Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton's Travels

08/10/2009 Lt. Governor Lawton Testifies in Support of an Independent DNR Secretary
8/14/2009

08/10/2009 Lt. Governor Lawton Testifies in Support of an Independent DNR Secretary

August 13, 2009 Lt. Governor Lawton testifies in support of an independent DNR Secretary

Lt. Governor Lawton testifies at the capitol in support of an Independent DNR Secretary.

Lt. Governor Lawton testified Thursday in support of an Independent DNR Secretary (Senate Bill 113) at the Senate Committee on Tourism, Transportation, Forestry and Natural Resources hearing.

The bill would restore the power to appoint the Department of Natural Resources Secretary to the Natural Resources Board, rather than the current system of gubernatorial appointment.

Left) Lt. Governor Lawton testifies at the capitol in support of an Independent DNR Secretary.

Lawton was clear from her opening sentence that her position in support of SB 113 is not an implicit criticism of Secretary Matt Frank, of DNR leadership, nor of DNR employees’ work. She said she has tremendous respect for them all.

Lawton said that politicization doesn’t just give the governor power to name the agency secretary, but also the deputy and an executive assistant and all six division administrators.

“They all owe their jobs to the governor. With every change in political leadership, a state’s priorities shift. Sometimes those changes reflect different values underlying the agenda,” Lt. Governor Lawton said. “Disruption with every change in administration affects continuity of policy and the possibility of building a strong staff through merit and attracting the best talent.”

Lt. Governor Lawton said that in today’s era of global climate change, Wisconsin needs an independent DNR to provide expertise on ways the state can improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and adapt to change.

“There is no way to isolate the DNR from political pressures. When they wade into the fray we want complete confidence that the decisions that ensue are made by experts using the best data with full accountability, not to a single person to whom they owe their job, but to the people of Wisconsin, whose lives and livelihoods depend on it,” Lt. Governor Lawton said.

Historically, the position of DNR Secretary has been a non-partisan position. For nearly 70 years, the Natural Resources Board had the authority to appoint the DNR Secretary. Beginning in 1995, that authority was transferred to the Governor by then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, making the Secretary a political appointee. SB113 would restore that authority to the Natural Resources Board.

Click here to read Lt. Governor Lawton’s entire testimony.