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Mining Bill Goes to JFC Monday, Poll Finds Lack of Support
Posted 02/23/2013
The author of the Senate version, Tom Tiffany from Hazelhurst...
"....the mining bill will be going before Joint Finance on Monday and they will be voting on that and that is the next step in getting it to the floor. I think we may be taking the mining bill up on the Senate floor next Wednesday..."
With Republicans controlling the Joint Committe on Finance, it's likely the matter will be referred out of committee to the Assembly and Senate. The bills are designed to make it easier for getting the permits required to mine iron ore in Wisconsin. Opponents say the bills also set a precedent of usurping Wisconsin Constitutional law by allowing the pollution of navigable waters.
Meanwhile, a poll out late last week showed a growing concern among some Wisconsin voters about open pit mines. Anne Sayers from the League of Conservation voters says the Public Policy Polling survey of more than 900 voters showed a sharp increase in open pit mining from one year ago...
"....we found 62 percent of Wisconsinites opposed to provisions of the open pit mining bill. The 33 percent margin of citizens opposing the bill is a twenty point increase over last year..."
The poll was taken early last week.
