SSDude
06-05-2009, 07:45 PM
http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/June09/june5/0605suderstewardship.pdf
Call your fools and tools (legislators) Let them know this is unacceptable!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2009
For further information, please contact:
State Representative Scott Suder 1-(608)-267-0280
State Senator Glenn Grothman 1-(608)-266-7513
DEMOCRATS’ BUDGET THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN
PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE LANDS
GOP lawmakers say changes to Stewardship program will make it more difficult for hunters, anglers,
and trappers to access public lands.
Madison… Wisconsin hunters, anglers, trappers, and other outdoor enthusiasts could be locked out of
thousands of acres of public land purchased under the Stewardship program if the Democrats’ budget becomes
law. That was the warning today for Wisconsin’s outdoor community from two Republican lawmakers who say
the Stewardship changes that were unanimously supported by Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee
threaten Wisconsin’s sporting heritage.
State Representative Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-) said the Democrats’
late night maneuvering was a betrayal of the bipartisan “open access” provisions that were included in the
budget two years ago when Stewardship funding was increased and the popular land purchasing program was
reauthorized through 2020.
“The Democrats changes will lead to more ‘No Trespassing’ signs being put up on public lands for hunters,
anglers, and trappers,” Suder said. “These changes threaten the very intent of the Stewardship program,
protecting lands for public use. The Democrats rammed through these measures in the middle of the night to
appease a few groups that don't support full public access on state lands, with the hope that no one in the
sporting community would notice.”
Under current law, the DNR must create a Stewardship land directory that would list all state lands that are open
to the public by 2011. The directory must clearly identify the location, size, and what activities are allowed on
each parcel of public land. The DNR would have to update the directory every two years and make the
information available to the public. The Democrats on Joint Finance deleted this requirement. The lawmakers
said this change will make it more difficult for people to find public lands to hunt, fish, trap, and enjoy the
outdoors.
The Democrats also removed a requirement that would have forced the DNR to make available a list of all lands
that were purchased using Stewardship dollars prior to 2007 that are closed or restricted to public access. The
Department would have had to explain to the public why they made the decision to prohibit access on those
parcels. Several hunting and outdoor groups have questioned the DNR’s tactics that have led to the closure of
several large tracts of public land for certain activities including hunting, fishing, trapping, cross country skiing,
and other outdoor recreation. Another provision that requires any Stewardship purchase totaling more than
$750,000 to receive legislative approval was also wiped out by Democrats on the budget committee.
“The powerful co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, Madison area Democrats Mark Pocan and Mark
Miller, are leading the rest of the Democrats around by their nose. It’s time for the rest of the state to wake up
and send the message that not everybody thinks like they do in Madison,” said Grothman.
The lawmakers will be working with their Republican colleagues, outdoor groups, and others who want to keep
public lands open to sporting pursuits to amend the Democrats’ budget and uphold the “open access” provisions
in the Stewardship program. They also urged anyone who shares their concern for the Democrats’ plan to
contact their legislators and Governor Doyle at 1-608-266-1212 to demand that they uphold public access to all
Stewardship lands.
Call your fools and tools (legislators) Let them know this is unacceptable!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2009
For further information, please contact:
State Representative Scott Suder 1-(608)-267-0280
State Senator Glenn Grothman 1-(608)-266-7513
DEMOCRATS’ BUDGET THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN
PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE LANDS
GOP lawmakers say changes to Stewardship program will make it more difficult for hunters, anglers,
and trappers to access public lands.
Madison… Wisconsin hunters, anglers, trappers, and other outdoor enthusiasts could be locked out of
thousands of acres of public land purchased under the Stewardship program if the Democrats’ budget becomes
law. That was the warning today for Wisconsin’s outdoor community from two Republican lawmakers who say
the Stewardship changes that were unanimously supported by Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee
threaten Wisconsin’s sporting heritage.
State Representative Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-) said the Democrats’
late night maneuvering was a betrayal of the bipartisan “open access” provisions that were included in the
budget two years ago when Stewardship funding was increased and the popular land purchasing program was
reauthorized through 2020.
“The Democrats changes will lead to more ‘No Trespassing’ signs being put up on public lands for hunters,
anglers, and trappers,” Suder said. “These changes threaten the very intent of the Stewardship program,
protecting lands for public use. The Democrats rammed through these measures in the middle of the night to
appease a few groups that don't support full public access on state lands, with the hope that no one in the
sporting community would notice.”
Under current law, the DNR must create a Stewardship land directory that would list all state lands that are open
to the public by 2011. The directory must clearly identify the location, size, and what activities are allowed on
each parcel of public land. The DNR would have to update the directory every two years and make the
information available to the public. The Democrats on Joint Finance deleted this requirement. The lawmakers
said this change will make it more difficult for people to find public lands to hunt, fish, trap, and enjoy the
outdoors.
The Democrats also removed a requirement that would have forced the DNR to make available a list of all lands
that were purchased using Stewardship dollars prior to 2007 that are closed or restricted to public access. The
Department would have had to explain to the public why they made the decision to prohibit access on those
parcels. Several hunting and outdoor groups have questioned the DNR’s tactics that have led to the closure of
several large tracts of public land for certain activities including hunting, fishing, trapping, cross country skiing,
and other outdoor recreation. Another provision that requires any Stewardship purchase totaling more than
$750,000 to receive legislative approval was also wiped out by Democrats on the budget committee.
“The powerful co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, Madison area Democrats Mark Pocan and Mark
Miller, are leading the rest of the Democrats around by their nose. It’s time for the rest of the state to wake up
and send the message that not everybody thinks like they do in Madison,” said Grothman.
The lawmakers will be working with their Republican colleagues, outdoor groups, and others who want to keep
public lands open to sporting pursuits to amend the Democrats’ budget and uphold the “open access” provisions
in the Stewardship program. They also urged anyone who shares their concern for the Democrats’ plan to
contact their legislators and Governor Doyle at 1-608-266-1212 to demand that they uphold public access to all
Stewardship lands.