Rep. Black picked to head natural resources panel
Assembly Speaker-Elect Mike Sheridan has appointed Rep. Spencer Black to serve as chairman of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources in the next legislative session.
Black, D-Madison, headed the committee for eight years from 1987 to 1994.
"When Representative Black previously chaired the Natural Resources Committee, Wisconsin enacted groundbreaking environmental legislation including the Stewardship Fund, the recycling law and measures to protect our drinking water," said Sheridan, D-Janesville.
"I am confident he will work to pass common sense conservation legislation that will benefit both our environment and our economy."
Black, an ardent environmentalist, said he is very excited about the opportunity to work on initiatives to protect the environment.
Two of his top priorities will be improving water quality in Wisconsin's lakes, rivers and streams and taking action to address global warming, Black said.
"My aim is to encourage a cooperative, bipartisan approach to conservation," he said. "During the eight years that I previously chaired this committee, we never had a party line vote in committee, even though we dealt with many challenging and controversial environmental issues."
"Wisconsin has a tradition of progressive action to protect our outdoors, and I plan to serve as chair with that proud legacy in mind."
File photo
Rep. Spencer Black
