Do the right thing and appoint gubernatorial nominees

The problem may be complicated, but the solution seems simple. Republican lawmakers in Madison have resorted to dirty tricks to block Governor Tony Evers’ appointments to various state boards. Take the case of Fred Prehn, a member of the policy board of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Prehn was appointed by former Governor Scott Walker and his term was to end in May of 2021. But Prehn remains on the board after refusing to step down to make way for Evers’ pick to replace him, a woman named Sandra Naas. And the state Senate has refused to hold confirmation hearings for Prehn’s successor as a way to prevent Evers’ from appointing a democrat to the board. They have done the same thing for dozens and dozens of other gubernatorial appointees. The courts have essentially ruled that is ok, that a successor can’t be appointed until confirmation hearings are held. By blocking appointments, lawmakers may not be violating the letter of the law, but they are certainly violating its spirit. Then perhaps it is time for that law to be changed. Our state representatives should pass a law that says all gubernatorial appointees shall receive a confirmation hearing within a certain period of time, perhaps sixty or ninety days. That would mean no more preventing the Governor from exercising his agenda by resorting to dirty political tricks.