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Author Topic: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???  (Read 4954 times)

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TimM

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Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« on: March 06, 2008, 10:40:50 PM »


Anyone familiar with this topic or have any insight on the matter? BD?

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_123406.asp

Steve H

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2008, 08:28:03 AM »
Time to start contacting our reps.
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Mike Hill

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2008, 10:54:52 AM »
If I could find out more of who signed onto the bill a more intelligent answer could be had.  But it appears to be another thinly-veiled attempt by the treehuggers, green movement, anti-gunners, PETA, or whoever of the same ilk.  Just look at where they want to put the responsibility - under the Dept. of Environment and Conservation.  Boy they will do a much better job won't they.  The movement is likely fueled by those that are inflamed that we have the audacity to catch fish and harvest animals.  The two key parts of these attacks over the years are to put it into the Dept of E & C, so it is no longer sportsmen or wildlife managers that control the pot, but bureaucratic environmentalists.  And if you look at the bill, you will likely see that they also want to change funding from license fees, to getting the funding from the State's general funding.  They usually don't want license fees to be abolished, they usually want them to go into the general fund.  Reason for this is that when the funding is from the general fund, there is no longer any allegiance to sportsmen. 

I believe Sherry Jones was the sponsor of this bill.  Lets see, she's liked by the guerillagirls, but not by the NRA.  We can't call her a flaming liberal, but she ain't no Dixiecrat or Boll Weevil Democrat. 

So, if you think this bill is anything about reinventing how the TWRA is run you may be dumber that Ms. Jones - who was voted by the Nashville Scene in the mid-90's as one of the 10 worst Nashville Councilpersons.  If you were trying to correct problems you don't divide, conquer and destroy, you tweak. 

So, yes it is time to contact your reps. 

TimM

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2008, 11:41:22 AM »
And if you look at the bill, you will likely see that they also want to change funding from license fees, to getting the funding from the State's general funding.  They usually don't want license fees to be abolished, they usually want them to go into the general fund. 

That was the first thing that jumped out at me about this bill....they do in fact want the license fees to go to the general fund.

 ::) :-\ >:(

bd

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2008, 06:03:52 PM »
If I could find out more of who signed onto the bill a more intelligent answer could be had.  But it appears to be another thinly-veiled attempt by the treehuggers, green movement, anti-gunners, PETA, or whoever of the same ilk. 

This bill is not being pushed by "treehuggers and PETA."  It is being pushed by the commercial fishing lobby. 

They want to kill TWRA to get revenge for regs that have kept commercial fishers from raping and pillaging Tennessee's trophy catfish and paddlefish.  The trophy catfish were being caught by the hundreds and sold to pay lakes.  The paddlefish were being wiped out by the paddlefish caviar trade.  TWRA passed a trophy reg to protect the catfish and refused to open new water to paddlefish harvest.

Sportsmen have successfully argued for years that they subsidize commercial fishermen because our license dollars overwhelmingly pay for the resources that the commercial fishers plunder - they don't pay in enough for their licenses to pay their own way.

If the commercial fishers can divert license dollars to the general fund, they can conceal the fact that they are subsidized by our fishing license dollars, and they can also hamper the state's ability to regulate commercial fish harvests (less funding = less management and less enforcement).

It is really sickening to me - these legislators would put our wildlife resources on the chopping block to line a few peoples' pockets.  Every sponsor of this bill needs to hear from sportsmen loud and clear.

We need to remind them that although recreational fishermen may not hire lobbyists like commercial fishermen, there are a lot more of us, and we vote.

bd

Steve H

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2008, 07:18:33 PM »
bd, do you have the time to craft a letter we can all use?

I can take a stab at it if you want.
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Jon

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Bill to abolish TWRA needs to be stopped
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2008, 11:57:37 PM »
I don't post much on here but this is something that we need to get involved with as people who hunt and fish in our great state.  Read below to get the facts. Get on the phone, email or write your representatives. Call your fishing buddy and get them to do the same.

Legislator Seeks to Abolish TWRA Legislator Seeks to Abolish TWRA Take
Action!

Your action is needed!
 
Representative Sherry Jones (D-Nashville) has been working to recruit
co-sponsors for her HB2856 that would abolish TWRA, move it underneath
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and place all
of sportsmen's dollars in the state general fund.

HB2856 also will result in TWRA losing millions in federal funds that
come as a result of Pittman-Robertson and Wallop-Breaux federal laws. It
would simply destroy the TWRA and system of wildlife management that
has led to the recovery of wild turkey, deer, waterfowl and many other
species over the past 60 years.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is strongly opposed to this
legislation and asks that you call and or e-mail your elected officials to ask
them to request that Rep. Jones withdraw the bill.

