Of course they consulted with the mining company. Only the left would think that it's assumed to be corrupt to consult with the people who will be affected by the legislation when drafting new regulations. It would be corrupt not to. Doesn't the left get its marching orders... err...consult with unions about new labor regulations? Of course they do.

Do you realize that PSC128, the states wind siting rules were written by a committee made up of a majority of those who benefit from the wind industry??????? No one seemed to have issue with that.

I guess before I'm ready to form an opinion on if the mining company got a free pass to do what ever they want, I'd like to see just how much of it they wrote or had an influence on. Based on the story, it doesn't exactly give a lot of details but leaves it open ended to let everyone think what they want. With the DNR and EPA involved chances are there will still be some pretty strick guidelines to follow. If anyone on here has commercial construction experience, you would already know the DNR and EPA don't give much wiggle room!

Mining interests dumped 10s of millions of dollars in the Republican Lemming election cause. They did not do this just because they thought it was good for the people of Wisconsin. Your Republican legislators are bought with these contributions. In turn, the Republican tools have to give something back for that kind of investment. They don't work for you and they don't have the people's interest in their heart. Dianne Hendrix also has a major investment in the Walker Regime. She is also waiting for the payout of her millions in investment. Her Right to Work cause will be next. We have been sold to big business and billionaires.

Without input from people (companies) that know what’s what in their industry, politicians would pass bills impossible to comply with, patently impractical, or require using outdated technology that is not cost efficient. There is always input from corporations on regulations and laws. That is just the way it is and it is a good thing. How many state legislators are mining experts? If you want to ban mining, get a bill passed to ban it. Creating regulations that effectively ban mining because it makes it economically un-feasible is a disingenuous way to go about it. If it is all about the environment, pass laws that protect the environment, regardless of what the possible cause of pollution is.

fordfan...just google Van Jones helped write the Stimulus bill and you will find several sources. There are too many to list.

Mining experts help author mining bill...
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This is news>?
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Really..?
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You yellow journalists!
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The assumption that mining is inherantly evil and counter to good legislation smacks of Orwellian cunning exposed!
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If your newspaper has objections to what the Mining folks are trying to accomplish... Attack them point by point via editorials(real journalisim) Rather than this stink about "miners helping write mining legislation"
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What bafoons

Hilarity once again. This is only a problem with the left fringe when done by the other side of the isle. Just more of the same from the party of do as I say not as I do.

Corporatocracy (pronunciation: /ˌkɔrpərəˈtɒkrəsi/) is a term used to suggest an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.

You got totally taken by the corporations and the mega wealthy. They got you to believe that this was all about ending entitlements for lazy, when in reality they are just transferring the money right in plain sight from the government in their already bloated pockets. It is sad that an OUT OF STATE corporation can write legislation for our state that will cripple environmental standards, poison the land, and steal tax money from local residents and put millions into their and I suspect their puppets pockets. You voted in a bunch of Lemming Republican Legislature lap dogs that can't wait to do corporations bidding. You have been sold out for the feeling that you are somehow getting back at some welfare sucker somewhere. They got you hook, line, and sinker.

Wisconsin is open for business -- to write their own laws -- thanks to Walker and his gang of challenged thinkers in the legislature. And those 250,000 new jobs?

Hey folks, when's the last time you got invited help author legislation that directly effected your pocket book? If corporations are people, people are corporations, and so it's time to act like one.

JohnWicket, they are based out of Florida. Pay taxes in Wisconsin, very unlikely, 66% of corporations do not pay taxes(once you factor in credits)...
Isn't this a nice bonus for corporations...
"Worker’s Compensation
Wisconsin’s Worker’s Compensation premium rates are among the lowest in the country. During the 1990s, rates declined by 33% resulting in more than $1 billion in savings for Wisconsin companies. Since then, rates have continued to decline and compare very well to the overall average against 3 bordering states."
http://forwardwi.org/category39/Business...

Just like all Republican ideas.
Came from boilerplate script from mining companies. Does this remind anyone of Koch Bros or ALEC ideas??

donnaw - "for one, the Apollo Group under the direction of Van Jones, remember that questionable friend of Obama, wrote the stimulus bill." I just don't seem to find any references to what you claim. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about this so a link shouldn't be all that difficult to provide. (no Breitbart type links please)

This is no different than insurance companies helping to write legislation, or banks helping to make laws, or health providers writing regulations.

Is there any chance that Gogebic Taconite could change its incorporation location back to Wisconsin and pay more taxes here? Didn't they originally start out here?

fordfan...for one, the Apollo Group under the direction of Van Jones, remember that questionable friend of Obama, wrote the stimulus bill. Otherwise, look it up for yourself about who really writes the bill. Do you think Obama or Pelosi sits in a little cubicle for a week with a yellow pad and pencil and comes out with "ta da a bill!" Of course they have staffs who use the lobbyists, etc for their sources.

Sure, you ask the Fox about the security for the hen-house. Ask the expert. LOL

There it is! Thank you donnaw. The discussion is about the State of Wisconsin and yet you throw out Obama.

"who do you think wrote the Obamacare bill or the other bills?" Who did and back it up with some references please. Just curious....

Fox Security on the job let us watch your chickens. Trust us we do care about chickens

badger...who do you think wrote the Obamacare bill or the other bills? Thats why Pelosi said she had to pass the bill to find out what was in it. The lobbyists and lawyers for the industries that are affected by the bill do the ground work and influence the outcome. Wake up and smell the coffee. Do you think Doyle did the work for the ill begotten rail proposal?

Amazing that people posting think its ok for companys to write their own legislation into a bill? If people think this is ok then it explains why Wisc is near last in job growth, economic growth and has seen its State debt skyrocket the last 2 years!http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-wisconsin-debt-clock.html

Why wouldn't they?
They paid for the privilege.

wow talk about being able to write your own regulations. I understand how they would have the knowledge to know whats what but, seriously do we really want to trust these people whose basic need is to rape the land and not be held responsible. Don't we have some scientists somewhere who can give us a little feed back on their proposed "regulations"?

The EPA and WiDNR also helped write the bill. I don't see a problem. When expert advice is needed our legislators should consult the experts.

This shouldn't be news, it's been talked about since the bill was introduced last year.