Walker's DNR wants to unwind a 12-year-old, all-stakeholders' consensus agreement for so-called low-impact recreation activities on land making up the now-closed Badger Ammo complex near Baraboo.
At an agency now directed by a "chamber of commerce mentality," why a) honor past agreements focused on conservation, and, b) listen to the will of the people expressed through negotiations and comment periods when, for example, the ATV lobby wants more land over which to gun their machines?
Why not turn over that area for the full Walker Monty?
How about more DNR shooting ranges (like one proposed at a DNR-run nature center frequented by school kids), and dog training runs for the wolf hunt. Surely there is some timber to cut, land to lease to developers, and maybe some iron ore to excavate.
Ugly, ugly, ugly. And today in Joint Finance, the DNR offered up a cut of federally-funded positions for enforcement of environmental regulations -- because the positions haven't been filled for a year (thanks to DNR foot dragging of course). Naturally, this passed on a party line vote.
ReplyDeleteHow the DNR can keep the words "natural resources" in its name is beyond me.
I seem to remember that the consensus was a heavy lift and a lengthy process. It was also a perfect example of taking the time and effort to work with many groups until everyone was on the same page. There's no GOOD reason to undo that work and this administration won't put in the same time and effort. Expect division to replace agreement.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they want to piss of the Ho Chunk?
ReplyDeleteI guess because they can.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess so.
ReplyDeleteJB, please remember that most DNR employees are dismayed, to put it mildly, about our Walker-apppointed leadership, and are just hanging in there until things change. We are doing our best to hold onto our mission and keep doing good work in the meantime, but we have no choice but to just keep our heads down. We don't dare speak up our it's our jobs that will be cut next.
ReplyDeleteRemember when the DNR secretary was appointed by a board? Remember when Doyle said he would sign a bill to return the DNR to a board appointment? Remember when a bill doing just that landed on his desk and he changed his mind? And he didn't sign it? And he appointed 2 people who were totally unsuitable and we all said "it could be worse?" We were right about that.
ReplyDelete