Conserving Wisconsin's Outdoors

Conserving Wisconsin's OutdoorsTom Barrett's Conserve Wisconsin's Outdoors Platform
 
All Wisconsinites have a right to enjoy our outdoor resources and public lands.  We camp, fish and hunt, we paddle and swim, we bike and watch birds.  These activities are essential to our economy, culture, and recreation.  Tom Barrett believes we should manage those resources for the people, not for polluters who donate to campaigns and powerful special interests like Scott Walker has done.
  
Stewardship funding: Fund the bi-partisan Nelson-Knowles Stewardship program to protect parks and critical habitat.  As governor, Scott Walker slashed by more than 25 percent (from $86 million to $60 million) the funding to buy and conserve forever Wisconsin's parklands, natural areas for hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation. At the same time he gave tax breaks to wealthy corporations. As Wisconsin's population grows and as its economy expands, Wisconsin more than ever needs to conserve land -- so that all of Wisconsin's citizens, not just wealthy landowners, will be able to enjoy Wisconsin's outdoor recreational resources.
 
Restore DNR secretary's integrity. Tom Barrett firmly supports the appointment of all future DNR secretaries to be made by the Department of Natural Resources Board. As conservationists and outdoor advocates across the state have made clear, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been politicized and appears to be giving special treatment to political contributors who put our drinking water at risk. Conservation and outdoor resource decisions are being made by top DNR officials who seem to put politics and political donations as part of their approval process for projects. This is unacceptable. It can only truly be resolved by putting our natural resources in the hands of an independently managed Department of Natural Resources.
 
Protecting gun ownership and public natural areas. Tom Barrett believes people have the Constitutional right to own guns - and that government does not have the right to take them away. No matter what false attacks by outside special interest groups say, Tom Barrett supports gun owners and will protect public lands and natural areas for hunting, fishing and outdoors recreation.
 
Creating jobs and a cleaner environment. Tom Barrett believes strongly that businesses need to prosper and create jobs in this state, and that the Department of Natural Resources must be a partner with the private sector to grow our economy and protect our water, air and land. Tom also supports wind power manufacturing and clean energy jobs.
 
Protecting parks and hunting and fishing land.  Public lands are a heritage that past governors and legislators have worked so hard to preserve. Tom won't sell the state's natural heritage and beauty to balance short term budget needs, because it's  short-sighted and would mean fewer people would be able to enjoy our great Wisconsin land.  We need a long-term vision for making Wisconsin's natural heritage accessible to millions of Wisconsin sportsmen and women in future generations. 
 
Send Walker Deer Czar back to Texas.  Having someone who knows Wisconsin outdoor traditions and heritage manage the state's deer population. Privatizing hunting is not in keeping with our state's heritage and traditions, nor is it helpful to state outdoor enthusiasts or our tourism economy. Making it more expensive for people to hunt deer hunt would lead to fewer hunting opportunities and greater cost thrust upon the scores of hunters around the state - making it a "sport" for a few elite.  In addition, many people, in rural areas especially, rely on deer hunting as a substantial nutritional resource for their families.  Our hunting, fishing and outdoor heritage is must not be up for sale.
 
DNR under Barrett will not be bought off by polluters. "Sewergate" in Jefferson Co. is happening because DNR let a serious polluter, who is also a big campaign donor, off the hook. Tom will make ensure our drinking water is safe for families. In this situation, he  will make the polluter pay to test the drinking water wells of the 40 families in the Town on Concord for deadly viruses to make sure their drinking water is safe.  
Editorials from around the state have criticized the Walker DNR for this case and include: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (3 times); The Wisconsin State Journal, The Appleton Post Crescent, The Sheboygan Press;  The Cap Times, Racine Journal Times and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Environmental inspections drop in Walker's first year)