darling more time to prepare her campaign before the actual recall election. A primary forces the election into August, when many are on vacation, or will have forgotten their anger. The woman in question, Gladys Huber, has been very active in the Republican party and conservative activities. Yet, somehow she was able to run as a Democrat. These politicians are trying to undermine our democracy. Thankfully, it seems the "protest candidates" across the state have been defeated. Each of these candidates needed only a few hundred signature to be included on the primary ballot, while to recall the senators, a matter of tens of thousands was necessary.

Doesn't seem fair, does it?

I only have a month left in Milwaukee.

I know nobody reads this, but if you happen to stumble across this, please consider writing or calling your representative to urge a "NO" vote on HR 2018. This bill would remove any power the EPA has to regulate baselines and permits for water quality. Without a national baseline, downstream states have a distinct disadvantage in the race to the bottom, as pollution from upstream states (who don't have to worry as much about their water quality standards) will ultimately affect their waters. Everybody deserves the right to clean water, and the EPA has shown its ability to successfully implement the Clean Water Act of 1972. Do not trust the name given to HR 2018: "The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011." OVer 40 years,the EPA has helped states to clean up the mess that was left by a lack of regulation, and now the representatives from states who would like to pollute more (much of the force comes from mining states, who face restrictions on mountain top removal) would like to take that away from everybody.

Congressman Tim Bishop (NY) made a very eloquent response to this bill on the floor. http://timbishop.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=79&itemid=1898

I am writing to my representative. Please contact yours (http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org/issues-actions/legislation/clean-water-cooperative-federalism-act-2011). We have to make our voice heard now, or live without any assurance of clean, safe, fishable, or swimmable water.

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jhadams/dont_water_down_the_clean_wate.html