Keeping the focus on jobs, Governor Walker called another Special Session designed specifically to help job creators in Wisconsin.  The Special Session will run in conjunction with the Assembly’s planned regular session.  The schedule includes many bi-partisan bills, from bills that create access to capital, to investing in manufacturing, to tax reform.

Some of the other bills being finalized include Wetlands Regulation Reform, DNR Website Requirements (so constituents have current and complete information), and Regulating Reasonable Attorney Fees.

The final schedule is yet to be set, so I will keep you updated as the session progresses.  As always, our goal is to bring renewed prosperity to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is called the "Badger State" due to the miners that dug out lead and galena in the 1800s.  But despite our wealth of minerals, we haven't had an active closed-pit mine in over a decade.  One of our untapped resources is a range of taconite iron that runs through our economically depressed northern counties.

The Cline Mining Group bought the mineral rights to the land several years ago and wants to build a $1.5 billion taconite mine near Mellon.  The company claims the mine could run for 100 years and supply jobs with salaries above $50,000/year, with total compensation packages of $80,000+/year.  This type of investment would be an economic game-changer for the northwoods and the whole state for generations.  Of course, with any type of mining, there are environmental considerations.

That is why this week the Senate formed a special committee on mining that includes both Republicans and Democrats.  The committee will be working on reforming our mining legislation in a way that is helpful to creating jobs, while still balancing environmental concerns.  The Assembly will handle reforms within its existing bi-partisan structure.

I am hopeful that both the Assembly and the Senate, Republican and Democrat can work together to create win-win legislation that is good for Wisconsin.
 

In this economy, many constituents have had a difficult time finding a job.  If you are one of those people, please look at www.jobcenterofwisconsin.com.  The web page, which is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), has postings from around the state, including our district.  Currently, the database contains over 34,000 job listings.

Additionally, Wisconsin citizens filing for unemployment benefits for the first time must now register with the Wisconsin Job Service.  DWD Secretary Scott Baumbach said this change will "move individuals who are out of work along the path toward new employment opportunities." Current requirements for unemployment benefits also still apply.