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Candidates
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Green wants to split DNR and end "frivoulous" lawsuits against farmers
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green says he will split the Department of Natural Resources into two different agencies, because he said the agency is too big and that has led to bad decisions.
Green made that announcement on a farm in western Wisconsin Monday, as part of his plan to grow the state's agricultural economy.
"Agriculture is more than just one of our state's leading economic drivers - it's a big part of who we are," Green said.
By splitting the DNR, Green would create one agency which would be responsible for conservation, forestry and outdoor recreation. The other agency would function much like the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Another part of the Green's plan includes providing a 10 percent research and development tax credit for farm-based research into renewable energy sources.
"By effectively promoting that research, we can lead the way in establishing 'Best Management Practices' for our farmers, and create a model for energy independence and a healthy rural economy for the nation to follow," said Green.
The tax credit would be available to farms or companies that are conducting farm-based research into renewable energy sources such as ethanol, methane, bio-mass, wind and solar.
He also wants to increase by $1 million the funding for the state's discovery farms which would increase the number of these farms from seven to 20.
Discovery farms are private farms that have partnerships with the government and universities to help research best way farms can comply with federal and state environmental regulations.
Another element of Green's agricultural plan would be to make contributions to health savings accounts tax deductible. Health savings accounts allow individuals to set aside money to pay medical expenses.
Green says he will also enact legislation that limits the ability of the state's attorney general from pursuing "nuisance" lawsuits against farmers. Green described these lawsuits as those made against farmers who are using normal farming practices.
As an example of nuisance lawsuits, Green cited the current case against brought against a Sawyer County cranberry grower by Minnesota landowners in the area.
Peg Lautenschlager, state attorney general, joined the lawsuit on behalf of the landowners and when the case was thrown out by the trial judge, Lautenschlager appealed it.
He added that this legislation would strengthen Wisconsin's "Right to Farm" laws.
He also says he will also fight any efforts to repeal or weaken the state's use-value assessment for farmland.
"Use-value assessment has helped lower taxes on Wisconsin's farmers, and kept more of our state's farmland from being converted to non-agricultural uses," Green said.
Green also wants to remove Wisconsin's grey wolf population from federal protected status by getting the state moved out of the eastern grey wolf district population segment.
While the grey wolf population has rebounded in Wisconsin, it has not done so in other parts of the eastern district.
Green has been endorsed by the political arm of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. |
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