Please Stand Up and Make Your Voice Heard!

It is vitally important to contact your State Representative and urge him or her NOT to support the veto override of Assembly Bill 138. 

This bill which was correctly vetoed by Governor Jim Doyle (D) would shift the responsibility for the appointment of the DNR Secretary from the Governor's office to the Natural Resources Board (NRB). It might come as a surprise that NRA would request that you help to sustain a veto by the anti-gun/anti-hunting Governor Doyle, but a shift of appointment authority to the NRB would be very detrimental to the future of hunting in the Badger State.

With the possibility of a pro-gun, pro-sportsman Governor coming out of the November elections, this new Governor would likely appoint a Secretary who would have sportsmen’s interests in mind.  NRB members have repeatedly shown they do not understand the importance of hunting to conservation and to wildlife in the Badger State.  Most often they seem to support a radical environmentalist agenda.

Making the DNR Secretary accountable to the Governor is critically important and it’s the reason the vast majority of states give the Governor this appointment power.  If the Governor’s veto is overridden, virtually all public accountability will be lost.  There have been some groups spreading misinformation so know the facts and research for yourself. The make-up of this NRB does not have your best interests in mind.  Let's leave the current structure alone and allow the new Governor the opportunity to make necessary changes to the Department, which are vitally needed.

Hunters and sportsmen are in a great position to influence the outcome of the upcoming gubernatorial election and choose a candidate who will champion sportsmen’s interests in Wisconsin. This Secretarial appointment would be one of the benefits of such a result.

The vote will be this Tuesday, February 23, so it is crucial that you contact your State Representative and urge them to vote NO on the override of AB138.  Please make your voice heard!  Contact information for your State Representative can be found here.