Big Money Bulletin

203 South Paterson Street, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703-3689 608 255-4260; www.wisdc.org Inside “Let’s Start Afresh”

Page 2 Dear Friend, Fending Off the Far Right You could almost hear the sigh of relief coming from Wis. Companies Tied to GOP Group Behind Jan. 6 Event the vast majority of Americans when President Biden said, Page 3 in his Inaugural Address, “Let’s start afresh.” Businesses Seek COVID Immunity I appreciated that he affirmed “democracy,” a word that WMC Weakens PFAS Rule he used 11 times, including five times in the first minute. Page 4 I appreciated that he affirmed reason, facts, and “truth,” The Big Share is March 2 Annual Meeting Save the Date! a word he used five times. I appreciated that he acknowledged the virulent racism that is afoot in the land, citing “a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.” And I appreciated the called for “an end to this uncivil war” and urged us to “stop the shouting, and lower the Feb/Mar 2021 temperature.” Edition No. 123 He also urged us to “listen to one another again,” which I think is really important. It’s one of the 12 things I www.wisdc.org recommend for fending off the far right, and you’ll find that list on the next page. I look forward to hearing your own suggestions on this crucial task. Twelve Things You Can Do to Fend Off the Far Right 1. Call out racism, wherever we see it. wearing Nazi symbols on their shirts. We need to dia- logue with them and coax them away from the clutch- 2. Call out anti-Semitism, wherever we smell it. es of the fascists. 3. Be wary of ultra-nationalism: We’re all patri- And lastly, we can’t do otic, but we need to understand that ultra-nationalism 12. Join organizations: this work alone or isolated. We need to do the work of and scapegoating are the sperm and the egg of fascism. saving democracy in organizations, and with friends, 4. Study Fascism: The closest kin to what we’ve otherwise it’ll be too big of a chore. So join any of the been seeing with Trump and is fascism, so myriad of groups that are trying to preserve and ex- it’s important to study that subject. We’ve posted a pand our democracy. handy guide on our website: https://www.wisdc.org/ news/trump-and-fascism. 5. Defend Liberalism: The trashing of liberals Wis. Companies Tied to GOP and liberalism has got to stop. This is the stock and Group Behind Jan. 6 Event trade of and and their An arm of the Republican Attorneys Gen- imitators on rightwing radio, but it is toxic to our polit- eral Association (RAGA) called the Rule of Law ical culture and it leads people into the arms of those Defense Fund made robocalls urging listeners to who would destroy our democracy. attend a “Stop the Steal” rally. Between Jan. 2018 6. Beware Red-Baiting: In the last election, and late Nov. 2020, RAGA received about Trump denounced Democrats not just as “socialists” $279,000 from about two dozen Wisconsin con- but also as “communists,” a word not heard in political tributors. campaigns in this country for decades. This kind of red The top contributors were: -baiting is a throwback to McCarthyism but also a key MillerCoors (now Molson Coors), of Mil- aspect of fascists waukee, $75,000 7. Defend Rationalism: We need to uphold En- Foley & Lardner, of Milwaukee, $60,950 lightenment values. The rise of irrationalism – look at Wisconsin Realtors Association, of Madi- QAnon – is a very scary prospect for democracy. son, $50,000 8. Protest Nonviolently: We need to stand up in Kwik Trip, of La Crosse, $25,000 public and in the streets to defend our democracy. In Klondike Properties, of Monroe, $20,000 all that we do, we need to uphold nonviolence, both as a moral imperative and as a political one. Violence is Michael Best Strategies, of Madison, wrong, and it gets us nowhere. $15,875 Dairy Business Association, of Green Bay, 9. Contact Your Elected Officials: When your $10,000 elected officials spread lies about the integrity of our elections or who are perfectly willing to throw out tens Forest County Potawatomi Community, of of thousands of legitimately cast votes by Wisconsin Crandon, $10,000 citizens, let them hear from you. Kinnard Farms, of Casco, $2,500 10. Vote! If we’ve learned anything over the last Heller Farm Inc., of Alma Center, $2,000 10 years, it’s that elections really matter, especially in Norm-e-Lane Inc., of Chili, $1,000 closely divided states like Wisconsin. Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, of Kewaunee, 11. Listen to people, and talk to people, who dis- $1,000 agree with you. One out of every two voters in Wis- Shiloh Dairy, of Greenleaf, $1,000 consin voted for Trump. Not all of those voters, not most of those voters, are flying Confederate flags or Special Interest Follies Businesses Seek COVID Immunity WMC Weakens PFAS Rule The state’s most powerful special interest busi- Bowing to pressure from Wisconsin Manufac- ness and trade groups support a Republican bill that turers & Commerce (WMC), Republican lawmakers would give businesses broad immunity from lawsuits in December diluted a proposed state rule to prevent brought by customers and employees who contract PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” from con- covid-19 even if businesses don’t follow public health taminating drinking water. guidelines or orders. The Legislature’s Joint Committee for the Re- The measure, Assembly Bill 1, was introduced view of Administrative Rules voted to ditch parts of by GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester. a state rule to establish a system to measure PFAS levels in fire- The special interests backing the bill include: fighting foam after Americans for Prosperity, a rightwing election- it is treated and eering group backed by before it is dis- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. The charged in sewers state’s largest business group said in a letter late last and waterways. month that it leads a coalition of more than 70 business The lawmakers, on and trade groups that support covid-19 lawsuit immun- a 6-4 party line ity for businesses. vote, also struck the rule’s disposal Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions restrictions on National Federation of Independent Business PFAS-contaminated materials and a requirement that Dairy Business Association PFAS spills be reported under state hazardous sub- School Choice Wisconsin stance regulations. Wisconsin Bankers Association PFAS, which have been used for decades in Wisconsin Hospital Association Teflon products and food packaging, do not break Wisconsin Builders Association down in the environment or human body. The chem- Schneider National icals have been found in drinking water and water- Wisconsin Civil Justice Council, a coalition of ways throughout the state. PFAS have been linked to business, construction, agricultural, and transportation higher rates of kidney and testicular cancer, among groups other dangerous health effects. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation The rule was opposed at the committee hear- Wisconsin Insurance Alliance ing by WMC, which claims it’s too costly for busi- Wisconsin Grocers Association ness and that the DNR lacked the authority to en- Wisconsin Independent Businesses force it. Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association WMC is consistently one of the biggest back- Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Assc. ers of Republican candidates in legislative and Wisconsin Restaurant Association statewide elections. WMC spent more than $8.1 mil- lion in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 fall elections on Wisconsin Dairy Alliance disclosed and secret electioneering activities to sup- NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Develop- port GOP candidates or smear Democrats. In addi- ment Association tion, WMC’s PAC and employees have doled out Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin more than $134,000 in campaign contributions most- Associated Builders and Contractors of Wis. ly to Republicans since January 2015. Big Money Bulletin

203 South Paterson Street, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703-3689 608 255-4260; www.wisdc.org

“Let’s Start Afresh”—Page 1 How to Fend Off the Far Right—Page 2 Businesses Seek COVID Immunity—Page 3

Save the Date! The Big Share is March 2 Wisconsin Democracy We’re hoping you’ll participate in The Big Campaign Share, the annual spring fundraising event sponsored by Community Shares of Wis- Annual Meeting is May 19 consin. This year, The Big Share is on Our annual meeting and celebration March 2, and we’ll be reaching out to you will be by Zoom this year. It’s sched- online to give us – and other progressive uled for Wednesday, May 19 at 5:00 nonprofits in Wisconsin – a boost. We’d p.m., so please save the date. (We’re also appreciate it if you’d send us a gift in hoping we’ll be able to return to an in- the envelope we’ve included inside. Thanks person annual meeting next year!) as always for your support!