Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Lena C. Taylor
As the nation observed Earth Day recently, I couldn’t help but be struck by Governor Walkers’ many policy and budget decisions that involve the focus of the DNR shifting from preserving and protecting our natural resources to preserving and protecting business interests.
Whether we are talking Stewardship, Citizen input or state parks, all of these areas stand to be negatively impacted. Wisconsinites have shown tremendous support for the Stewardship Program.
The most recent polling done by The Nature Conservancy indicates almost 90% support.
Yet the Governor proposed freezing Stewardship purchases.
This equates to eliminating the ability to ensure that land is available for outdoor recreation, an industry that generates over $12 billion for our state.
It eliminates our ability to protect our resources and encourage responsible forestry, another important part of our economy. The Governor proposes to freeze the Program through 2028.
Citizen voices are being minimized by changes recommended to the Natural Resources Board. The Governor feels that the board is an unnecessary level of bureaucracy to the Department of Natural Resources. However, the board has provided much needed citizen oversight. However, the proposal seeks to strip power from the Natural Resources Board and make it and “advisory only” board. As the conservation community tries to catch its breath, another blow is waiting.
The Governor’s budget attacks the Bureau of Science Services.
Our state will lose nearly 19 science services positions, many of whom are paid for with federal dollars.
It should be noted that these scientists bring with them about $3 million in research grants.
Many of those important study dollars will follow those scientists to their new locations or campuses, when they leave. We also must question rather it will be harder for the DNR to obtain these kinds of grants without the “midmanagement” scientists doing the necessary research.
Finally, we have all become familiar with the importance to recycle. We each take a step back before tossing that plastic soda bottle in the regular trash.
Some of us are even surprised when we travel to states that don’t require such restrictions on what goes into public landfills.
So, imagine our disbelief when we saw in Walker’s budget the desire to cut the recycling funds.
This represents a more than a 50% reduction in funding to communities over the last five years. This will likely lead to less plastic, glass and paper being properly disposed of in the future.
However, many believe that residential recycling is at the heart of our commitment to lessen our environmental footprint.
So, as we observe environmental activism around Earth Day, I am sure the day’s founder, Wisconsinite Gaylord Nelson, is turning over in his grave at what Walker continues to do to dismantle environmental protections.