The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign issued a report showing opponents of a bill to hold off political pressure to the state Department of Natural Resources have donated significantly more to Gov. Jim Doyle than those in favor of returning control of the agency to a citizen board.

More than $4 million has been donated to Doyle by opponents of Assembly Bill 138 and Senate Bill 113, while only $17,175 has been donated by supporters since 2003. Meaning for ever dollar donated by supporters, opponents have donated $241.

Opponents of the bill include construction, real estate, business, manufacturers and distributors, energy, natural resources, road construction and agriculture special interest groups. The Operating Engineers Local 139 and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin are also opponents of the bill.

Supporters of the bill include the Citizen’s Utility Board, the American Federation of Teachers - WI, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 24 and the Environmental Policy.

He originally opposed making the DNR a cabinet agency under the control of then-Governor Tommy Thompson when Doyle was the state’s attorney. He announced in March that he had changed his position.

Supporters of the bill say it would make sure all environmental policies are based on science and not by politics, while opponents say a governor-appointed DNR secretary is more credible and the governor is more responsible to the public than an unelected citizen board.