Wisconsin Republicans are improperly blocking conservation work, court says
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Wisconsin Republicans are improperly blocking conservation work, court says

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee can’t legally block conservation projects initiated by Democratic Gov. “I’ve spent years working against near-constant Republican obstruction, and this historic decision rightfully resets constitutional checks and balances and restores separation of powers,” the governor said in a statement. The court ruled 6-1 that provisions that require the Joint Finance Committee to unilaterally block projects and land acquisitions funded with money from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program violate the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. The finance committee in April 2023 blocked the DNR’s plan to spend $15.5 million from the program to acquire a conservation easement on 56,000 acres of forest, which would have been the largest land conservation effort in Wisconsin history.

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History of this topic

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices question how much power Legislature should have
8 months, 1 week ago

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices question how much power Legislature should have

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Supreme Court justices questioned Wednesday how much power legislative committees should wield, in a case that Democratic Gov. But liberal Justice Jill Karofsky, in deflecting arguments that the court should not overturn such established practices, said “Maybe they’ve been wrong for the last century and we shouldn’t double down on how wrong this is.” Evers argues …

Finance committee blocks $15.5m conservation purchase
1 year, 11 months ago

Finance committee blocks $15.5m conservation purchase

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Members of the Legislature’s powerful finance committee have blocked a state Department of Natural Resources plan to spend $15.5 million on a conservation easement to preserve 56,000 acres of northern Wisconsin forest. The purchase would have been the largest land conservation effort in state history, Wisconsin Public Radio reported. The DNR’s policy board signed off on the …

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