The state Assembly is delaying a vote on controversial mining legislation. Lawmakers were expected to meet next Thursday to vote on the bill, but a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald says that’s not going to happen now.
John Jagler says members are still working on amendments, which are not expected to be finished in time to pass the bill out of committee and bring it to the floor for a vote next week. Jagler says the vote will likely be delayed until later this month.
A Thursday floor session for the Assembly has also been cancelled.
The bill introduced in December would streamline the approval process for mining permits, with the focus largely on a proposed open pit mine in Iron and Ashland Counties. Critics worry it eases too many environmental regulations and would silence public objections to mining projects.
