Wis. Dems blast mining bill ahead of vote

MADISON, Wis. — Democrats on the Assembly’s jobs committee are picking apart a Republican bill that would streamline Wisconsin’s iron mining permit process.

The bill is designed to help Florida-based Gogebic Taconite open an iron mine just south of Lake Superior.

The GOP-controlled jobs committee held a hearing Tuesday to vote on the bill. Minority Democrats on the panel attacked the bill ahead of the vote. They railed against provisions calling for the state to take 40 percent of ore taxes that currently go to local governments and a $2 million cap on application fees.

They also complained about requiring an applicant to give local American Indian tribes a copy of the application, saying it doesn’t go far enough to show the tribes respect.