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USAToday.com USAWeekend.com Gannett Foundation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * ** * * *Opinion index <../opinions/index.shtml>* *Printable page* <../../print/print_22304690.shtml> *Posted Aug. 30, 2005 * *Editorial: Public intervenor should be restored* **/ / Gov. Jim Doyle?s proposal for sweeping energy and environmental objectives will keep Wisconsin at the forefront of protecting natural resources and meeting future energy demands. While his plan is getting rave reviews and strong backing from environmental groups, there is one element that?s receiving a cool reception from at least one legislative leader. Sen. Neal Kedzie, a Republican from Elkhorn who heads the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee, said Doyle?s call to re-establish the office of public intervenor won?t get the support of Republican lawmakers. That?s the wrong position. The public intervenor, which was part of the state?s Department of Justice, was the citizen?s watchdog on environmental issues. Yes, it did wind up suing state agencies, which critics said was counterproductive and costly. But there are times when even state agencies are not working in the interest of the public and need to be reminded that they, too, must follow and enforce the state?s environmental laws. Wisconsin?s well-deserved reputation as a place of abundant natural resources is jeopardized by not having an independent voice for citizens? rights. Established in 1967 by Republican Gov. Warren Knowles, the intervenor was anything but a suit-happy office. It filed only a dozen lawsuits in its nearly 30 years of existence, working instead to negotiate and persuade. It was wrong for Gov. Tommy Thompson to dismantle and eventually remove the office of public intervenor in 1995. Lawmakers can right that wrong by re-establishing the office. Doyle?s long list of initiatives focus both preserving natural resources and finding clean and cost-efficient energy sources for the future: n He wants to fight efforts to divert water from the Great Lakes to areas outside of the natural drainage area of the five lakes. n He wants to see Wisconsin at the forefront of using coal gasification technology that turns coal into a clean-burning gas that can be used to fire electricity-generating plants. n He wants to see 10 percent of Wisconsin?s energy to come from renewable sources by 2015. n He wants laws to protect Wisconsin waters from invasive species, such as zebra mussels, by prohibiting contaminated ballast water from being discharged in Lake Michigan by ocean-going ships. n He wants legislation to ensure sustainable forestry practices and protect the state?s working forests. The final price tag for these efforts and Doyle?s other proposals isn?t in, but there is no doubt it will be a hefty one. One of the least costly is the call for re-establishing the public intervenor?s office, which Doyle is seeking $250,000 to fund. He estimates that for about 5-cents per person, the state can have an effective voice of the people on environmental issues. Kedzie said much of what Doyle is proposing crosses party lines and Republicans are willing to consider them. They should be willing to consider all of them, including the public intervenor. - - - - - - - - *READERS RESPOND* ?Wisconsin has been a leader in protecting natural resources, not just here in Wisconsin, but in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, too. Representative Petri has consistently voted against bills to drill for oil in the Arctic Refuge, one of America?s last truly pristine wilderness areas. Petri knows that drilling in the refuge will do nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The refuge only contains enough oil to meet the demands of U.S. consumption for 6 months, and it wouldn?t reach consumers for at least 10 years. Drilling proponents have realized that a bill to drill in the refuge will never pass, so they are resorting to a backdoor scheme, and sneaking provisions to drill in the refuge in the Federal Budget Reconciliation Process. Petri should continue to make Wisconsin a leader in natural resource protection by voting against any budget bill that contains provisions to drill in this pristine area.? ? 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