DNR May Scrap Science Bureau
Administrators consider killing Bureau of Science Services, "bedrock" of DNR, says its ex-leader.
A betrayal of trust?
Aquino, in his email to Hull, indicated that any final decisions on the fate of the Bureau of Science Services will await the outcome of the budget debate. He said other reorganization options are being considered, with the goal of “maintaining as much ability to conduct in-house research and consultation as possible into the future.”
An eagle nestling greets climber and researcher Matt Stuber in its nest nearly 60 feet up a tree in May 2013. Keeping track of endangered or threatened species, and compiling population databases, are part of what Wisconsin’s Bureau of Science Services does. Photo by Matt Stuber from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Flickr feed.
But Hull, in his email to Aquino, said science staffers fear “that the outcome of our program has already been decided internally and in fact there IS certainty about what will happen to the science program.”
Kimberlee Wright, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates, a Madison-based public interest law firm that has frequently challenged DNR actions in court, is also concerned. She said elimination of the bureau would betray a public that cares deeply about Wisconsin’s natural heritage and has relied on the DNR to protect it.
“Our DNR was once one of the best science agencies in the nation,” Wright said. “It was the trustee for my grandchildren and their grandchildren. But we’ve lost that and that really disturbs me.”
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But of course, it is already decided! Kathy Stepp knows nothing about science, she’s a construction company bureaucrat loyalist of the GOP. Robin Vos has already complained about too much studying of minutiae by the UW, and he runs the Assembly. This is a done deal unless the public outrage threatens to deprive these barbarians of their jobs in the next election. The entire Walker Tea Party agenda is to repeal the 20th century and all of its progress, and the budget and governance of this administration has always been totally political; they don’t even seem to know the difference between politics and policy and they certainly don’t want to know anything about citizen input unless it comes with a large check attached. Disgraceful.
“…The reorganization would destroy the independence and credibility of scientific research within the agency.” Yes. Yes it would. And that’s precisely what it’s designed to do. And Sen. Tom Tiffany, a former oil company manager, objects to any research regarding climate change because it’s still “theoretical?” Connect the dots.
Also, don’t discuss global warming at work. Brad Schimel and Matt Adamcyzk will get angry if you do.
JA Schultz: Disgraceful, indeed. Wisconsin hasn’t seen graft on this level since Byron Kilbourn bought the state legislature. And all he wanted was railroads.