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Assembly passes DNR Secretary appointment bill

September 22, 2009 By

The state Assembly approves legislation (AB-138) that would restore DNR Secretary appointment authority to a citizen board.

Lawmakers again debate whether the governor should retain power to appoint the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. Madison Democrat Spencer Black points out that five past DNR secretaries support having the Natural Resources Board make that decision.

“Now these are people who are no longer subject to hiring or firing but can speak their mind. And it’s really extraordinary that they all agreed.”

Black says some of those secretaries were appointed by the governor and some by the board, serving under seven governors — both Republicans and Democrats. Despite those differences, Black reiterates, the former secretaries show unity in their support to change the law.

Merrill Republican Donald Friske says the issue isn’t so much whether the Secretary would do a good or a bad job; the issue is whether politics will be taken out of the equation simply by having a board. He doesn’t think so.

“There’s no way you’re gonna remove politics … because the existing governor is going to make appointments to that board with people that actually favor that governor, and he’s gonna put pressure on the board [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Kindergarten mandate passes Senate

September 22, 2009 By

The state Senate has passed legislation requiring kindergarten for every five year old in Wisconsin. The bill passed on a party line 17-15 vote Tuesday, following Assembly passage of the legislation last week.

The problem which the problem is designed to address – kids whose parents enroll them in kindergarten but don’t see to it they attend regularly – is largely a Milwaukee problem, according to Neenah Republican state Senator Mike Ellis. “What you’re doing to solve a problem in the Milwaukee school system, is imposing a mandate on the other school districts in the state of Wisconsin,” said Ellis. “I surveyed my school districts. They don’t have this problem.”

AUDIO: State Senator Mike Ellis (5:50 MP3)

“This is not a Milwaukee-only problem,” countered by the bill’s Senate sponsor, Milwaukee Democrat, Senator Spencer Coggs. “This happens across the state. It’s a small number of children, but it happens across the state.”

AUDIO: State Senator Spencer Coggs (2:00 MP3)  

Coggs said local districts will be able to develop policies to determine whether or not individual six year old students ready for first grade – and that parents of five year-olds will be subject to state truancy laws if their kids aren’t attending kindergarten. Current state law doesn’t mandate that five year-old children attend kindergarten. Proponents of the legislation say too many parents are using kindergarten as day care, enrolling their five year-old kids, but not seeing to it that the children attend on a regular basis.

Filed Under: Education, Politics & Government

Student athlete mourned

September 22, 2009 By
Forrest Goetsch

Forrest Goetsch

A Wausau-area school district is remembering a top cross-country athlete who died during practice this week. Fourteen year-old Forrest Goetsch of Ringle collapsed during the second lap of warm-up exercises Monday afternoon and later died at St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston.  

D. C. Everest Superintendent Kristine Gilmore offered condolences to the Goetsch family as well as the teen’s teachers and friends Gilmore said counselors are helping students and staff grieve the death. “This is an issue though, that takes a long time to heal, especially for students and staff who know Forrest,” Gilmore said. “It will be an ongoing process.” Gilmore said Goetsch was one of the top cross-country athletes at the junior high and was well-liked.

An autopsy determined that Goetsch died from a cardiac-related natural death. “We were not aware of any medical issues,” said Gilmore. The medical examiner’s office is waiting for final autopsy results before they can say exactly what happened.

AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:37 MP3)

WSAU’s Matt Lehman contributed this report

Filed Under: Human Interest

Groups gather behind domestic partner law

September 22, 2009 By

There’s a push for the state Supreme Court to intervene in the state’s domestic partner registry battle. Lambda Legal, along with FAIR Wisconsin, filed papers today asking the high court to toss out a lawsuit filed in July by the Wisconsin Family Council.

The Council says the registry is a violation of a 2006 state constitutional amendment, established by voter referendum, which bans same sex marriage.

Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney with Lambda Legal, says the claim the registry closely resembles marriage is “not credible.”

The civil rights law firm notes the registry provides 43 legal protections to domestic partners compared to over 200 protections enjoyed by married couples.

FAIR Wisconsin Executive Director Katie Bellanger says the current law needs to be preserved, in part, to allow domestic partners to care for each other in a hospital setting.

“This isn’t about being gay or straight this is about allowing caring and committed same sex couples to care for each other, “says Bellanger.  

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :73)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government

Milton filters through ethanol regulations

September 22, 2009 By

Emissions from a Rock County ethanol plant has locals sounding off. Some Milton residents say their health is suffering from emissions from the nearby United Ethanol Plant.

AUDIO: Montage of locals (MP3 :21)

But United Ethanol President Dave Cramer says his company is vigilant.

AUDIO: Dave Cramer (MP3 :18)

Mayor Tom Chesmore says even though only a few neighbors complain of health problems from emissions those residents deserve to be able to breathe clean air.

The Milton Plan Commission held a fact finding hearing Monday regarding the plant’s conditional use permit. However it appears the plant does not have such a permit. The city is determining the best route to use to regulate potential emissions and odors from the facility.

Contributed by Beth Wheelock-WCLO

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government
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