Gov. Walker: Jobs and the Environment

Every Thursday, Gov. Scott Walker delivers a weekly radio address. This Thursday's address was titled Jobs and the Environment.

The state has partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute brief radio address once a week.  Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and http://walker.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1761&locid=177.  To download an mp3 file you can visit http://walker.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1761&locid=177, right click the radio address link and click “save link as.”

Here is the transcript from this Thursday’s radio address:  

Hi. I'm Scott Walker.

Our state has a rich history of mining and of protecting our environment.  In fact, our mining heritage is so great that mining is one of only four industries represented on our state seal.  The others include shipping, agriculture, and manufacturing.

While Wisconsin has made great strides in supporting agriculture and manufacturing, the state has fallen short in supporting modern mining that can both protect the environment and create thousands of family supporting jobs.  In fact, one company is considering a mine in Wisconsin that could employ 700 people with $60,000 salaries and benefits.  These jobs would nearly double the median income in that region. 

The job potential of the mine goes beyond these 700 jobs though.  The construction of the mine would create over 3,000 jobs over two years - 3,000 jobs in one of the areas of the state that needs jobs the most.

And the jobs wouldn’t be limited to just Northern Wisconsin.  Almost 2,800 other jobs would be created in various parts of our state as products are made that the mine uses and the minerals are transported, produced, and packaged.

Two of the nation’s premiere mining equipment manufacturers are located in Southeastern Wisconsin.  There’s a company in central Wisconsin that makes pumps used in mining.  And there are manufacturers and foundries throughout the state including Western Wisconsin who would benefit from the mine.  Businesses like these (from across our great state) would grow and add workers if we had a new mine.

All told we could be looking at one of Wisconsin’s biggest economic development projects in years.

That’s why it’s important for our state to move forward with legislation that could mean thousands of good-paying jobs for Wisconsin.

I want to commend the Assembly for going to Northern Wisconsin to hold a legislative hearing on mining.  I believe they recognize and are ready to address that the current process is unreasonable and is costing our state thousands of good-paying jobs.  It is possible to balance our environment at the same time we protect job creation.  Not only is it possible, but it’s vital to create thousands of jobs.  I hope the Senate will join the Assembly in trying to bring thousands of jobs to our state.  Wisconsinites looking for good work that will support their families should not have to wait for many months for action. 

Potential mining operations don’t need a guarantee that their project will be approved.  In fact, if there are negative environmental consequences their project will not be approved. But what the businesses need is something I think we can all agree on: there should be certainty in the regulatory process.  An application to open a mine and create thousands of jobs shouldn’t be allowed to be open-ended and drag on for years.  The state should be able to give the potential job creators an answer in a reasonable amount of time and we should be able to pass the legislation in a reasonable amount of time.

People all across Wisconsin are looking for more jobs.  We have a chance to create thousands of good paying jobs, but we need the Legislature to act now.