MADISON, Wis. -- Republican lawmakers took a symbolic stand by voting against a plan to reduce the emissions of toxic mercury from Wisconsin power plants as too tough on business.

The Republican-controlled Assembly Natural Resources Committee voted 7-6 Wednesday to object to the rules, unless the state Department of Natural Resources eliminates reduction goals for other pollutants and prepares a full-scale study of the rules' economic impact.

But the vote likely won't stop the rules from becoming reality.

DNR Secretary Pat Henderson said the agency won't comply with the committee's request. That would kick the rules to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules.

That panel could ignore the rules, which would allow them to go into effect. It also could vote on them, but the committee is split 5-5 between Democrats and Republicans and any tie vote would also let the rules take effect.