Doyle: Board system works for veterans, not DNR
By RYAN J. FOLEY
Associated Press Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A citizen board effectively manages veterans benefits in Wisconsin but a similar structure would not work for natural resources, Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday.
After a Capitol ceremony marking Veterans Day, Doyle told reporters that allowing the board that oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire and fire the secretary and set agency policy had worked “very well for us in Wisconsin.” He praised the board for protecting benefits even as the state cuts other areas of government.
At the same time, he said he remained opposed to creating a similar structure to manage the Department of Natural Resources. He is considering whether to veto a bill approved last week by the Democratic-controlled Legislature that would do just that.
The bill would give the Department of Natural Resources board — which sets agency policy — the ability to hire and fire the secretary, a power it enjoyed until 1995. Democratic lawmakers say the bill would reduce the influence of politics in conservation decisions.
Doyle had long supported allowing the board to appoint the secretary but changed tack earlier this year, saying the job should remain part of the governor’s cabinet.
On Wednesday, he said the Department of Natural Resources is a much larger part of the state government than the veterans agency.
“There’s so much more involved with the DNR,” he said.
He said that when the board appointed the department’s secretary, the agency did not have as much support from lawmakers and the governor and was not as effective.
Nov 12, 2009 at 1:26 a.m.
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How much did he get paid to install the "Big Game Hunter", that gave us earn-a-buck? Now on the DNR website, EAB stands for Emerald Ash Borer. On hunting tags EAB means earn a buck, or are we supposed to register the little bugs in order to hunt deer?
Nov 11, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.
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The Government should not be involved with the DNR. Doyle agreed to this sometime back and then suddenly changed his entire view on this. He is part of the problem not the solution. How much time do you think he spends in the outdoors? My guess is very little. Other than raising taxes on everything Mr. Doyle, you haven't helped anything. Get the Government out of it the way it used to be. The way it actually worked.
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