Gov. Walker Wants To Sign ‘Reasonable’ Mining Bill

Governor Scott Walker says he’s serious about two of his top legislative priorities. One of them is establishing a mine in northern Wisconsin. Another is tax cuts for what he calls middle income earners. He revealed some specifics Wednesday. (1/16)

Governor Walker stopped in Hartford and Green Bay Wednesday afternoon. In Green Bay he said he wants to sign a “reasonable” mining bill. Gogebic Taconite, a mining company, wants to mine for taconite in far northern Wisconsin, near Lake Superior.

Republicans control both houses of the state legislature, along with the governor’s office. Still, Walker said he believes lawmakers from both parties should come to agreement: “My bottom line is … we need a bill that will ultimately lead to the construction and operation of a mine. And I think we can get there with votes from both Democrats and Republicans.”

Minority Democrats criticized Walker’s state of the state address for being skimpy on specifics, especially when it came to his call for lowering state income taxes on the “middle class.” When asked by reporters Walker roughly defined middle income as families earning between $20,000 and $200,000 dollars per year. “Where our state fares the worst in terms of comparison is in that mid-range. We’re relatively low when it comes to taxes on the lowest income bracket. We’re not ‘low’ but we’re not in the highest when it comes… to the top two brackets.”

More details about Walker’s fiscal priorities will be revealed during his budget address next month.