The State Assembly voted Tuesday not to override a veto by Gov. Jim Doyle on a bill that would allow for the independent appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.
The governor, with the consent of the Senate, currently appoints the secretary. A bill sponsored by Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, however, would have changed it so the Natural Resources Board would have the authority to appoint the secretary for a four-year term and would have been able to remove the secretary at any time.
The Senate and Assembly both passed the bill, however, Doyle vetoed it last November. The Assembly voted Tuesday on whether to override the governor’s veto, and ultimately fell short with a 58-38 vote when a two-thirds majority was needed to veto.
Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, argued against the veto override during the Assembly session because he said he believes the vote is “completely political.”
Fitzgerald said the Democrats in the Assembly are just endorsing an issue that will give them support with certain groups of citizens, like hunting and sportsmen groups.
“It’s not about helping the hunters and fishermen in this state,” Fitzgerald said. “[The Democrats] found the wedge issue, they’re going to stick with it. It’s pure politics. Don’t buy into it.”
Fitzgerald added that the only reason the vote happened during this session is so the Democrats can take note of everyone who voted against it and use it against Republicans in the next election.
“The next election cycle, you guys can all say, ‘Those Republicans, those evil Republicans stopped it,'” Fitzgerald said.
Black rebutted Fitzgerald’s assertions about political manipulation during the session and said this is an issue that sportsmen and women have been working toward for many years.
“We may spend a lot of time in the woods looking for deer, but you know, that doesn’t mean we’re not bright,” Black said. “[Sportsmen and women] don’t need lectures from politicians to change their minds.”
Black added that by allowing the governor to appoint the DNR secretary, it has created a “revolving door” system that has harmed the continuity of purpose when it comes to conservation.
Black called on the Assembly to rise above partisanship, and admitted it is not easy for Democrats to vote against a governor from their own party.
“Today, the Republicans are the deciders,” Black said. “I hope you will decide…to restore that great Wisconsin progressive tradition of having our conservation decisions made based on what is good for our outdoors.”
Anne Sayers, program director of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, said the vote came as a great disappointment to the citizens of Wisconsin. There is now talk of possibly ousting non-supporters of the bill from the Legislature next November, she added.
Sayers said the WLCV supported the bill because, right now, the governor can appoint whomever he wants to without regard to qualifications or merit.
“Right now, it’s used as a political favor,” Sayers said. “Natural resources are better served when you treat them as long term issues, not on political and electoral timelines.”
