Happy Earth Day! Scott Walker informs 57 environmental employees that they're about to lose their jobs

Worst. Earth Day card. Ever.

Published April 22, 2015 8:53PM (EDT)

Scott Walker                           (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Scott Walker (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

How did you celebrate Earth Day this year? Plant a tree? Partake in some dirt pie? Inform 57 environmental workers that you're probably going to lay them off?

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker opted for the latter, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. Dozens of employees of the state Department of Natural Resources -- the one responsible for managing "fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment" -- received formal notices Wednesday that their jobs likely aren't going to make the cut in Walker's budget for the next two years.

Because some positions aren't currently filled, the cumulative effect of the budget will be to cut 66 positions, about a quarter of which consist of the "researchers, analysts and other critical thinkers" the Bureau of Science Services, who conduct the science upon which the DNR's management decisions are based.

The move is but another feather is Walker's anti-environmental cap, along with other extremely questionable moves such as appointing a very out of touch climate denier to the state Public Service Commission, putting up regulatory barriers to wind energy development and, in another budget cut, taking away the DNR's funding for the removal of roadside deer carcasses. But man, does this guy know how to time a sure to be unpopular announcement.


By Lindsay Abrams

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Earth Day Scott Walker Wisconsin