Sen. Jauch: Applauds natural resource protections

Contact: Sen. Bob Jauch
(608) 266-3510

The will of the people is the law of the land

State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) joined Representative Nick Milroy (D-Superior) and approximately 100 citizens in applauding Governor Doyle’s signature of two important natural resource protection measures. With the Minong Flowage as a backdrop, Governor Doyle signed measures designating the Totogatic River as a State Wild River and also signed a new law to allow for more restrictive slow-no wake zones on Wisconsin lakes.

Jauch, who co-authored the Legislation with Representative Milroy, said that the new laws demonstrate that representative democracy works to affirm fundamental Wisconsin values to protect our vital natural resources. “As is typical for most laws the ideas come from the citizens who love the beautiful State we call home. Today’s bill signing ceremony on the shores of the flowage showcase the beauty of our natural resources, but also demonstrates that indeed the will of the people can become the law of the land,” Jauch said.

The northern lawmaker praised the Washburn County Board and local citizens for their advocacy to designate the Totogatic as a wild river. “Over seven years ago these citizens began to petition Wisconsin Government for this special designation and today they can celebrate the Wild River status due to their perseverance.

“Public persistence and an election have combined to create a Legislature that has been able to advance numerous natural resource protection measures that languished for too long,” Jauch said. “It is unfortunate that we had to work so hard and wait over 44 years since the first Wild Rivers were established in the northeast, but in just four months we have now created two new wild rivers in the north including the Totogatic and the Brunsweiller in Ashland County. In addition we have also passed a phosphorous ban, have enacted far reaching rules to reduce mercury and have adopted measures to encourage the recycling of electronic waste.

Jauch thanked Governor Doyle for his vigorous advocacy for our natural resources. Last year the Governor signed into law the Great Lakes Compact to protect the waters of the basin. He also signed legislation that provided an historic increase in state stewardship funds to set aside land for perpetual public use.

“These actions demonstrate Wisconsin’s desire to live Gaylord Nelson’s legacy of leaving this land in better condition for future generations. Gaylord always emphasized that the most meaningful decisions a society makes are those that benefit those whose faces we will never see or names we will never know. We are living up to those high standards,” Jauch concluded.