As long as there is a State of Wisconsin, there will be outdoor lands preserved from development. That's because we the public have purchased hundreds of thousands of acres in locations across the state. All state taxpayers deserve a pat on the back for their wisdom to preserve lands from development, assuring future generations can enjoy the same outdoors Wisconsin we enjoy today.
The state has acquired land for preservation and green space for many decades and we stepped up the pace about 20 years ago with the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. With bipartisan support, the Legislature recently increased the borrowing authority to $105 million per year for Stewardship acquisitions.
Considering the unprecedented fiscal crisis we're now in, the prudent behavior would be to suspend Stewardship purchases and not add to the debt payments the program costs us. When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging!
Leadership in the state's Department of Natural Resources that administers the Stewardship program and the party currently controlling the Legislature and governor's office not only won't even consider slowing the pace of purchasing, but now plan to limit access to Stewardship lands to their owner - you.
Recently, I helped pass a law requiring the DNR to create a Web site or printed map showing the location of land purchased with our Stewardship dollars and an explanation of where and why the DNR has acted to restrict public access and certain activities. But in May 2009, at the governor's request and on a party-line vote, that law was stripped from the books.
Meanwhile, the DNR has closed off or restricted your access to many Stewardship properties for hunting or other activities. When asked the reason for the access and use restrictions, the DNR often refuses to give full answers.
I think it is dead wrong for employees of a governor, agency bureaucrats and legislators to deny you ready access to a map of lands you've paid for and why you can't hunt, fish, go birding, walking or any use at all on many of too many of those lands.
In another move, legislators have abdicated their responsibility to oversee spending for Stewardship purchases. Instead of the Legislature approving purchases above $750,000, the majority party is letting the governor and DNR control the decision for all Stewardship spending.
I've supported our Stewardship program every step of the way because saving some of our state's finest natural resource areas is a magnificent gift for our generation to give to the future.
I also support a high level of openness and transparency in government and a healthy respect for those who generate every nickel of tax revenue that makes each and every Stewardship purchase possible.
I think the actions by Governor Doyle and majority party legislators disrespects the taxpayers' right to know about properties purchased and which properties should be purchased next. What do you think? I welcome your thoughts at sen.schultz@legis.wi.gov.
- State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, represents a large rural region of southwest Wisconsin. Contact him at sen.schultz@legis.wi.gov or on the Web at www.senatordaleschultz.com.
The state has acquired land for preservation and green space for many decades and we stepped up the pace about 20 years ago with the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. With bipartisan support, the Legislature recently increased the borrowing authority to $105 million per year for Stewardship acquisitions.
Considering the unprecedented fiscal crisis we're now in, the prudent behavior would be to suspend Stewardship purchases and not add to the debt payments the program costs us. When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging!
Leadership in the state's Department of Natural Resources that administers the Stewardship program and the party currently controlling the Legislature and governor's office not only won't even consider slowing the pace of purchasing, but now plan to limit access to Stewardship lands to their owner - you.
Recently, I helped pass a law requiring the DNR to create a Web site or printed map showing the location of land purchased with our Stewardship dollars and an explanation of where and why the DNR has acted to restrict public access and certain activities. But in May 2009, at the governor's request and on a party-line vote, that law was stripped from the books.
Meanwhile, the DNR has closed off or restricted your access to many Stewardship properties for hunting or other activities. When asked the reason for the access and use restrictions, the DNR often refuses to give full answers.
I think it is dead wrong for employees of a governor, agency bureaucrats and legislators to deny you ready access to a map of lands you've paid for and why you can't hunt, fish, go birding, walking or any use at all on many of too many of those lands.
In another move, legislators have abdicated their responsibility to oversee spending for Stewardship purchases. Instead of the Legislature approving purchases above $750,000, the majority party is letting the governor and DNR control the decision for all Stewardship spending.
I've supported our Stewardship program every step of the way because saving some of our state's finest natural resource areas is a magnificent gift for our generation to give to the future.
I also support a high level of openness and transparency in government and a healthy respect for those who generate every nickel of tax revenue that makes each and every Stewardship purchase possible.
I think the actions by Governor Doyle and majority party legislators disrespects the taxpayers' right to know about properties purchased and which properties should be purchased next. What do you think? I welcome your thoughts at sen.schultz@legis.wi.gov.
- State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, represents a large rural region of southwest Wisconsin. Contact him at sen.schultz@legis.wi.gov or on the Web at www.senatordaleschultz.com.
