From Dick Cates, former DATCP Board member; farmer, and director UW-Madison WI School for Beginning Dairy/Livestock Farmers, Town of Wyoming
and Mike Krutza, former DATCP Board member; partner, Lighthouse Leadership; retired FCS; Wausau
To the editor:
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have, for many years, been governed by citizen policy boards. This is part of Wisconsin's historic tradition of open, accessible, non-partisan public administration. The current boards provide a vehicle by which citizens can have direct input into state agricultural, natural resource and consumer protection policy. Board decisions are made in open meetings, in full view of the news media and public.
Gov. Walker now proposes to eliminate the DATCP and DNR policy boards, and replace them with advisory boards that are stripped of policy-making authority. This will centralize power in the governor's office, marginalize the citizen boards, and reduce public visibility. It is unclear what problem this proposal is attempting to solve.
As recent past members of the DATCP Board - collectively, we served 19 years under Republican and Democratic administrations - we have powerful recollections of listening to the stories, passion and pain of those who presented their views during open citizen comment periods ... whether it was around proposed livestock siting regulations, nutrient management, groundwater protection, the historic working lands initiative, paralyzing animal health outbreaks, food safety, or debilitating incidents of consumer fraud. You could feel the courage and non-partisan integrity of the nine board members as they worked to listen, understand, and find sensible common ground.
Citizen policy boards serve as important intermediaries between state government and the citizens they serve. These boards help ensure a fair hearing and a fair shake for everyone, including for those who maybe feel powerless or marginalized. The boards help ensure that regulations and other policies of state government fairly reflect and address grass roots concerns. Citizen policy boards have been an important feature of "good government" in Wisconsin for many years.
There is a big difference between a policy board and a mere advisory council. A policy board has authority to act, not just offer non-binding opinions at the request of a state agency. That means that a policy board must be taken seriously. We think that the DATCP and DNR boards have exercised this authority in a highly responsible and non-partisan manner. They have proven their value over many years, on many difficult issues.
We ask the Legislature not to eliminate this important vehicle for citizen input, and this historic tradition of open government.
and Mike Krutza, former DATCP Board member; partner, Lighthouse Leadership; retired FCS; Wausau
To the editor:
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have, for many years, been governed by citizen policy boards. This is part of Wisconsin's historic tradition of open, accessible, non-partisan public administration. The current boards provide a vehicle by which citizens can have direct input into state agricultural, natural resource and consumer protection policy. Board decisions are made in open meetings, in full view of the news media and public.
Gov. Walker now proposes to eliminate the DATCP and DNR policy boards, and replace them with advisory boards that are stripped of policy-making authority. This will centralize power in the governor's office, marginalize the citizen boards, and reduce public visibility. It is unclear what problem this proposal is attempting to solve.
As recent past members of the DATCP Board - collectively, we served 19 years under Republican and Democratic administrations - we have powerful recollections of listening to the stories, passion and pain of those who presented their views during open citizen comment periods ... whether it was around proposed livestock siting regulations, nutrient management, groundwater protection, the historic working lands initiative, paralyzing animal health outbreaks, food safety, or debilitating incidents of consumer fraud. You could feel the courage and non-partisan integrity of the nine board members as they worked to listen, understand, and find sensible common ground.
Citizen policy boards serve as important intermediaries between state government and the citizens they serve. These boards help ensure a fair hearing and a fair shake for everyone, including for those who maybe feel powerless or marginalized. The boards help ensure that regulations and other policies of state government fairly reflect and address grass roots concerns. Citizen policy boards have been an important feature of "good government" in Wisconsin for many years.
There is a big difference between a policy board and a mere advisory council. A policy board has authority to act, not just offer non-binding opinions at the request of a state agency. That means that a policy board must be taken seriously. We think that the DATCP and DNR boards have exercised this authority in a highly responsible and non-partisan manner. They have proven their value over many years, on many difficult issues.
We ask the Legislature not to eliminate this important vehicle for citizen input, and this historic tradition of open government.
