Green party denounces deregulation legislation

By Journal Times staff

Saturday, January 17, 2004 11:00 PM CST

RACINE - An overhaul of state regulations erodes the ability of the state to ensure that waterways and air quality will be adequately protected, the Wisconsin Green Party said this week.

The intent of the legislation, which recently passed the Assembly 84-14, is to attract businesses to the state.

"Some businesses have complained that the process for getting air and water permits was too long and too complicated, making Wisconsin less competitive for businesses from other states to want to settle here," said Pete Karas, a Racine alderman and Green Party activist. "Environmental excellence takes planning and commitment. There are no shortcuts. There does not need to be a choice between a healthy environment and a healthy economy."

The bill, Karas added, provides more benefit to the short range profits of developers than to Wisconsin workers. He said jobs in the state have already been diminished and degraded through NAFTA, the World Trade Organization, and other free trade agreements.

The Greens are critical of what they call the bipartisan maneuvering of Gov. Jim Doyle, Republicans, and many Democrats in the Legislature for discouraging sustainable business practices. However, they were laudatory toward Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, a Democrat, whose input they said other political leaders excluded.

On the web: www.wisconsingreenparty.org

The Green Party of the United States Web site: www.gp.org

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