In the discussion stage, but on the horizon

On the campaign trail, Gov. Scott Walker promised to "create Governor Advisory Groups consisting of everyday sportsmen, conservationists, business owners and rank-and-file DNR employees to advise me on new and existing regulations and practices."

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Bill Cosh referred our question to the governor's office. Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said in an email that there had been no action taken to create the advisory groups.

"We"re working on it,” he said.

Cosh noted a news release issued by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress that says the group plans a new format for its annual meetings, which will take place April 9, 2012 in all 72 Wisconsin counties. The WCC advises the DNR on fish and game rules.

The new format calls for a "town hall” portion of the meeting where citizens will be asked to "bring their ideas for regulation simplification and areas of conservation concern,” Conservation Congress Chairman Rob Bohmann said in a the release.  

"This year the WCC will still have advisory questions for citizen input and will take resolutions from citizens, but we are encouraging other user groups and conservation-minded individuals to come and engage in a county level conversation about issues facing Wisconsin"s natural resources,” he wrote.

The conservation congress isn"t a new group. The organization is 77 years old -- one of the oldest groups of it's kind in the country. Former Democratic Gov. Patrick Lucey in 1972 signed legislation that formalized the group's role as a liaison between citizens, the Natural Resources Board and the DNR.

For now, we'll move that promise to In the Works.