State Capitol Report: Walker Launches Third Term Bid And A Busy Week For The Legislature

Join us for the State Capitol Report. WPR’s Capitol Bureau Chief Shawn Johnson discusses Gov. Scott Walker’s bid for a third term, a proposal to allow kids of any age to hunt, a bill to lift the moratorium on sulfide mining and more.

Walker is scheduled to formally launch his re-election campaign in Waukesha on Sunday. He rolled out an online video last month that features him touting his record over his first seven years in office and declaring “there’s more to be done.” Roughly a dozen Democrats have either declared or are considering a run.

A bill that would open hunting up to children of all ages is in the hands of the state Senate. Currently, kids as young as 10 can go on a mentored hunt with an adult. Under the measure that passed the Assembly, that age limit would be eliminated. In addition, the provision requiring an adult and child to share a gun would be dropped, meaning each could carry their own firearm.

The Assembly also passed a bill that would lift the moratorium on sulfide mining. The moratorium, which was signed by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1998, requires mining companies to show examples of similar mines in the U.S. or Canada that operated for 10 years without polluting ground or surface water. They also must prove that similar mines have been closed for at least a decade without polluting the water. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the goal is for the Senate to vote on the proposal on Tuesday.

Do you support Gov. Walker for another term or do you think it’s time to vote him out? How do you feel about letting children at any age hunt with a mentor? Should Wisconsin lift its moratorium on sulfide mining or keep it in place? What other issue involving state government do you want to discuss? Weigh in at 1-800-642-1234 or ideas@wpr.org. You can also tweet us @wprmornings or post on the Ideas Network Facebook page.