Madison, Wis. – Today the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance unanimously approved a motion authored by Senator Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood) to continue operations at the Brule State Fish Hatchery in response to the Department of Natural Resources’ proposed cuts to walleye, musky, and trout stocking. Quinn released the following statement:
“The DNR’s artificial deadline to cease fish stocking in a matter of two weeks was preposterous. In the most recent budget, the legislature did not cut funding to the Fish and Wildlife account and the DNR was authorized the same spending authority as last year. The fact that the department waited nine months after the budget passed before making this request is completely absurd.
With my motion before the finance committee today, we have ensured that the department has all the resources it needs to restore stocking and lift its “Do Not Resuscitate” order on the Brule Hatchery. It was never a lack of funding on the DNR’s part; it’s a lack of planning and leadership. The money must be used to restore the cuts to stocking.
Today we sent a clear message to the DNR: the anglers in this state can rest assured knowing that the majority party in the legislature has their back. The department has the cash balances to continue stocking fish, and they have no excuse not to do so.”
