Sure Didn't See This One Coming   

But in hindsight, it's really not that surprising. The day after Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce (WMC), complains about Senator Kedzie's draft mining bill, Senate leadership scrapped Kedzie's bill AND the committee set to hold a hearing in Platteville tomorrow! Since industry lobbyists at WMC had as much, if not more, of a hand in writing the mining bill than the mining company itself - they definitely don't want anyone (especially the citizens of Wisconsin) tinkering with their handiwork!

While Senator Kedzie's draft bill had all the same rollbacks to environmental protections as the Assembly's bill AB 426, it did create a new tax on iron ore that would primarily go to support the local communities impacted by a mine. WMC sure didn't like that idea. Any doubts about who really pulls the strings up at the Capitol have been soundly put to rest - when WMC says jump, the Republicans just ask: "How high?"

Even though the draft Senate bill was still very bad, Senator Kedzie did commit to at least two public hearings including one in Ashland, and he made clear that he wanted to consider all input and fully expected to make changes to his draft as a result. Scrapping the committee makes it abundantly clear that Senate leadership has no respect for public process or the citizens of Wisconsin, and is dead-set on passing a bill that will be devastating to the environment.

There will still be a hearing tomorrow, but it will be held before the Joint Committee on Finance at the Capitol. If you were planning to head to Platteville tomorrow, make a U-turn to Madison:

Friday, February 17

10:00 a.m.

State Capitol

Room 412 East