Scott Walker Celebrates Earth Day by Firing 57 Environmental Agency Employees

Mother Jones ^ | April 22, 2015 | Tim McDonnell

[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.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Cut every agency in government by 5 percent.
Do it again.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes.

[HereInTheHeartland]

That is AWESOME!!
I might vote for him on that action alone!

[MaxMax]

In fact, what have they done positive for this Country and Freedom, not a damn thing.
They should be forced in front of Congress to prove their existence worthy
by naming 1000, (Mark Levin Voice) That's right "One Thousand" accomplishments
that has helped America, Jobs, or helped Anything positive!

/rant off

[esoxmagnum]

thread will not be complete until the image of Nelson and the HA HA are posted.

[MaxMax]

Cut every agency in government by 5 percent.

Per Quarter. To much Blat and employees making more money that the private sector,
that needs to change also.

Cut them all back 100-years to when people served the People instead of themselves.

[MaxMax]

er, to much Bloat.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Probably some fresh brats with sour kraut on dark bread...

[mac_truck]

That headline made me smile.

Go Walker!

[Steve_Seattle]

"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."

He's cutting 66 positions out of a bureau that only has 59.4 positions?

[Steve_Seattle]

If these budget cuts go through, the world is surely doomed.

[aquila48]

The Earth is celebrating!

[Steve_Seattle]

"Fifty-seven employees of the state Department of Natural Resources began receiving formal notices this week that they might face layoff . . . "

A lot of journalistic license in the headline:

1. Nobody was fired.

2. The POTENTIAL LAYOFFS did not all occur on Earth Day.

[familyop]

Yay!

[Gumdrop]

Ha! That makes me laugh.

[kiryandil]

Nice try at a red herring, Steve - but EVERYBODY in Madistan knows that Scott Walker raped and murdered Mother Gaia on Urp Day.

Dirty pollutin' bastiche!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Walker’s budget would cut 66 positions from the DNR. Of this, more than 25% would come from the science group.

Good. These people cause a lot of trouble here.

FReep mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[onyx]

FR Mail.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Walker just freed up these highly skilled folks from job lock.”

They can now follow their dreams! They can work on their hobbies! They can learn to play the piano! They can start a business because Government is SO ‘business friendly!’

When our last governor, ‘Diamond Jim Doyle’ (D, WI) was going to CUT 10,000 teachers to balance the budget, we heard nary a PEEP from the unions or the teachers OR the media in our state.

When Governor Scott Walker balanced our budget without a SINGLE lay off for teachers, they acted as if it were the end of the world.

Effing’ Socialists!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“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.”

No, Dumb@ss - they would lose NINE jobs. NINE.

Big effing deal.