In an effort to prevent politics from seeping into environmental decision-making, state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, and Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Kenosha, introduced legislation Tuesday that would change the way the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is appointed.
Until 1995, 7 members of a citizen board elected the DNR secretary. Currently, the secretary of the DNR is a political appointee hired by the governor. Black, a member on the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, said he would like to restore the DNR to a ""non-political status.""
Isolation from politics is necessary according to Black because ""conservation issues tend to be long term issues and politics tend to have a short term time horizon.""
According to Black, the system was altered because the Republicans took control with former Gov. Tommy Thompson in office in 1995.
""The Legislature controlled by Republicans went along with Thompson,"" Black said. ""I know many of them personally did not think it was a good idea, but they just essentially did what the governor asked. The governor always wants the power.""
Though the legislation would not take effect until the next gubernatorial election, Gov. Jim Doyle's spokesperson, Carla Vigue, said the governor has reservations.
""I think in the past, that's how the secretary of the DNR has been appointed and the governor understands that, but right now this bill has some concerns,"" Vigue said.
""One of the main concerns he has right now is that ... over the past four years we have seen a Senate that refuses to confirm the governor's appointments to the DNR board.""
According to Vigue, the bill could give the state Senate too much power in appointing the secretary.
Though Black said he would like to have water, air pollution and land use addressed, he said the current administration and current DNR Secretary Scott Hassett are not the reason for the bill.
""We drafted [the bill] to take effect after the next election specifically so it's not a question of individuals. It's a question of the system,"" he said.
Spokesperson for the DNR, Erin Celello, said the bureau would comply with the bill if it is passed.
""The system we have is the system that we're going to operate under, and if that changes in the future, then we will reevaluate and readjust at that time,"" she said. ""This is kind of out of our hands as an agency.""
