by Bob Hague | Feb 17, 2012
A controversial mining bill faces an uncertain future at the Capitol. State Senator Bob Jauch says it’s a complicated issue, but he’s indicating the Assembly version of the mining bill (AB 426) is going nowhere in the state Senate. “Senator Schultz...
by Bob Hague | Feb 16, 2012
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald disbands his chamber’s mining committee, and urges passage of the Assembly’s mining bill. Fitzgerald releases a statement to that effect Wednesday afternoon: “A new mine in Northern Wisconsin has the potential...
by Brian Moon | Feb 15, 2012
The author of the state Senate’s mining legislation says his bill compromises with opponents of the Assembly version. Both bills have a 360-day time-table to review permit applications for iron mines. Republican Neal Kedzie, who chairs the Senate’s special...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 13, 2012
The state Senate has unveiled its draft of the mining bill, offering some significant changes to the version approved by the state Assembly last month. Most notably, the Senate version retains the controversial contested case hearing process. Republicans have argued...
by Bob Hague | Feb 7, 2012
The state Senate’s mining committee will consider its own rewrite of Wisconsin mining laws. State Senator Neal Kedzie chairs that chamber’s mining committee and says the Assembly-passed mining bill may be a starting point — but the Senate wants to...
by Andrew Beckett | Jan 26, 2012
The state Assembly has approved controversial mining legislation that would streamline the approval process for a proposed iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin. The bill passed Thursday night on a party line vote of 59-36. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon)...
by Bob Hague | Jan 26, 2012
A controversial mining bill is scheduled for action in the state Assembly Thursday, and Republicans are vowing to pass the measure. Majority Leader Scott Suder dismisses claims by opponents that environmental protections will go by the wayside. “What we’re...
by Bob Hague | Jan 25, 2012
A state Assembly committee advances a bill aimed at getting an iron mine up and running in northern Wisconsin. The big item of contention, an amendment which allocates sixty percent of a tax on mine profits to local governments, and forty percent to the state....
by Bob Hague | Jan 24, 2012
The controversial rewrite of state mining laws is on the fast track in the Assembly, with the Assembly Committee on Jobs Economy and Small Business is set to vote on the controversial bill. Representative Louis Molepske, a Stevens Point Democrat, says the legislation...
by Andrew Beckett | Jan 13, 2012
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...
by Andrew Beckett | Jan 12, 2012
As the Assembly prepares to take up a controversial bill making massive changes to Wisconsin’s mining regulations, lawmakers took the legislation north Wednesday for a public hearing. Despite saying earlier the only hearing on the bill would be one held in West...
by WRN Contributor | Jan 5, 2012
Assembly Republicans have decided to hold a hearing on mining legislation in northern Wisconsin, despite earlier claims one was not needed. The Assembly jobs committee has scheduled a hearing on the controversial bill for next Wednesday at a motel in Hurley. The move...
by Andrew Beckett | Jan 2, 2012
Democrats want to make sure residents of northern Wisconsin get a chance to make their voices heard about proposed mining legislation. Assembly Republicans unveiled their mining bill last month and held a public hearing in Milwaukee. State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar)...
by Andrew Beckett | Dec 8, 2011
A bill from Assembly Republicans would streamline the process for approving new mining operations in Wisconsin. The proposal would set a two-year timeline for the approval of a mining permit, including a 12-month pre-application process and 360 day review period by...
by Bob Hague | Dec 2, 2011
There’s some movement on mining, in the state legislature. Assembly leadership plan a press conference next week to make an announcement on the issue. State Senator Neal Kedzie, an Elkhorn Republican who chairs a Senate select committee on mining, said that...
by Brian Moon | Oct 26, 2011
A big turnout is expected at a public hearing on a bill which conservationists say is a “backdoor” attempt to ease regulations on mining. Although the special session bill does not mention “mining,” outdoors groups say the proposal is meant to...
by Bob Hague | Nov 7, 2017
The state Senate has sent a bill repealing Wisconsin’s so-called mining moratorium to the governor. The legislation will allow companies to apply for permits to mine for copper, gold, silver, and zinc, without having to prove that they have done it elsewhere in...
by WRN Contributor | Nov 3, 2017
Wisconsin’s “prove it first” law on new sulfide mines in the state has moved a step closer to repeal. The Assembly voted 55-38 on Thursday to allow mining companies to apply for permits to mine for copper, gold, silver, and zinc, without having to...
by Bob Hague | Aug 18, 2017
The controversial issue of mining is back on the legislative agenda. Representative Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) is cosponsor of a bill to repeal the state’s existing mining moratorium — which requires any new mine to prove it can be done in a manner...
by Bob Hague | Jan 23, 2013
There are competing bills on mining being offered in the Wisconsin legislature this session. State Senator Tim Cullen unveiled his measure on Tuesday, the day before the one and only scheduled public hearing on legislation being offered by Republicans. At a Capitol...
