Too strong? Consider the reaction to the decision by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle to end vehicle emissions testing for pre-1996 cars. What reaction? That’s the point. The Sierra Club, Citizens For A Better Environment, Wildlife Fund and all the other holier than thou earth-lovers haven’t offered a peep. Doyle, you see, is a Democrat and environmentalism has simply become a proxy for backing Democrats.

Doyle will continue to mandate emissions tests for all of us who have cars built in 1996 and after. In other words, we’ll be testing all the cars that pass. Those that would flunk don’t get tested. This would be like:

* giving Breathalyzer tests to the people driving perfectly while ignoring the guy weaving all over the road while throwing a bottle of Jack Daniels out the window;

* firing Phil Jackson and re-hiring Larry Krystkowiak;

* testing the flying skills of the stewardesses and not the pilots;

* requiring firearms testing for meter maids but not street cops.

Wisconsin will continue to mandate emissions tests for all of the cars other than the ones that need them. That the environmental community is OK with this loony misprioritization of public resources is revealing about its true lack of commitment to the planet and its compulsive allegiance to anything Democrat.

* * *

Speaking of Democrat idiots, Wisconsin’s utterly unqualified state treasurer is choosing someone even less qualified than herself to run the state’s 529 college investment program. Treasurer Dawn Sass, who was a bookkeeper for her father’s business before being chosen to handle the finances of the entire state, rejected job applications from the 529 program’s veteran deputy director along with bids by tax planners and financial analysts.

Instead, Sass has hired a 32-year-old political gofer named Megan Perkins. Prior to working for Sass and being chosen to run the multimillion-dollar investment program that provides tax breaks to parents saving for college education, Perkins was a projects coordinator for Jessica Doyle. Not Jim Doyle. Jessica Doyle. The first lady.

Wisconsin now has a bookkeeper running its financial department and an envelope-stuffer managing its college investment program. I’m sure this is how they do the hiring at Northwestern Mutual and Fidelity Investments.

* * *

The reason Les Paul is working with a group to do a major project at Discovery World in Milwaukee is because the guitar pioneer is convinced plans to build a Les Paul museum in Waukesha are going nowhere. Indeed, the Waukesha project is a joke. The local historical society recently canned the woman who was in charge of fundraising because no funds were being raised. The group is in over its head.

Les Paul is 92 years old. If he waited until the Waukesha group found enough sugar daddies to pony up $3 million, he’d have to live to be 127. Les did the math.

* * *

It will be a big mistake for suburban Republicans if they agree to combine the proposed Great Lakes Water Compact ratification in the same bill as the one that will address the state’s budget shortfall. They’re considering it because they want to force foot-draggers on both issues to have to pass the compact or sit in Madison all summer debating the budget.

Here’s the problem. Jim Doyle’s a snake. Wisconsin law allows governors to use line-item vetoes on bills pertaining to the budget. If the water compact is included in the budget repair bill, Doyle will be able to veto out all the protections negotiated to protect the rights of Waukesha County communities who send wastewater to Lake Michigan but aren’t allowed to use the lake for drinking.

Republicans say they will get assurances from Doyle that he won’t tamper with the carefully negotiated compromise. Ha! Are they nuts? Expecting Doyle to not abuse power is like expecting a crack addict to switch to Pepsi.

* * *

Top state Republicans are flatly denying my column which said some of them are encouraging Tommy Thompson to run for governor in 2010. Maybe they’re telling the truth. Maybe not. But until Thompson flatly rules out a comeback, without hedging or wiggle words, it will harm Scott Walker’s attempts to raise money. My own theory: Some establishment Republicans who don’t support Walker are trying to do anything to slow down Walker’s cakewalk to the Republican nomination. As great as Thompson was, a lot of the GOP-ers he brought to power are political lightweights threatened by real Republican leadership. I suspect their throwing around of Thompson’s name is really an attempt to slow the Walker train down to give them time to rehabilitate the image of the guy they really support, incompetent Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

(Mark Belling is the host of a daily WISN radio talk show. His column runs Wednesdays in The Freeman.)