The state Senate passed a bill that would end the governor's ability to appoint the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Tuesday, with proponents saying it would end political interference and opponents saying it makes the position less accountable.
The bill passed the Democrat-controlled state Senate 21 to 12, with all Senate Democrats and three Republicans voting for the bill. The bill has been introduced every session since 1995 by state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, who is the main author of the legislation.
The DNR Secretary was appointed by a seven-member citizen board before 1995, when it was changed to a governor appointed position.
Black said by making the position outside the influence of the governor, it would decrease the chance of decisions being made due to political pressure instead of environmental impact.
For 70 years Wisconsin had a system of conservation that was the model for the nation,"" Black said.
According to Black, instances of political interference at the DNR are the lack of opposition to various mining activities in the state and not acting on deteriorating water quality. The political decisions made are not thinking of the long-term status of the state, according to Black.
Ryan Murray, spokesperson for state Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said Senate Republicans voted against the bill because it makes the position less accountable to the public.
""We voted against it even though the governor is of the other party,"" Murray said.
Murray said that though Doyle is a Democrat, Republicans voted against the bill on principle.
Black said the position is still accountable because the governor appoints the seven-member board that appoints the Secretary.
The bill had a strong bipartisan show of support at its public hearing and would pass the state Assembly, according to Black. Murray said the bill's future in the Assembly was uncertain and the governor's position on the issue was unclear.
Black also said Doyle had been a proponent of the bill when he ran for governor in 2002, but that his support had waned since gaining office.
Doyle spokesperson Carla Vigue said Doyle had supported the concept in the past, but he would have to look at the specific legislation passed in the Senate before he could agree to sign it.
