A bill aimed at restoring the authority of the citizen-based Wisconsin Natural Resource Board to appoint the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary was introduced to the Wisconsin legislature on March 9. Backed by a pledged majority support in both the Senate and Assembly, the bill's odds of passing are perhaps the best they have been in the last 13 years, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

Re-instating an independent DNR Secretary has been a priority of Wisconsin conservation organizations since 1995, when then-Governor Tommy Thomson convinced lawmakers to make the position a cabinet appointment. Since that time, a bill proposing to reinstate the Natural Resource Board's authority over the Secretary's appointment has been presented to each legislative session. For the past two years, the bill has been selected as a Wisconsin Conservation Priority by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters (WLCV).

Jennifer Giegerich, Capitol Liaison for the WLCV, expects the bill to be addressed later this summer after the state's current budget crisis has been addressed. Noting that the bill's first stop will be in the Assembly's Natural Resource Committee, chaired by the bill's sponsor, Representative Spencer Black, Giegerich is optimistic. "We think this bill has a very good chance of passing."

However, controversy over the bill's future arose on March 5, two days before it was presented to the Assembly. In a letter given to nearly 600 conservationists attending the state's annual Conservation Lobby Day, Governor Jim Doyle withdrew his support of an independent DNR Secretary, stating that he has "come to believe that a secretary appointed by the Governor, with the full weight and authority of the governor behind it, can be much more effective." This is counter to the position Doyle has held during his last two political campaigns, during which he publicly supported removing the DNR Secretary from his cabinet, saying, "My preference is that the secretary be appointed by the (Natural Resource) board. It adds a layer of insulation between politics and resource decisions. That's a good thing."

Although Governor Doyle has not confirmed whether his current stance would result in a veto if the bill moved through the legislature, his position reversal has garnered the support of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. Together, these groups represent the state's largest business lobby and have long advocated the office of DNR Secretary as a cabinet appointment since the position oversees environmental regulation. More recently, WMC has proposed to allow the DNR Secretary to be appointed by the Natural Resource Board but retain the responsibility of environmental regulation within the Governor's cabinet.
Despite the setback, conservation groups remain hopeful that the bill will pass later this year. "I can't imagine that he [Governor Doyle] would not keep his word," said Giegerich. "Eighty-five conservation groups have supported this bill for two legislative sessions. We think that sends a message."?? (mcd)