Walker declares war on Drinking Water Supply, Lakes to Swim in, and DNR Scientists.

I think it’s time to write following story the way the news media should have from the beginning, so here goes (quote is my emphasis)…

“Schimel ignored past court cases, other state laws and the Public Trust Doctrine of the Wisconsin Constitution, which all give the DNR authority to protect water resources...”

After being ordered to by…

“...Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), chairman of the Assembly Committee on Organization, to ‘clarify’ the authority of the DNR over high-capacity wells.”

Clarity was a wink and nudge to pass and completely destroy the DNR, defying common sense and public responsibility. Leaving no one in charge...

"...Schimel concluded the DNR lacked explicit authority to place conditions on farms and or other entities that wanted to construct large wells — even if the wells harmed state waters."

Odd that after all this time, the state never found a way to protect the state drinking water supply.

Now there’s a 2016 lawsuit against that decision that hopes to reverse Rep. Vos' politically driven AG's right to plunder:

Employees of the DNR expressed concerns in emails in 2015 and 2016 about potential harm to lakes and streams from the construction of new wells in areas where irrigation was already widespread, court records filed on Friday show. The emails were included in the latest documents of a 2016 lawsuit by an environmental group and lake association that challenged a major shift in state policy that weakened the regulation of high-capacity wells. The October 2016 suit contends the DNR violated the Wisconsin Constitution and ignored other state laws and court cases after the agency announced it would no longer examine applications of large-scale wells by taking into account the impact of other nearby wells.

Destroying the Watchdogs; Scientists: Republican disdain for science is at a whole new level in Wisconsin, making it an environmental hell hole: 

Two years ago, Walker and lawmakers enacted a budget that cut 18 DNR science service bureau researchers amid complaints that their research related to climate change, pollution and wildlife habitat were controversial and unneeded.

Now the science services bureau is being dissolved and its remaining scientists moved to program offices that use their research.

A frequent critic of the DNR said the move will give more control to DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. Sen. Tom Tiffany, a Republican and part of the GOP majority on the Legislature’s budget committee, said Stepp should be able to ensure that research benefits sportsmen and the DNR should be better able to prevent further research that takes climate change into account.

Walker Bags Smokey the Bear: Walker put the Kibosh on the State Fair's DNR exhibit. Seriously, who needs big government preaching to kids about taking care of the environment anyway: 

Effective this year, the DNR will no longer offer fisheries, wildlife or environmental management booths, casting clinics, archery, a children's nature play area, Smokey's Schoolhouse and a number of other attractions.

What Me Worry...about Blue-Green Algae? On the subject of water, Scott Walker is making Wisconsin "green" by designating it the official color of our lakes...with blue-green algae. Walker and his band of plundering legislative Republican pirates, don't seem alarmed that we can no longer go swimming in our lakes...even in June. WISC:

Our Little Friend, Cyanobacteria? Good for you Heart: Science might be coming to Walker's rescue though, even if he doesn't believe in that either. I don't know if we're talking about the same species of blue-green algae, but you never know....The Smithsonian:

In a study published this week in Science Advances, Dr. Woo and his team show how they successfully replaced blood with microscopic cyanobacteria, plant-like organisms that also use photosynthesis. By co-opting the process to help heal damaged heart tissue, the team was able to protect rats from deadly heart failure. Fixing an ailing heart, it seems, may be as simple as shining a light on the situation.

For cardiologists, the challenge for preventing subsequent heart failure is to rapidly supply damaged heart tissues with oxygen and nutrients. But “if you look at nature, photosynthesis answers that question,” 

Dr. Woo and his team grew a strain of Synechococcus in their lab and injected to the impaired heart tissue of a living rat. Then, they turned up the lights. After 20 minutes, they saw increased metabolism in damaged areas. Overall cardiac performance improved after about 45 minutes. The evidence suggested that the oxygen and sugar Synechococcus created through photosynthesis was enhancing tissue repair.

After injecting living bacteria into a body organ, you might expect an infection. But interestingly, the researchers didn’t find any immune response after TK HOURS “The bugs are just not there anymore, it disappears,” says Dr. Woo. “And maybe that’s the best kind of bacteria”—a friendly helper that sticks around to do damage control, then disappears without a trace. The recent study is merely proof-of-concept, but scientists are now on the path to trying the technique in human subjects. Next they’ll try it in larger animal models that are closer to humans, and they’re working on ways to deliver and shine light on cyanobacteria without an open heart surgery. They’re even considering genetically editing Synechococcus to make the critters release more sugar.

AG Schimel says no one, not even the DNR, can stop the devastating overall effects of high capacity wells on public waters!

When Brad Schimel ran for the AG position, he pointblank promised to fight for the administration’s policies, no questions. I thought voters would be appalled by Schimel's lack of legal expertise and Walker ass kissing. I was horribly wrong. Seriously, just the headline alone is enough to make you wonder, “what the hell?”

"AG says DNR can't restrict wells based on overall effects on public waters."

Yes, who cares about high capacity wells depleting our public water supplies. Just ask Waukesha. WSJ: 

AG Brad Schimel issued a formal opinion stating that the state Constitution's provision on public waters didn't give the Department of Natural Resources authority to regulate construction of high-capacity wells beyond what was in state statutes … cites a 2011 law -- Act 21 -- that restricts the authority of state agencies to powers that are explicitly included in statutes or rules. Republican state lawmakers requested the opinion in February.

