CITIZENS  FOR  AN  INDEPENDENT  DNR

We, the undersigned citizens of the State of Wisconsin, are appealing to Governor Thompson to FREE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURES (DNR) from political influence and to RESTORE THE AUTHORITY OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD TO APPOINT THE SECRETARY OF THE DNR.  We believe the DNR should NOT be prey to temporary political whims.  From 1927 to 1995 Wisconsin followed the plans of Aldo Leopold and minimized political influence in resource management decisions through the watchfulness of the Natural Resources Board (NRB).  This Board, which consists of a seven member panel of independent citizens, USED TO appoint the Secretary of the DNR.  In 1995, however, Governor  Thompson's State Budget Bill included the transfer of authority for HIRING AND FIRING the DNR Secretary to the office of the Governor.  Since then, the state's legacy of protecting the environment has steadily eroded.
 
We believe the Secretary of the DNR should be free of political influence so that conservation decisions are made for the long term, and not for short term political gain.  We therefore support legislation to restore the
authority of the Natural Resources Board to appoint the secretary of the DNR.

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