Assembly to vote on lifting mining ban, dropping min. hunting age, banning abortion coverage

All Republican bills set to be voted on

LIFTING MINING BAN

MADISON, Wis. — The state Assembly is poised to lift Wisconsin’s nearly 20-year ban on gold and silver mining.

Legislators passed a bill in 1998 that requires sulfide mining applicants to prove a similar mine has operated in North America for a decade without polluting and a similar mine has been closed for 10 years without polluting.

Gov. Scott Walker voted for the measure as a member of the Assembly.

Rep. Rob Hutton and Sen. Tom Tiffany, both Republicans, are pushing a bill that would wipe out the requirements.

Supporters say mining could help northern Wisconsin’s economy. Opponents say lifting the prohibition will lead to devastating pollution.

The Assembly is set to vote on the bill during a floor session scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon. Approval would send the bill to the Senate.

MINIMUM HUNTING AGE

MADISON, Wis. — Anyone of any age, even toddlers, could legally hunt in Wisconsin under a bill the state Assembly is set to take up.

Right now someone must be at least 12 years old to purchase a license or hunt with a gun unless they’re participating in a mentored hunt. Children as young as 10 can hunt under that program.

The Republican bill would allow anyone of any age to participate in a mentored hunt, effectively letting anyone of any age hunt.

The measure also would wipe out the requirement that a hunter and mentor have only one weapon between them.

The Assembly is expected to vote on the bill during a floor session scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon. Approval would send the bill on to the Senate.

BANNING ABORTION COVERAGE

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Assembly is set to take up a Republican bill that would prohibit state health insurance programs from covering abortions for state workers.

The bill would allow coverage for abortions only in cases of rape or incest or to save the mother’s life.

State health insurance plans currently cover only medically necessary abortions. But state law doesn’t define a medically necessary abortion and the bill’s sponsors want to remove any ambiguity.

Twenty-one states already have similar laws.

The Assembly was scheduled to vote on the bill during a floor session set to begin Thursday afternoon. Approval would send the measure to the state Senate.