Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 13:25:10 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ For more information, visit http://www.garvey98.org ] FOR RELEASE: CONTACT:Dustin Beilke 608-238-8099 Ed Garvey and Barbara Lawton Speak Out Against WEPCO Rate Increases Ed Garvey and Barbara Lawton, the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin in 1998, have issued the following statement in response to the outrageous rate increase the Public Service Commission has approved for Wisconsin Electric Power Company. Ed Garvey said: "The second richest man in the United States, Warren Buffet, was quoted in the Omaha World Herald on January 31, 1998 saying, 'Corporations think they are getting their money's worth, or they wouldn't be writing the checks.'" "While Buffett never met the Wisconsin PSC, his remarks were right on the mark. WEPCO officials, who have lobbied for this increase, knew how to play the game. The shareholders and the management team at WEPCO will gain more than $150 million a year with the increase. Who will pay? The ratepayers of Wisconsin who will ante up at least $60 per year in additional utility costs. Businesses will also pay millions more as a result of this 12.3 percent increase. "Who decides these issues? Three members of the Public Service Commission who should be protecting ratepayers but, instead, seem hell bent on enriching the shareholders of WEPCO. All three PSC commissioners are members of Governor Thompson's 'Governor's Club,' signifying that they have contributed at least $500 to his reelection campaign." "And WEPCO? Officers and employees of WEPCO and its affiliates have invested more than $28,000 in the governor since 1991. As Warren Buffett said, these corporations 'think they are getting their money's worth,' and in WEPCO's case they are certainly getting more than they should have expected." Barbara Lawton said: "When Ed Garvey and I are serving the state of Wisconsin no member of the PSC will be permitted to contribute to any campaign. We will seek appointees dedicated to protection of the ratepayers and we will insulate the PSC from politics. And, when our public financing provision is enacted, corporations such as WEPCO will not be able to present the appearance of corruption." Here is a list of Thompson contributors from WEPCO and affiliates and the donations they have made from 1991 through June 1997. Governor's Club members are in bold type: (More details here.) Richard Abdoo $3,600 Calvin Baker $300 John Barrett $50 John Boston $2,300 Douglas Bott $100 Ann Brady $750 Russell Britt $1,000 Francis Brezinski $1,000 Juan Carrasquillo $200 Jose Delgado $250 Dennis Duran $200 Ronald Espe $350 Carlyle Fay $100 John Goetsch $1,100 Robert Gorske $1,000 Charles Govin $100 Richard Grigg Jr. $1,300 William Herrman $400 Ronald LeFever $100 Robert Link $450 Charles McNeer $2,500 Nancy Noeske $300 Edgardo Ocasio $100 Susan Lueger $200 Linda Olenski $250 Richard Piltz $1,735 David Porter $1,400 Kristine Rappe $100 Jerry Remmel $1,250 Penny Scheuerman $100 David Schwengel $20 John Speaker $1,000 Nancy Streit $100 Bernard Van Dinter $1,600 Donald Volzka $100 Gordon Willis $130 Jerold Franke $2,200 ### ______________________________________________________________________ TO SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Include only the word "subscribe" in the body of the message ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PASS THE WORD! Monitor the Gubernatorial Race Through our Web Site! http://www.garvey98.org/ 1-888-ED4WISC Questions or comments? Email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________________________
