May 18, 2002 Capital Times (Madison, WI)Gov. Scott McCallum could not make it to Mount Horeb for the hearing where 2,000 area residents discussed how to tackle chronic wasting disease in the state's deer herd. But he did find time to fly to Washington, D.C., and testify before a congressional committee that is examining the issue. Unfortunately, the governor's testimony was so inept that he may actually have set back the state's chances for getting the federal aid and support that is needed to answer a challenge that Wisconsin officials will only be able to meet with outside assistance. McCallum visited Washington to ask for money -- $18 million in aid over the next four years. While that is a ridiculously small sum considering the state's needs, he was at least pointed in the right direction.
Sadly, McCallum knew so little about the issues he was addressing that he immediately embarrassed himself and undermined Wisconsin's prospects for being treated as a serious partner in the fight against chronic wasting disease.
U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., one of the House's most respected experts on environmental and scientific issues, began asking informed and important questions about Wisconsin's handling of the crisis. Inslee expressed concern that McCallum's agriculture secretary had been slow to respond to warnings that animals shipped from Western game farms had been exposed to chronic wasting disease and could expose Wisconsin deer to the disease.
McCallum shot back: "Your information is incorrect." McCallum was, of course, wrong. And Inslee and other committee members knew it. They were in possession of articles and other information detailing the inept and irresponsible approach of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection -- including expressions of concern regarding this precise issue from former state Department of Natural Resources Secretary George Meyer.
In Washington, McCallum came across as a politician trying to grandstand before the next election rather than a serious and informed official ready to work with federal officials on a critical issue. Let's just hope that Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, and Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, who have taken a lead on matters concerning chronic wasting disease, will be able to undo the damage done by our not-quite-ready-for-prime-time governor.
Home | News | Organics | GE
Food | Health | Environment | Food
Safety | Fair
Trade | Peace | Farm
Issues | Politics
Forum | Español | Campaigns | Buying
Guide | Press | Search | Volunteer | Donate | About Us | Contact
Us | Email
This Page
Organic Consumers Association - 6771
South Silver Hill Drive, Finland MN 55603
E-mail: Staff · Activist or Media
Inquiries: 218-226-4164 · Fax: 218-353-7652
Please support our work. Send
a tax-deductible donation to the OCA
Fair Use Notice: The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of scientific, environmental, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal or technical advice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