All it took was a strong signal by the Republican legislature. Done.

What’s most jaw dropping about Scott Walker’s AG tool? He directly contradicted the conservative activist State Supreme Court's decision that said just the opposite:

Lawmakers who asked Schimel weigh in said the backlog was created by a 2011 state Supreme Court decision that didn't take Act 21 into account. The Supreme Court ruling was resulting in the DNR having too much power …

But…

The court said it was aware of Act 21 but the law didn't affect its analysis … The court ruled unanimously that the state constitution gives the DNR "the authority and a general duty ... to consider the impact of a proposed high-capacity well on waters of the state."

Pretty clear? Not to AG "Homer" Schimel:

Schimel highlighted a passage from the opinion: "I have determined that the Supreme Court did not address the newly passed Act 21 … A formal opinion of the attorney general does not create a binding legal precedent, but it can be persuasive to courts and is presumed to be correct as long as the Legislature doesn't pass a law contradicting it. 

 You were warned:

AG says DNR can't restrict wells based on overall effects on public waters.

Any questions?

DNR can't do anything about the effects of High Capacity Wells on our Water Supply.

Water is now there for the large dairy farms to take, regardless of what it might mean to anyone else, now or in the future. "The days of regulating by fiat are over," said WMC's Scott Manley. Yes, we're getting the feeling...a sinking one, that he may be right:

WPR: Judge Rules DNR Has No Authority To Monitor High Capacity Well: Two Wells Will Pump 500 Gallons Per Minute For Large Dairy Farm. A judge in Outagamie County has ruled the state Department of Natural Resources doesn't have the authority to monitor high-capacity wells at a large dairy in central Wisconsin. The New Chester Dairy plans to install two high-capacity wells that will each pump 500 gallons a minute to provide water for more than 8,600 cows. The judge ruled the DNR can't require a dairy to measure how that much pumping would affect ground water.

Scott Manley, of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, calls the ruling a victory for employers and an endorsement of the current Legislature's efforts to roll back regulations that burden businesses. WMC fielded amicus briefs in support the suit brought by New Chester Dairy challenging the DNR's authority to require the monitoring wells. Manley said the ruling is a sign that "the days of (government agencies) regulating by fiat are over."

Walker gives Industry control over our water. Residents blocked from going to court by Big Government Republicans.

Big government Republicans, the same ones that talk so passionately about local control, just took that precious local control away from Wisconsin communities to protect their water supplies. They did it by taking out...the judicial branch.

Water is there for Big Industry: Imagine the value of your home or business if your water supply dries up because of industry high capacity wells.

Republicans side with Industry: Like I've said before, Republicans are not a farmer’s best friend.  

Judicial Branch Eliminated: What they can't win in court, they'll block from the courts. That’s what Republicans want, along with the loss of local control:

WPR: Starting on Monday, Wisconsin residents can no longer challenge state Department of Natural Resources permits for a high-capacity well if state officials failed to look at what the well might do to overall groundwater in the area. Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker got rid of the cumulative impacts challenge when they passed the state budget a year ago. 

Amber Meyer Smith of the group Clean Wisconsin. "Really, property owners are losing their ability to protect their property. More and more people … going to lose one more tool in their toolbox to protect their own access to water, for their wells, for drinking water, for access to their favorite lakes and rivers and streams."

A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos didn't respond to a request for comment, but has told other media that the new legal language protects the DNR by taking the judicial branch out of the permitting process. Some environmentalists haven't ruled out taking the new limits to court.  

Conservative Voters Fooled Again with Good Cop/Bad Cop Cop!! Water next Corporate Giveaway.

It's a big/little thing that will go unnoticed by low information conservative voters, like my friend in Milwaukee. GOP distractions highlighting Dr. Kermit Gosnell, Benghazi and the Zimmerman trial have turned my Republican friend off to the news. He barely pays attention to Scott Walker or any new legislation passed by his party. So...

Good Cop/Bad Cop: Ever wonder how passing bad laws rarely results in Republicans getting ousted from office? Check out this sad story of a Republican legislator “standing up for his constituents.”

WPR: Gov. Scott Walker didn't veto a measure in the new budget that makes it harder

for citizens to challenge high-capacity well permits. Rep. Scot Krug, R-Wisconsin Rapids, couldn't get the language stripped out of the budget, but was able to get the policy delayed for one year. 

Way to go Rep. Krug!! What a way to keep your seat all the while your party does what it wants to anyway. Anyone think big business will lose this one? By the way, property rights tea party activists and conservative voters are missing in action on this one too. So, leave it up to liberal conservation minded Wisconsinites to protect our God given right to water:

Nancy Koch, who's fighting the dairy operation planned for Saratoga, says "Big ag is very influential in the state of Wisconsin. It's the stripping of the rights away of the individual citizen. Personally I think it's pathetic. Our groundwater supply is not unlimited."

No longer hiding behind “dog whistle” phrases or backroom deals, the business lobby in the state is pretty clear who government is supposed to serve, and is serving under Walker:

Scott Manley, vice president of government relations for Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce, said in a column: "The Legislature was right to short circuit activist litigation aimed at shutting down economic growth and job creation in key sectors of our economy."

Be a good Republican and buy your water in six packs.