Doyle Anti-Conservation Legacy Upheld 2-24-2010
gengberg February 24th, 2010
For Immediate Release: Contact: Kerry Schumann
February 24, 2010 (608) 661-0845, (608) 358-4040 (cell), kerry@conservationvoters.org
DOYLE ANTI-CONSERVATION LEGACY UPHELD
Statement of Kerry Schumann, Executive Director of Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters,
On the Vote to Override Gov. Doyle’s Veto of an Independent DNR Secretary (AB138)
“We are extremely disappointed that the Assembly chose not to listen to the overwhelming public support for an independent DNR Secretary. It’s time Wisconsin brought integrity back to natural resource decision making, and today a historic opportunity to do that was lost. By not overriding this very popular bill, the legislature has not restored the faith of the people in one of the most important institutions in our state. While the question of AB138 is now resolved, the fundamental problem will continue to loom large. Governor Doyle cemented his anti-conservation legacy when he vetoed this bill. Yesterday, members who supported Governor Doyle’s veto tied their legacy to his.
We applaud the members of the Assembly - Republicans and Democrats alike - who stood up for natural resources today. For those who did not, we know they will continue to hear from the sportsmen and women, environmentalists and others in their districts who believe this is an imperative step for protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources.”
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Voting in favor of the veto override were: Barca, Benedict, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Bies, Black, Clark, Colon, Cullen, Danou, Dexter, Fields, Garthwaite, Grigsby, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Hixson, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jorgensen, Kaufert, Krusick, Mason, Meyer, Milroy, Molepske, Mursau, Nelson, Nerison, Parisi, Pasch, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Radcliffe, Richards, Ripp, Roth, Roys, Schneider, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Spanbauer, Staskunas, Tauchen, Toles, Turner, Van Akkeren, Van Roy, Vruwink, Mary Williams, Ziegelbauer, Zigmunt
Voting against the veto override were: Ballweg, Brooks, Davis, Fitzgerald, Friske, Gottlieb, Gunderson, Gundrum, Honadel, Huebsch, Kerkman, Kestell, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kramer, Lemahieu, Lothian, Montgomery, Murtha, Nass, Newcomer, Nygren, Al Ott, Jim Ott, Petersen, Petrowski, Pridemore, Rhoades, Steinbrink, Stone, Strachota, Townsend, Vos, Vukmir, Wood, Young, Zepnick, Ziperer
Paired Votes: Annette Williams (for) and Fred Kessler (against)
Scott Suder, a cosponsor and a past supporter of the bill, did not vote due to his active duty deployment in Afghanistan.
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin’s public health and natural resources.
To view a copy of the Conservation Priorities 2009-2010, please visit:
http://www.conservationvoters.org/
