Wisconsin state Capitol (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
A state board that manages school trust assets in Wisconsin has ordered its employees not to work on any issues dealing with global warming on state time.
The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands voted 2-1 Tuesday afternoon to prohibit discussions about climate change. The move comes after state Treasurer Matt Adamczyk raised concerns about past work by the agency director on a global warming task force.
Tia Nelson, the board’s executive secretary, is the daughter of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson. Even though the task force she served wrapped up its work in 2008, Adamczyk has said Nelson still adds notes about it on board reports. He argued that the subject has nothing to do with the agency’s responsibilities of managing school trust assets, making loans to government agencies, and giving grants to school libraries.
Adamczyk, Attorney General Brad Schimel, and Secretary of State Doug La Follette make up the Board of Commissioners. Schimel backed Adamczyk in imposing the rule, while La Follette opposed the move.