The governor would no longer control who is in charge at the Department of Natural Resources, if some state legislators have their way.
State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) is leading a move to restore the power of a board of citizens to appoint the secretary of the DNR. It's a fight he's been waging for the past 14 years, ever since the authority was moved to the Governor's office.
Black, who chairs the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, is pushing a bill that would strip the governor's power to appoint the DNR secretary. He says Democrat control of both chambers of the Legislature means there's a good chance the bill could pass.
Questions remain though about if Governor Doyle would support such a measure. In past years, Doyle has said he would back the proposal. However, a spokesman for the Governor says Doyle is "rethinking" the issue.