Governor Scott Walker was in Rhinelander this afternoon at Oldenburg Group, Inc. to sign a mining bill that completes a long push to ease mining regulations in Wisconsin. Republicans have been working for two years to pass a bill to help Gogebic Taconite dig a miles-long open-pit iron mine in the Penokee Hills just south of Lake Superior. “I say thank you to our legislators for passing this bill opening up the possibility for more jobs in Wisconsin,” Walker told a crowd of close to 175 onlookers that was comprised of Oldenburg employees, other legislators and media.

Employees at Oldenburg produce, among other machinery, mining equipment and Wayne Oldenburg, owner of the facility, hopes the mining bill will produce more jobs buts laments the fact that skilled workers are needed to fulfill positions within his factory. “Welders, machinists and fabricators are desperately needed here,” he said before the bill was signed. “But this bill will benefit the entire area.”