On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Senate voted to reject four of Governor Evers’ five nominations to the Natural Resources Board (NRB). Below is a statement from Clean Wisconsin government relations director Erik Kanter on the move by Senate republicans:
“The Senate’s failure to confirm Sharon Adams, Dylan Jennings, Sandra Dee Naas and Jim VandenBrook has nothing to do with alleged concerns over their qualifications to serve on the Natural Resources Board. The Senate would be hard-pressed to find four more qualified candidates. Each one has spent their entire career working on the same goals and efforts that the DNR and Wisconsinites prioritize: clean air, clean water and a thriving wildlife population.
Rather, this is an exercise of political power. Wisconsinites want a healthy environment. They want a functioning state government where differences of opinion result in collaboration and compromise. They don’t want politicians in Madison playing games at the expense of the public interest. We appreciate Sen. Cowles, who put good government ahead of politics and was the lone republican to vote in favor of their nominations.”
The NRB is the policy board for Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources. It sets critical environmental policies in Wisconsin, impacting everything from the safety of our drinking water and the health of our lakes to fisheries and forestry management. The seven-member board is now left with just three seats filled until Gov. Evers nominates more members to serve.
