At the Wisconsin Green Party 2013 Fall membership meeting in Milwaukee on Saturday, November 9th, Greens from around Wisconsin made bold proposals for the state’s future while calling on their fellow Wisconsinites to join the Green Party and run for office.

Delegates began the meeting by amending the state party’s platform to call for rigorous environmental safeguards against mining pollution, legalization of marijuana, and a $15 inflation-adjusted minimum wage. Proposals to charter a publicly-owned state Bank of Wisconsin and institute election reforms including independent redistricting, instant runoff voting, and proportional representation were also added to the platform by consensus, as were planks calling for paid sick leave and opposing the school voucher system of public money for private schools.

At the meeting, the Wisconsin Green Party agreed to recruit and support at least one statewide candidate in 2014, with the goal of winning a ballot line for the party.

“People are looking for solutions outside the failed status quo and big-money politics,” said party co-chair Dave Schwab. “The Green Party is growing across the country because we are putting those solutions on the table.”

In the afternoon, Frank Koehn, the first Green elected to public office in the U.S., joined Carl Sack of Madison Action for Mining Alternatives to give a presentation on Wisconsin’s frack sand mining boom and the proposed Gogebic Taconite mine in the Penokee Hills (pictured at top right). After the presentation, Greens discussed organizing in Milwaukee to defend Wisconsin’s land, air and water from the threat of mining.

The Wisconsin Green Party is actively seeking new members and potential candidates. Interested in joining the party and/or running for office? Sign up today on our website, or contact WIGP co-chair Dave Schwab at david [dot] c [dot] schwab [at] gmail [dot] com.