DNR called too political in Assembly hearing testimony

Milw Journal Sentinel

...Still, critics of the current system did not complain about the current secretary, Matt Frank, a career attorney in state government who was appointed in September 2007.

Frank said the current system makes the DNR more accountable to an elected official. He questioned whether the Great Lakes Compact would have been passed without Doyle's leadership and questioned whether the changes being sought would be effective.

"Democracy is often noisy, and one person's politics is another person's policy," he said.

Business wants status quo
Business interests are siding with Doyle to maintain the status quo. Scott Manley, director of environmental policy with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said his group doesn't see the DNR as any different from other state agencies.

"The cabinet form of government works," Manley said.

Joel Haubrich, manager of state government affairs for Milwaukee-based We Energies, said the DNR is a critical agency in the utility's decision-making process, costing the company about $5 billion in regulatory costs in 10 years.

We Energies is concerned a change might put more emphasis on natural resources issues and less on air and water regulation, he said.

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Perhaps the answer is to split the WDNR into 2 agencies as Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota does...

FROM 2006