Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Speaker-elect Robin Vos plans to introduce mining law reform as his first order of business when the state Legislature reconvenes later this month.
Calling it "a top priority" when the state Legislature officially returns to work later this month, Assembly Speaker-elect Robin Vos (R-Rochester) will make mining law reform the first bill introduced during the new session. Vos and Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbottsford) say reform is needed to bring mining back to the state while also protecting the environment. “Mining reform is a top priority in the state Assembly,” Vos said in a press release. “I’m hopeful all the interested parties can come together to protect our environment and make mining reform happen.” Vos and Suder joined Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday as he visited companies in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Schofield that would directly benefit from the mining industry's return to…
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Gov. Walker addressed state residents, telling us how disappointed he is that Wisconsin won't add jobs with the defeat of the mining bill.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
On Thursday Governor Walker delivered his weekly radio address titled, “People Before Politics:" Hi. I'm Scott Walker. Take a moment to look at our state flag. On the seal, there are two people. One is a miner. On the shield, one of the sections has a shovel and a pick ax for mining. And on the top of the seal there is a badger. We are the badger state because our ancestors came here to mine and were called badgers because of how they dug into the side of the areas where they mined for their piece of the American dream. If there is any state in our country that should be able to add certainty to the process for safe and environmentally sound mining - shouldn't it be the badger state. A mining company wanted to invest $1.5 billion into the …
Sunday, March 11, 2012
DNR could have sited iron mine while protecting the environment at the same time.
As the debate on the mining bill raged, we all heard the hyper-political language about the environmental harm that would result from any iron ore mine. It was very difficult for me to sit back and watch. I was ever hopeful that calmer heads would prevail, considering the $1.5 billion investment and the thousands of resulting jobs that the state could have welcomed while the environment is protected. Unfortunately, I was wrong. This issue became just another political piñata with some senators clearly displaying that politics is more important than getting things done for Wisconsin citizens. I wish it wasn't true, but unfortunately in the end the motivation to not allow a potential success for Governor Walker appears to be what really …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
State Republicans are not happy with their Democratic colleagues.
A controversial mining bill that supporters say will create thousands of jobs was sent back to committee Tuesday, but it doesn't look like it matters much. Representatives from Gogebic Taconite issued a statement late Tuesday saying they are abandoning efforts to establish a mining operation in Wisconsin. "Senate rejection of the mining reforms in Assembly Bill 426 sends a clear message that Wisconsin will not welcome iron mining. We get the message," said the company in a written statement. "GTac is ending plans to invest in a Wisconsin mine. We thank the many people who have supported our efforts." State senators failed to pass the bill with a 17-16 vote mostly along party lines. The Republican exception was state Sen. Dale Schultz (R-…
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The piece of legislation, which will lax environmental standards in the state, drew harsh disapproval from Democrats after passing the Assembly Thursday.
State Rep. Sandy Pasch starkly criticized Republican legislators Thursday after a bill that will ease environmental standards to make way for a new iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin passed the Assembly on a party-line vote. The mining bill will ease environmental standards surrounding wetlands, groundwater and rock disposal and eliminate the contested case hearing process, which allows for public participation, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Democrats, including Pasch, and environmentalists have criticized the bill, arguing it weakens water protections, while Republicans say the bill will bring new jobs to the state. “I have held that we must sincerely engage all stakeholders — not just mining interests — to work together …
The Anti-Alinsky
9:14 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Bren, did you actually read the Times article itself? ( http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/opinion/crashing-the-tea-party.html ) They are basing their "conclusions" on opinions of their interviewees. To begin their analysis they write: "...As a result, we can look at what people told us, long before there was a Tea Party, to predict who would become a Tea Party supporter five years later..." … more ›