Committees to vote on mining bill Feb. 6

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Committees in both the state Senate and Assembly plan to meet simultaneously on Feb. 6 to vote on sending a mining bill out for debate.

The committee vote is planned just two weeks after a 12-hour public hearing on the measure that would ease environmental protections to make it easier for an iron ore mine to open near Lake Superior.

Republicans who control the Legislature have said they want to pass the bill quickly to help spur job creation, and the scheduling of the committee executive sessions is a sign of that urgency.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Monday he hopes to have the full Senate vote on the bill around March 5.

Democrats have proposed their own measure, which keeps the environmental protections.