MADISON (WKOW) -
Two of the bills Republican legislators pinned a lot of their job-creation hopes on appear to be on life-support.
More than one Republican Senator has conceded that the so-called Venture Capital Bill is already dead.
That was designed to provide state money to entrepreneurs with new ideas, who could then use it to create jobs and develop new products.
Now, the legislation to establish an iron ore mine in Northwest Wisconsin is also in jeopardy.
When Democrats picked up two Senate seats in last summer's recall elections, some felt it could make it tougher for Republicans to pass certain legislation.
But Democrats we talked with said the Republicans have made it hard on themselves.
"If your goal is to pass this right-wing, extreme agenda, of course its much harder when you have narrower margins," said Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha).
The one-vote margin held by Republicans in the Senate has proven especially problematic with the current version of the Assembly Mining Bill.
Independent-minded Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) told 27 News he can't support it.
"The Assembly bill as it came over, changes all kinds of environmental standards and laws and I don't think that's a good idea," said Sen. Schultz. "The company hasn't even asked us to change Wisconsin's environmental laws."
That company, Gogebic Taconite, wants to mine for iron ore near Hurley.
Democrats told 27 News that if the mining legislation fails to pass, it would be a huge victory.
"That bill was so egregious in excluding, again, excluding the public from the process, that I do think its a victory for the public, because people want to create jobs but they want to do so responsibly," said Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison).
But Sen. Schultz said there's simply too much hand-wringing and posturing by both parties.
He believes there is still every reason to think the mining legislation can be saved.
Sen.Schultz plans to have an alternate version of the bill ready by next week.
"There are still a lot of options," said Sen. Schultz. "We could amend the bill that comes over from the Assembly. We could just simply substitute the draft that we will have. I think people should just keep an open mind and take a look at what the choices are."
If the Senate is going to pass a bill that Assembly Republicans can live with, it will have to happen soon.
The Senate is only scheduled to meet three more times in this session.
