MADISON (WKOW) -- A spokesman for Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) claims his staff is putting the "finishing touches" on a new mining bill that could be substituted for the version written by Assembly Republicans.
Last Friday, Sen. Schultz said that he could not support the Assembly's mining bill because it went too far in removing certain environmental regulations.
Sen. Schultz noted that even the mining company, Gogebic Taconite, hadn't asked for such changes.
Gogebic Taconite is seeking approval to open an iron-ore mine in Northwest Wisconsin near Hurley.
Republicans have said the mine could lead to as many as 2,300 new jobs.
However, the bill cannot pass the Senate with Schultz's support, because Republicans only have a 17-16 majority.
Sen. Schultz is tentatively planning to introduce his bill Tuesday morning.
