A regional group of 20 lawmakers has asked the Superior Days lobbying group to remove mining legislation from their agenda this week in Madison.

“For over 25 years, Superior Days has been an effective citizen-led lobby effort, trusted by legislators who know that the issues we bring forward are non-partisan and based on grassroots consensus,” the letter says. “We do not believe that presenting the mining issue as a consensus-based proposal is an accurate portrayal of the will of the citizens of Northwestern Wisconsin.”

Two different versions of legislation have been proposed to hasten Wisconsin’s process to obtain mining permits. The one favored by Republicans contained considerable input from Gogebic Taconite Co., which hopes to mine iron ore near Mellen.

Those who want the issued removed from discussion cite anti-mining sentiments expressed at an Ashland public hearing and the rejection of a mining resolution with similar language by the Bayfield County Board in January. The Superior Days platform, however, doesn't take a position on mining or the mining legislation. The group's official position says "This is not an endorsement of mining nor an endorsement against mining. This request is designed to ensure proper protections be placed in legislation to safeguard the environment and provide economic benefit to citizens if a mine is brought forth in Northwest Wisconsin."

Elected officials who signed the letter include Bayfield Mayor Larry MacDonald; Washburn Mayor Scott Griffiths; Ashland City Council President Pat Kinney; Ashland City Councilors Richard Pufall, David Eades, Richard Ketring, Carl Doersch, Rick Dowd and Kelly Westlund; Ashland County Board Supervisors Jim Oakley, Charles Ortman and Donna Williamson; Washburn City Councilors Kristy Jensch, Jeremy Oswald and Richard Avol; Bayfield County Board Supervisors Dee Kittleson, Beth Meyers and William Bussey; Town of Bayview Supervisor Charly Ray, Douglas County Board Supervisors Terry W. White and David Conley, and Superior City Councilors Tom Bridge and Bob Browne.

• DEED commissioner promotes Dayton's trade initiative - 5/18/2013
• Wisconsin's jobless rate unchanged at 7.1 percent - 5/17/2013
• Bent Paddle joins area craft brewing industry - 5/16/2013
• ALLETE: Solar initiative will raise costs for customers - 5/15/2013
• Minnesota's jobless rate declines - 5/15/2013