RACINE, Wis. (WSAU) — The head of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress is speaking out against a proposal in the Governor’s budget the would strip policy making decisions from the Congress and the Natural Resources Board.
That proposal would hand over all policy making decisions regarding the Department of Natural Resources to the Secretary of the DNR, and make both the Board and the Congress advisory councils. It would also cut over 60 science and research positions from the Department and instead rely on consultants to advise the Secretary.
Conservation Congress chairman Rob Bohmann says they want to keep the transparency that the Congress and the Natural Resources Board offer to the public. “Currently the Natural Resource Board meetings are opened up to the public, the public has the opportunity to testify before the Natural Resources Board or to write written comments.”
Bohman says says the Board has been instrumental in directing policy since the creation of the predecessor to the Department of Natural Resources. “They were created to work with the department on establishing bag limits, seasons, size limits, and everything regarding conservation and environment.” The pair of bodies have also been in place since before the Department of Natural Resources was created in its current form. “The Conservation Congress was brought forth out of a recommendation from Aldo Leopold, Harley McKenzie, and William Grimmer. And the Board adopted that because they felt that citizens needed representation and input to the Natural Resources Board.”
Bohman is hoping that the public will take up the fight against the proposal as well. “I want to see the Board proposal removed from the budget, and I also want to see the Congress proposal removed from the budget as well. And we need an all out effort from sportsmen and women in the state and sporting groups in the state to make their voice in opposition of the same.”
The Governor’s spokesperson, Laurel Patrick, has stated the changes would make for a more streamlined government and make the department more efficient and accountable.
