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02-13-2009, 10:52 AM
NWCSC Alert: *Serious Legislative Threat to Sportsmen. The Governor's Bill No. 6371, An Act Concerning Funding for The Department of Environmental Protection poses the most significant threat to Sportsmen's interests in a decade. The Bill, as written will transfer all fiscal and program management authority from DEP to the Executive and Legislative branches of government.
The bill; as I have downloaded it, is 85 pages in length and difficult to interpret and understand. It will take some time to realize the full implications of this bill if enacted as is. Rather than attempt to comment on all aspects of the bill, I want to give sportsmen and women some key features of the bill to focus on when they talk to the Governor’s Office and their Legislators. Key provisions of the bill include the elimination of the heretofore dedicated Environmental Conservation Fund. This is the fund that receives all of your license, permit, boating, park fees etc, etc., used to fund DEP operations and programs. The governor’s Bill will transfer all of these fees to the General Fund and force DEP to submit annual budget requests for programs and operations to the Executive Branch of Government, with oversight and approval required by the Legislative Branch. If enacted as is, there will no longer be strong representation of sportsmen’s interest in determining what programs and operations will be funded. Political patronage and lobbyists representing every conceivable environmental agenda will be put into play. *Sportsmen will have no voice in determining how their money is spent. The NWCSC rejects the proposal to eliminate the Environmental Conservation Fund and the corresponding transfer of all Conservation Funds to the General Fund. The bill also provides for a doubling of all sport licenses and permits; in some cases even more than doubling. The fee increases also extend to boating registrations, park fees, field trials, you name it, the list goes on. We had a fee increase just 5 years ago. We all know that DEP has never been adequately funded by the State of CT; but this increase is totally ludicrous and represents nothing less than a luxury tax on our sporting heritage. It must be understood that these provisions were not requested by DEP, they come directly from the Governor’s Office and OPM. The bureaucrats who wrote this proposal have no idea, nor do they care about how many sportsmen will opt out of some or all CT sporting activities. The 40% increase in license and permit fees 5 years ago resulted in a 5 to 8% reduction in license sales. The proposed 100% increase will result in much greater losses to the sporting community. The NWCSC rejects all proposals for license and fee increases that are not the result of DEP recommendations in consultation with the sporting community. *
The Governor’s Bill also eliminates the DEP Pheasant Program. DEP did not request elimination of this program. The Pheasant Program is entirely funded by pheasant hunters in CT. There are no State funds used to support the program. Therefore; there is no rational or financial reason to eliminate the program. In fact, elimination of the pheasant program will result in a further diminishing of license and permit sales. NWCSC rejects any proposal to eliminate the CT DEP Pheasant Program.
There is much more that could be said; but for now, we need action while this bill is just a proposal. Sportsmen must make their concerns known. Please start by calling and/or writing the Governor’s Office, (800 406-1527) and ask that this bill be recalled. We all know that the State is facing major fiscal problems. If the Governor needs Agency cutbacks, we want her to give DEP a targeted percentage reduction and let DEP decide what should be cut.*We do not want sportsmen’s funds to go to the General Fund. Period!
*We want the Environmental Conservation Fund restored with DEP management of the fund.
*We want the Pheasant Program restored.
*We reject all license and fee increases that are not proposed by DEP.
Feel free to add your own comments and observations. Be polite and respectful, but don’t be afraid to point out the impact this bill will have on your culture and heritage. We are fighting for our very survival in this battle. Please don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Numbers are what counts to politicians and they better hear from us loud and clear.
Regards Chris Marino
*Secretary: NWCSC*
The bill; as I have downloaded it, is 85 pages in length and difficult to interpret and understand. It will take some time to realize the full implications of this bill if enacted as is. Rather than attempt to comment on all aspects of the bill, I want to give sportsmen and women some key features of the bill to focus on when they talk to the Governor’s Office and their Legislators. Key provisions of the bill include the elimination of the heretofore dedicated Environmental Conservation Fund. This is the fund that receives all of your license, permit, boating, park fees etc, etc., used to fund DEP operations and programs. The governor’s Bill will transfer all of these fees to the General Fund and force DEP to submit annual budget requests for programs and operations to the Executive Branch of Government, with oversight and approval required by the Legislative Branch. If enacted as is, there will no longer be strong representation of sportsmen’s interest in determining what programs and operations will be funded. Political patronage and lobbyists representing every conceivable environmental agenda will be put into play. *Sportsmen will have no voice in determining how their money is spent. The NWCSC rejects the proposal to eliminate the Environmental Conservation Fund and the corresponding transfer of all Conservation Funds to the General Fund. The bill also provides for a doubling of all sport licenses and permits; in some cases even more than doubling. The fee increases also extend to boating registrations, park fees, field trials, you name it, the list goes on. We had a fee increase just 5 years ago. We all know that DEP has never been adequately funded by the State of CT; but this increase is totally ludicrous and represents nothing less than a luxury tax on our sporting heritage. It must be understood that these provisions were not requested by DEP, they come directly from the Governor’s Office and OPM. The bureaucrats who wrote this proposal have no idea, nor do they care about how many sportsmen will opt out of some or all CT sporting activities. The 40% increase in license and permit fees 5 years ago resulted in a 5 to 8% reduction in license sales. The proposed 100% increase will result in much greater losses to the sporting community. The NWCSC rejects all proposals for license and fee increases that are not the result of DEP recommendations in consultation with the sporting community. *
The Governor’s Bill also eliminates the DEP Pheasant Program. DEP did not request elimination of this program. The Pheasant Program is entirely funded by pheasant hunters in CT. There are no State funds used to support the program. Therefore; there is no rational or financial reason to eliminate the program. In fact, elimination of the pheasant program will result in a further diminishing of license and permit sales. NWCSC rejects any proposal to eliminate the CT DEP Pheasant Program.
There is much more that could be said; but for now, we need action while this bill is just a proposal. Sportsmen must make their concerns known. Please start by calling and/or writing the Governor’s Office, (800 406-1527) and ask that this bill be recalled. We all know that the State is facing major fiscal problems. If the Governor needs Agency cutbacks, we want her to give DEP a targeted percentage reduction and let DEP decide what should be cut.*We do not want sportsmen’s funds to go to the General Fund. Period!
*We want the Environmental Conservation Fund restored with DEP management of the fund.
*We want the Pheasant Program restored.
*We reject all license and fee increases that are not proposed by DEP.
Feel free to add your own comments and observations. Be polite and respectful, but don’t be afraid to point out the impact this bill will have on your culture and heritage. We are fighting for our very survival in this battle. Please don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Numbers are what counts to politicians and they better hear from us loud and clear.
Regards Chris Marino
*Secretary: NWCSC*