Jauch Recall Formed: Mining At Stake
[UPDATED] A group from Hayward has filed paperwork to begin steps for a potential recall of Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar).
Northern CRG, an affiliate of the Citizens for Responsible Government network, filed the paperwork today to form a political action committee called the "Expoloratory Committee to Recall Bob Jauch."
"If the committee determines there is sufficient local desire to move forward with a recall of Jauch it will amend their filing to become a recall PAC," reads a release from the group. "At issue is Senator Jauch's refusal to support legislation that would permit iron ore mining in Northern Wisconsin and create thousands of high paying, family-supporting jobs in the area for years to come."
Yesterday Jauch said it was "an insult" that a mining bill being proposed in the Wisconsin Assembly would be made public only six days before a scheduled public hearing next week in southern Wisconsin.
“We are pleased to provide aid, advice, and training to citizens working to bring thousands of great jobs to some of Wisconsin’s most economically distressed communities. Senator Jauch can only be cast as a heartless political hack for denying these much-needed jobs to his district," said CRG Network spokesperson Chris Kliesmet. "His cold-hearted and calculated actions are a transparent effort to sacrifice the welfare of his constituents to score political points against Governor Walker and his efforts to bring thousands of high-paying jobs to Wisconsin.”
Among the regional Citizens for Responsible Government contacts listed on the release is Shirl LaBarre, of Hayward.
Though Citizens for Responsible Government wants Jauch recalled because of what they say is his opposition to a mining bill, the trouble is, there is no senate mining bill. And LaBarre says she doesn’t like recalls.
“Nope. And we are anticipating that he’d vote ‘yes’ for the mining bill. And if he does, there wouldn’t be a real reason for recall,” LaBarre said.
In fact, LaBarre, a prominent Republican in Hayward, says the recall efforts of the Governor and state senators are ridiculous.
As for Jauch, he says nothing surprises him in the world of politics these days.
“There is a group of people that aren’t interested in the economics of mining but rather interested in forging political division over mining. Mining in and of itself is controversial. The mining legislation is extraordinarily complicated. So what is apparent to me that you have a group of partisans who are really interested in using the mining issue as a wedge,” Jauch said.
For the record, Jauch says he’s not against a mining bill, but is working for one as a member of the Select Senate Committee on Mining. That committee is crafting a bill that would update the state’s regulations for iron ore mining. It is expected to be used for the proposed iron ore mine on the Penokee Range.
Updated to include reporting by Mike Simonson of Wisconsin Public Radio.