WI Republicans Reject fixing so-called Job Creation Act

[Broca]

Gard showed up in person even though he is not on the Assembly Natural Resource Committee and ordered all the republicans to vote to reject the rules that would have helped mitigate the damage done to conservation issues by the so-called Job Creation Act. He stayed through the vote to make sure no one strayed.

All the Republicans on the Assembly Natural Resource Committee voted to reject the rules: Gunderson, Williams, Ott, Bies, Mursau, Petrowski, Krawczyk, Pettis, Moulton


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John Muir Chapter, Sierra Club
Statement Concerning Assembly Action
Rejecting Public Trust Preamble in Act 118 Rules Package


If you breathe air or drink water, pay attention.

The legislature has blocked critical rules and made it easier for irresponsible businesses and developers to pollute our water and put the state’s tourism business in peril.

And if you fish, hunt or camp in Wisconsin, you need to pay attention too. These same rules will open up our rivers and streams to dredging and damage fish and wildlife habitat.

We are outraged at the action taken today by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, on a party-line vote, to undercut a carefully crafted rules package. NR 1 is the cornerstone for implementation of the full package of administrative rules to implement Act 118, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2003, also known as the ill-named Job Creation Act.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Representative John Gard is responsible for this outrage. By his heavy handed actions today, Representative Gard has ignored the hard work of his legislative colleagues to craft an acceptable administrative rule package to implement Act 118. By imposing his will on this rule-making process, Representative Gard has unnecessarily embarrassed his
colleagues. He has also insulted the stakeholder process that developed the compromise rules package.

In contrast, the Senate Committee, under the leadership of Senator Neal Kedzie, listened to the public. We appreciate their willingness to vote support of the full rules package. The Senate
Committee is carrying out the promise made when Act 118 became law to safeguard the environment.

The environmental and conservation community is appalled at the lack of respect exhibited today in the State Capitol. This action ignores the legitimate concerns of both the business and responsible development communities and those who love Wisconsin lakes and streams.

For months key stakeholders have negotiated and reached compromise on a series of crucial procedures. Their package of rules was endorsed by every speaker and registrant -- developer
and conservationist alike -- just last week. The Sierra Club endorsed the package of rules as a fairly good job of writing rules that minimize further damage by Act 118. We urged quick
adoption of the entire package prior to the construction season.
NR 1 explains the state’s responsibilities to protect the public’s rights in navigable waters guaranteed in the Wisconsin Constitution. The Public Trust Doctrine protects the fish and wildlife habitat, endangered species, water quality and the natural scenic beauty of our lakes and streams.

We call on the Legislature to overturn the actions of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
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[ewagner]

1. Gard is dangerous

We have to make an effort to get defeat him in the next election. We may have to find a "moderate" repub to run against him, or, maybe manufacture one......

[Broca]

2. Where are those space aliens that abduct people

when you need them?