WI Legislators Set Up Mining Committee, But Leave Off Citizens

Why don't they create a Legislative Council Study Committee instead of a Senate members-only body to get input into mining, science, employment and environmental issues?

Could it be that on those advisory committees, for more than 50 years, citizens have been strongly represented? 

...it provided a mechanism for the open and deliberative study of complex problems and the development of legislative solutions to those problems; and it involved private citizens in the legislative process.

That Senate Select Committee will be led by a member from Elkhorn whose pro-mining mind is made up, according to The Journal Sentinel:

On Wednesday, leaders of the Bad River band of Lake Superior Chippewa said they opposed the mine.

But tribal leaders also said they recognized that lawmakers would try to write new mining laws, and they said those changes should include environmental protections.

"The committee will be respectful of Native Americans' request," [State Sen. Neal] Kedzie said.

"But at the same time, we are not going to craft a bill that is destined to fail. We want to be able to get applications from mining companies."

One more thing: Kedzie would have more credibility on being "respectful of Native American interests" if he had not been leading the fight to allow school districts to keep their Indian mascots and team names.

More here.