Issue Position: Natural Resources and Tourism

Issue Position

As a former river boat excursion tour operator, I know from first-hand experience how important our natural resources are to the tourism industry here in the 12th Senate District. A 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey showed that Wisconsin's resident anglers and hunters spent an annual total of $3 billion with an overall economic impact of $5 billion to the state's economy. Hunting and fishing are more than just an industry to our state; they are a very proud tradition. I believe it is important that we hold state agencies like the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) accountable for the management of our fish and wildlife, and maintain our strong hunting and fishing traditions.

I also believe that it is equally important that we utilize our natural resources in a safe, responsible and effective manner to benefit our state's economy as well. The forest products industry in our state is facing many challenges ranging from high state and federal regulatory costs to declines in home building and paper consumption. Mills that produce wood for flooring and other products have seen their raw material costs escalate, putting them at a competitive disadvantage. Working with the Wisconsin DNR to ease wood procurement regulations on this industry has and will continue to be a front burner issue for me. Wisconsin is home to over one million acres of federal forestland and I will continue to work with our federal representatives to increase harvesting on those lands as well.

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