Posted on 04/22/2015 11:32:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Happy Earth Day! Today is a day we can all band together and share our love for this beautiful planet—or at least drown our sorrows about climate change with nerdy themed cocktails. Later today, President Barack Obama will mark the occasion with a climate-focused speech in the Florida Everglades. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination, had a different idea: Fire a big chunk of the state's environmental staff.
From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Fifty-seven employees of the state Department of Natural Resources began receiving formal notices this week that they might face layoff as part of Gov. Scott Walker's budget for the next two fiscal years…
The DNR's scientific staff conducts research on matters ranging from estimating the size of the state's deer herd to to studying the effects of aquatic invasive species. Work is paid for with state and federal funds…
All told, Walker's budget would cut 66 positions from the DNR. Of this, more than 25% would come from the science group. Cosh said a smaller number of employees received notices than the 66 positions in the budget because some positions targeted for cuts are vacant.
It's no secret that a signature tactic in Walker's controversial environmental record has been to degrade the DNR, which in addition to carrying out research is tasked with regulating the state's mining industries. Still, the timing of this particular announcement is striking. I guess no one marked Earth Day on Walker's calendar.
Neither Walker's office nor DNR immediately returned requests for comment.
As consolation for this depressing news, here's is a webcam of pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
"Environmentalists are criticizing Gov. Scott Walker's budget for making steep cuts in personnel in a science and research bureau at the Department of Natural Resources.
The employees include scientists and others with master's and doctoral degrees who perform research for the DNR on environmental regulation and wildlife management policy.
Walker's budget would cut 18.4 positions in the Bureau of Scientific Services.
The bureau has a total of 59.4 budgeted positions, although 9.4 are currently vacant. That would a 31% cut in total budgeted positions and a reduction of nearly 20% of the positions now filled in the bureau.
All told, Walker's budget would cut 66 positions from the DNR. Of this, more than 25% would come from the science group.
Environmentalists questioned whether scientists at the agency were coming under attack for research that has sometimes provoked criticism. But a northern Wisconsin lawmaker who has been critical of some DNR research agreed with Walker's plan.
"This is a terrible idea," said Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations for Clean Wisconsin, a Madison-based environmental group.
"Any real natural resources protection is based on sound science. The more science you remove from the process, the more politics you add."
Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) said he supports overhauling the bureau.
"I think some of our game management is not being served well by science services," Tiffany said.".......
I.e. the science side is suffering less than the politics side
Go Scott!
March 11, 2015: Scott Walker Is the Worst Candidate for the Environment From wind turbines to iron ore mines…
"Scott Walker is killing it with Republicans. The Wisconsin governor is one of his party's rising stars—thanks to his ongoing and largely successful war against his state's labor unions, a fight that culminated Monday with the signing of a controversial "right-to-work" bill.
Now (for the moment, anyway), he's a leading contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. At the Conservative Political Action Conference a couple weeks ago, he polled a close second to three-time winner Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), beating the likes of Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush by a significant margin.
It probably won't surprise you to learn that none of the prospective GOP presidential candidates are exactly champions of the environment. Probably the least bad is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who at least acknowledges that climate change is real and caused by human activity. Walker just might be the worst. He hasn't said much about the science of global warming. (In the video above, you can watch him tell a little kid that his solution to the problem will center on keeping campsites clean, or something.) But his track record of actively undermining pro-environment programs and policies while supporting the fossil fuel industry is arguably lengthier and more substantive than that of his likely rivals.
"He really has gone after every single piece of environmental protection: Land, air, water—he's left no stone unturned," said Kerry Schumann, executive director of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. "It's hard to imagine anyone has done worse."
Here's a rundown of Walker's inglorious history of anti-environmentalism................"
Walker just freed up these highly skilled folks from job lock. I’m sure they can develop a product that creates value for their field now.
Gotta love it.
beautiful way to celebrate a pagan holiday.
Money Talks BS walks..What a guy I like him
OK, that’s it. He has my vote.
Walker standing up against the whack jobs and wins.
Save the scientists, fire welfare workers instead.
That’s a real problem with liberals, they don’t
understand budgets.
If I were in Wisconsin I would not want him to leave the state!
And if he can accomplish this, just imagine what he can do with the EPA! I’m liking this guy better with each passing day. Keep making liberals whine, Governor.
Too bad no Republican president ever marked this phony celebration by abolishing the entire EPA, the lingering stench of Nixon’s rancid legacy. Think of the trees that could have been saved by not printing millions of pages of dreadful regulations that take the land and the freedom of Americans from sea to shining sea.
Seeting FireWorks Ablaze.
Now THATS the way to celebrate erf day. I’m still turning on all my lights and burning tires and plastics when I get home tonight. I have my own ways of celebrating.
LOL One for every one of Obama’s “states.”
Yet another reason I love my gov!
My thoughts precisely :)
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