Editor,
Recently we received a survey from Senator Tiffany which, in our opinion, was self-serving and worded in such a way that it will show what his supporters believe but not what his constituents believe. We do not agree with him that Wisconsin is heading in the right direction. To name just one issue, we are extremely concerned with efforts to lower water quality standards in Oneida County, based on imposition of a lower state standard which requires Oneida County waterfront development regulations to be loosened. Now sulfide mining is an issue that will affect the same area and threaten water quality from another direction. The Oneida County Board voted to lower Oneida County waterfront development standards to fit the new state regulations. What will their decision be concerning sulfide mining?

In general our state government is undoing important environmental work and regulations, which have historically been at a high standard and recognized nationally, with the work of such environmentalists as John Muir, Aldo Leopold and more recently, Gaylord Nelson and former Governor Knowles, to name just a few. Nearly all of the DNR scientist positions have been eliminated. Most recently, the DNR made a decision concerning water rights for Foxconn that clearly violates the Great Lakes Compact and which will go to court.

As stated, this letter comments on only one issue of concern. Wisconsin’s historic leadership in a number of areas is being threatened by the current work of our state government. It appears that decisions are being made not for the “common good” but for special interests, which will definitely not serve us in the future.
Marilyn Norden, Rhinelander