From: George Meyer [georgemeyer@tds.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:23 AM
To: Kerkman, Samantha
Subject: [Possible Spam] Strong Assembly Support for DNR Secretary Bill

Importance: Low


            Wisconsin Wildlife Federation


September 24, 2009

Strong Bipartisan Majority Passes DNR Secretary Bill-----On the Edge of a Veto-Proof Majority

Contact:  George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation----608-516-5545

Poynette: Sportsmen and women across Wisconsin gratefully thank the strong bipartisan majority of the Wisconsin Assembly for their strong support for AB 138, the bill that restores the appointment authority of the DNR Secretary to the Natural Resources Board. On a strong bipartisan vote, the number of representatives voting in favor of the bill and the support  of the four absent cosponsors brought the vote total to 65 supporters in the Assembly, just one shy of a veto-proof majority.

“Restoring the appointment authority of the DNR Secretary to the Natural Resources Board has been the long-standing position of Wisconsin sportsmen and women and the majority of other citizens,” stated Jack Nissen (Dousman), President of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. “All aspects of the Department functioned better under the Board appointed system and it is time that the Board appointed system be restored.”

“Now the measure advances to the Senate which passed a similar bill in the last session of the legislature by a 22-11 vote” indicated Ralph Fritsch, (Townsend), Past President of the Federation. “In the meantime, Wisconsin’s sportsmen and women will work hard to increase the number of supporters of the bill in the State Assembly.”

The Representatives voting in favor and against the request of Wisconsin’s sportsmen and women are:

Democrats Voting in Support (49):
Representatives Barca, Benedict, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Black, Clark, Colon, Cullen, Danou, Dexter, Garthwaite, Grigsby, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Hixon, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jorgensen, Krusick, Mason,  Milroy, Molepske, Nelson,  Parisi, Pasch, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Radcliffe, Richards,  Roys, Schneider, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Toles, Turner, Van Akkeren, Vruwrink; Polly Williams, Young, Zepnick, Ziegelbauer, Zigmunt Democrat Paired in Favor (1): Shilling Republicans Voting in Support (12): Bies, Brooks, Kaufert, Kestell, Meyer, Mursau, Murtha, Nerison, Ripp, Spanbauer, Tauchen, Mary Williams.
Republican Paired in Favor (1): Van Roy
Republican Cosponsors Serving In Iraq (2): Roth, Suder

Democrat Voting Against (1): Kessler
Democrat Paired Against (1): Fields
Republicans Voting Against (31): Ballweg, Davis, Fitzgerald, Friske, Gottlieb, Gunderson, Gundrum, Honadel, Huebsch, Kerkman, Kessler, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kramer, LeMahieu, Lothian, Nass, Newcomer, Nygren, Al Ott, Jim Ott, Petersen, Petrowski, Pridemore, Rhoades, Stone, Strachota. Townsend, Vos, Vukmir, Zipperer Republicans Paired Against (1): Montgomery

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is the state’s largest conservation organization, made up of 168 hunting, fishing and trapping organizations.
The Federation is dedicated to conservation education and the advancement of strong conservation policies. Contact:George Meyer, Executive Director, 608-516-5545.