One Wisconsin Now Statements on Passage of Special Interest Mining Bill

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements related to Assembly passage of the open pit mining bill that will compromise Wisconsin critical natural resources. Ross pointed out that the bill passed as Gov. Walker prepares to attend a big money fundraiser in Florida today, home of mining magnate Chris Cline and his 164-foot luxury yacht, “Mine Games.”

“Republican donors are getting their mining bill, while Wisconsin taxpayers are getting the shaft.

“Passage of open pit mining legislation in the State Assembly is the latest sell-out as Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans auction off our state treasures to special interests.

“Today’s vote is nothing but more of the same from the Walker administration and Republican-led legislature whose policies have left Wisconsin among the worst states in the nation for job creation.

“And if that’s not bad enough, the rights of Wisconsin citizens to protect their clean water are now imperiled by legislation written specifically for, and in close consultation with, an out-of-state mining company and special interest that poured huge sums into Gov. Walker’s and Republican campaign coffers.”

A January 2013 investigation by One Wisconsin Now showed that the mining bill was modified extensively at the request of Cline’s mining company, Gogebic Taconite.