Wisconsin: Hearing grows heated over bill to hasten mining approvals
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/hearing-grows-heated-over-bill-to-hasten-mining-approvals-ai3en4f-135632393.html
Let's see, weaken environmental protections by eliminating certain approvals: check.
Push decision-making down so you can fire anyone dragging their feet: check
Require the DNR to approve mining plans within a year, environmental studies be damned: check
Limit the number parties who have "standing" to sue: check.
Hold the public hearings hundreds of miles away from the proposed mine site: check
Oh yeah, and be so damned embarrassed that you won't even admit it's your bill: check
..snip..
Democrats also repeatedly demanded to know who authored the bill, which didn't include sponsors on Wednesday afternoon, nearly a week after it was introduced.
Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford), chairwoman of the committee, replied it was a "combined effort" but declined to name specific authors.
Bill Williams of Gogebic told legislators that he did not have a personal hand in the bill but said in an interview that he had conversations with aides in the Assembly, Senate and Gov. Scott Walker's office.
An earlier draft had been largely written by Gogebic lawyers.
..end..
The more cynical among us might conclude that Walker and his band of thieves are willing to ruin our drinking water for generations in return for a few campaign donations.