Majority Republicans in the state Senate are firing the state’s agriculture secretary.
Secretary Brad Pfaff was appointed by Governor Evers in January. Evers watched the vote from the floor of the Senate, and it’s highly unusual for a governor to do that.
Republican lawmakers blame Pfaff for working on possible rules for farmers to reduce the smell of manure for neighbors. Pfaff also criticized Republicans for delaying funding for counseling for farmers to prevent suicide.
Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay says he hasn’t seen any evidence that disqualifies Pfaff from serving. He believes the move is another attempt to attack Evers and try to score political points with the GOP’s base.
The Senate hasn’t voted to dump a Governor’s cabinet appointee since at least 1987. That’s the farthest back the Legislative Reference Bureau has records.
