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  • EPA Will Designate Kenosha County as Nonattainment for Ozone
    Fri, 02/03/2012 - 4:35pm

    Citing data from the state of Illinois, the EPA has announced it intends to revise its proposed designation for Kenosha County, and recommend it be designated nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard. This decision by the EPA is unwelcome, as nonattainment designations carry with them substantial regulatory and related economic burdens.

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  • The Wisconsin Scorecard: How Wisconsin Compares to Other States
    Thu, 02/02/2012 - 2:23pm

    The Wisconsin Scorecard is a unique new publication from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau that provides data on how Wisconsin compares to the other 49 states on a variety of measures. The Scorecard includes 44 rankings organized into four umbrella sections: Demographic and Social, Health and Education, Government Finance and Economic, and Environment and Energy Rankings.

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  • Wall Street Journal Editorial Discusses Unwarranted Political Attacks on Koch Industries
    Wed, 02/01/2012 - 4:23pm

    The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed today written by Theodore Olson, former Solicitor General from 2001 to 2004, which addresses the relentless attacks on Koch Industries and its shareholders throughout the past several years. The op-ed notes that Koch Industries and its shareholders have been singled out because of Koch’s longstanding and firm commitment to economic freedom. The op-ed further notes that the tactics being employed demonizing those with whom you disagree with politically – whether on the right or the left – is setting dangerous precedent.

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  • State Regulation of Frac Sand Mining
    Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:03am

    The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week denied a rulemaking petition by opponents of silica sand mining in western and northern Wisconsin. The same day it denied the rulemaking request, the DNR issued a comprehensive Silica Sand Mining Study.

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  • Recall Update
    Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:26pm

    It is all but certain Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Wisconsin State Senators will face recall elections in 2012. Certification of the signatures is an ongoing process playing out in the courts and online, where you can watch Government Accountability Board employees work to verify signatures.

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  • Assembly Passes Mining Bill
    Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:21pm

    Last week, the Wisconsin Assembly passed the controversial iron ore mining legislation on a party-line vote with all the Republicans voting for AB 426 and all Democrats opposing it.

    Proponents of the bill argue that the legislation will bring badly needed jobs to northern Wisconsin, where mining company Gogebic Taconite is planning to construct an iron ore mine. Opponents argue that mining will harm the environment. Proponents counter that the legislation will still require a mining company to obtain state and federal environmental permits and comply with all environmental regulations.

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  • Survey of Mining Executives Reveals Perception that Wisconsin is a Worse Place to Mine than Third World Countries
    Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:40pm

    Though Wisconsin has a rich history of mining, current perceptions of the state’s regulations and the administration of those regulations makes that history seem mythical. The state’s current reputation makes it one of the least likely mining sites in the world.

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  • Governor’s Conference on Economic Development
    Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:22pm

    The Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s 17th Annual Governor’s Conference on Economic Development will be held February 8-10 in Madison. The topic of this year’s conference is “The Power of Deliberate Practice”.

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  • Business Day in Madison
    Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:20pm

    Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce will host Business Day in Madison on February 16th. Business Day will provide a preview of the hottest topics confronting our state and nation. In 2012, America will decide if we stay the course or go a new direction. Dominating the landscape will be the economy, the price of energy and the elections – the Three E’s of America’s future.

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  • January Natural Resources Board Meeting
    Thu, 01/26/2012 - 3:47pm

    The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board met January 24th and 25th in Madison. Important topics addressed by the Board included approval of an economic impact solicitation process, a reduction of the bear harvest quota for 2012, and discussions of EPA-identified deficiencies in the state’s water program and frac sand mining.

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