The research portion isn't up for a vote. It's an internal DNR decision. They are using budget cuts as the excuse, but at least one key figure within that independent dept believes the decision has already been made and it will happen whether the budget cuts occur or not...And I have a really icky feeling that they are right about that.
With the way the DNR is being reshaped, that translates to a decision that's now either coming directly from or essentially requires approval from the Gov. That's what should make everyone in WI nervous as heck about our DNR being turned into a political arm of the state's Governor. As NoFo likes to point out..."what happens when that bike chick gets elected?" I know you are not saying this, but I just can't see this as Rep vrs Dem issue, as once this take over is complete it flat out doesn't matter which one is the Governor. You have big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ contributors that want less regulations on mining in WI, just eliminate anything within the DNR that can oppose them by doing nothing more than telling your political appointee to do so. You want to shut down all mining and timber use in WI, you just tell the next political appointee to do so. It isn't quite that clean of a process, but it's getting closer and closer with each of these moves.
There is currently a very active and effective push occurring to be able to use the DNR to help enact political agendas by removing the checks and balances, essentially making it so any Governor to come can push whatever environmental agenda they want, without having any skin in the game (after all, it was the DNR's internal decision, conveniently forgetting that you appointed the chief and they'd be unbelievably stupid to go against the Governor's wishes on anything of any importance) and not needing for it to even come up for a vote. All the Gov will have to do, this Governor or any coming in the future, is tell your political appointee to make it happen and there is next to nothing standing in their path to stop it.
Getting rid of the NRB is part of what is required to expand that ability. Getting rid of the internal, independent research dept (which is what the article in Dipper's OP is all about) is just another step. No, they can't stop Steep or the next political appointee from doing anything, but ridding the DNR of that pesky independent research makes it so they can't make you look foolish or get the voters all worked up for doing making those changes. Add that together with the neutering of the NRB, and suddenly the balances are all but completely removed.
In my mind, it doesn't matter the least little bit if a person believes Walker walks on water or if they believe he is every bit as slimy as he is painted by many of those that aren't his biggest fans. This is something that all of WI has to think of in the long term. Regardless of what you think of Walker, someone is going to be following him from the other party. It's just a matter of time, and they are going to have these same powers.
Without a doubt, it has to do with deer....and it has to do with air, ground water contamination, soils, timber, fisheries, every natural resource related issue there is. The DNR becoming more and more and more a pure political arm of the Governor while all the checks and balances are being removed should make everyone on the left, right and in-between mad as hell for a bunch of reasons...but there's barely a ripple. Sorry for saying this, but I'm starting to question if we don't deserve whatever we get. How so much of the country has gone from a people that fought for our own independence to a people that refuses to hold the politicians we actually vote for accountable for nearly any power grad they make and eat up the lies they feed us just blows my mind (that's NOT aimed at anyone here...just a very general observation of what I see the country doing).
sorry for the rant.
