Mining cost shifted to Wisconsinites, thanks to our Republican guardians of taxpayer money.

There is a direct cause and effect that can no longer be “debated.” We don’t need to dance around the subject anymore. The press can ask very specific questions about the mining industries campaign contributions and the level of their taxpayer handout. Why play stupid? jsonline-Patrick Marley:

To oversee a proposed iron mine in northern Wisconsin, the state has spent nearly $260,000 that it will not recover from the mining firm — an arrangement drawing questions and criticism from opponents. That figure will continue to grow because of how the Department of Natural Resources is interpreting a law … Gogebic Taconite, was getting special treatment because it gave $700,000 to a group that helped Republicans survive recall elections in 2011 and 2012. The legislation lowered how much mining companies have to pay the state for the environmental review of their plans, a process that takes years. To cover those costs, the DNR used taxpayer money and revenue from funds that are made up of landfill tipping fees and hunting and fishing license fees.

Gee, it must be our partisan imaginations running away on us. It looks like a pay-to-play kinda thing. But if Tom Tiffany’s comment is any indication, we should have known this would happen:

Sen. Tom Tiffany, lobbyist?

Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), a sponsor of the mining legislation, said costs the state is absorbing are in line with what he expected.

"As a taxpayer and someone that buys hunting and fishing licenses, it's truly unfair," said George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and a former DNR secretary.

How did this happen? Well…I can’t be sure…just speculating…don’t quote me on this but…:

Those records showed Gogebic gave $700,000 to the club around the time of the recalls. Walker has said he did not know about that contribution at the time. The Wisconsin Club for Growth spent more than $900,000 on the 2012 race that saw Republican Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac defeat then-Sen. Jessica King (D-Oshkosh). That win gave Republicans the 18-15 majority they needed to pass the mining bill in early 2013.

Ya think? Oh, how much did Walker save taxpayers? Duped again.