Local DNR hearing deceived the public

This is a guest column sent to us by Steve Abitz.

A People's Forum letter commending Sen. (Alan) Lasee's DNR public hearing is laughable. The hearing was a setup. The results are intended to deceive the public.

The setup: The hearing occurred on a weekday, during the day, so most people could not attend. There was no speaker time limit. Those with an anecdotal DNR ax to grind could talk forever, and some did for 25 minutes. Speaker order was manipulated by letting those in favor of Lasee's agenda speak first. No one in opposition spoke the first hour, after which the TV media (shame on them) left and only one side of the story was aired.

The deception: Lasee's hearing was about personnel and communication problems in the DNR. Budget and personnel cuts, favored by Lasee, are the sources of these problems. He's using the hearing as a ploy to re-weaken Wisconsin's already weakened wetland regulations. It's a total disconnect.

Like ex-U.S. Speaker Tom DeLay, Lasee despises all governmental regulations.

Like DeLay, Lasee is a slave to the corporate and business agenda.

Like DeLay, Lasee has deceived the public and betrayed their interests.

Like DeLay, Lasee deserves the same fate.

Steve Abitz