Blowback, backlash, outcry – call it what you will, but we’ve seen recently how intense political reaction can act like a back fire against a Wisconsin political firestorm driven by the wind of ideology (think “open for business”) and Republican one-party clout.
That’s what stopped the spread of the attempt last year to weaken Wisconsin’s open records and meetings law and the Walker administration proposal to gut the Wisconsin Idea in the state budget in favor of university acting as creators of job-ready workers. And it happened again last week as the administration withdrew proposed changes to the state’s long-term care programs. Department of Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhodes cited “comments, feedback and questions from providers, advocates, legislators and most importantly, consumers” as she withdrew the proposed changes.
So I’m wondering now if there will be a similar backlash after the announcement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last week that it will no longer consider the cumulative impact of nearby wells on the aquifer or surface water when deciding to permit a high-capacity well....
Ken Notes: I hope this becomes a huge discussion point and all politicians realize that it is not good for our people, nor our businesses for that matter, to ignore water quality issues. I am strongly pro business and agriculture but believe we have to conduct both endeavors with our future and reasonable environmental practices in mind. It is also interesting that the companies we want to attract and grow are looking for governments that will protect the environment they live in. We need to work together to change the thinking on this, if companies really want free reign environmentally they are not looking at Wisconsin - they are looking at India, China, Mexico....
Share this article on you social outlets
Our Sponsors
- - Volume: 4 - WEEK: 26 Date: 6/20/2016 2:52:30 PM -