This bill, while ill-conceived in concept, is poorly written - as
evidenced by Section 7 where is refers to the state Department of Education
- for what reason, we have no idea.

Even more troublesome is that Rep. Jones has recruited the following
co-sponsors:

Representatives  Jones, Borchert, Tidwell, Pinion, Shepard, Litz,
Yokley, West, Lundberg, Pruitt, Niceley, Brooks H, Johnson C, Sontany, and
Coleman.

Several of these co-sponsors have led the charge against TWRA in
support of commercial fishermen (80-100 individuals) over the interests of
sports fishermen (800,000 individuals). In contrast some of these elected
officials are just unaware as to what they have signed onto - possibly
thinking that it might prove helpful during an election year.

Help TWF send a strong message to these and all the other elected
representatives in the State House that they need to leave our wildlife
agency alone, unless we as sportsmen ask for their assistance.

Tell your friends to Join the Camouflage and Casting Coalition so that
the voice of sportsmen and women across Tennessee grows stronger
everyday. Go to http://capwiz.com/tnwf/mlm/signup/ to join today - its free

MikeA

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2008, 10:19:13 AM »
Thanks Jon!
There is not much collective security in a flock of sheep on the way to the butcher.

Steve H

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2008, 10:32:53 AM »
Jon, excellent information.

Here is a link so that you can find your Representative.

Tennessee House of Representatives
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Steve H

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2008, 12:22:53 PM »
Sent a note to my rep. Will let you know what I hear.
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jkilday4

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2008, 08:09:42 AM »
bd that's a very interesting (albeit disturbing) angle you share - first I've heard of that.  'Fishy' politics makes for strange bedfellows!

flyfishtn - that is a very user-friendly link - here's one for TN Senate as well:

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/senate/members/smembers.htm

-----------

Similar thread at another board (fly-fishing) for your cross-reference:
 
http://tnrockyraccoon.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display &thread=1205336589

-----------
 
and one of the replies that ends with some encouraging news from my house rep, David Hawk(R):
 

> From: John Kilday [mailto:kilday4@comcast.net]
> Sent: Sun 3/16/2008 4:49 PM
> To: David Hawk
> Subject: Sherry Jones' bill designed to abolish TWRA
>
>
> Hi David - I have been following this issue via several fishing bulletin
> boards. Some of the points against are very compelling; following is one
> such for your consideration.
>
> ---------------------
> ---------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: McFall, Chad F [mailto:CMcFall@hubank.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 2:12 PM
> To: Raymond Finney
> Cc: Richard Montgomery
> Subject: Bill to abolish TWRA
>
> Mr. Finney,
>
> Below you find the email I sent to Ms. Sherry Jones the sponsor of the
> bill that seeks to abolish the TWRA. As you can read from my comments, I
> feel very strongly about this issue as due many of the voters in this
> district. I trust you will do the right thing and oppose this legislation.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Chad F. McFall
>
>
>
> Ms. Jones,
>
> Abolishing the TWRA and pulling their current revenue stream into the
> state's general fund would be a huge mistake. They may not have the
> oversight you wish them to have, but they also don't have the bureaucratic
> shackles most state agencies have. I respect your intentions of protecting
> the public good, but your bill will do irreparable harm to our natural
> resources. Our current system works well and you are not respecting the
> trusted old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Fishing and
> hunting have never been better in my area and Tennessee is seen as a
> destination point for many sportsman. Abolishing TWRA would stifle that
> trend and exclude us from millions in federal funds. You said it best in
> yourself "this bill has nothing to do with sportsmen". I don't know where
> you get your motivation, but I question your reasoning with regards to
> this bill. If this bill is just political pandering in an election year
> you should be ashamed of yourself and the disservice you are doing to the
> state and to your constituents. Wildlife in our fair state is under enough
> stress with
> serious drought, shrinking habitat, and global warming without undo
> meddling from Nashville. With the vestiges of Tenncare in shambles, and an
> education system that ranks near the bottom nationally, state lawmakers
> have more than enough to keep them busy without messing with TWRA.
>
> I will send a copy of this to my local representative as well.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Chad F. McFall
>
> ------
>
> Senator Finney replied to my email and said he would not support the bill.
> Below is his reply and the email I sent the bill's sponsor.
>
> Mr. Finney wrote:
>
> Thank you for informing me about this bill.
>
> I will not support such a bill.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> State Senator Raymond Finney
>
> ---------------------------
> ---------------------------
>
> Can you tell me anything about her motivation and your stance?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> John Kilday IV
 
--------------------------------------------------
From: "David Hawk" <rep.david.hawk@legislature.state.tn.us>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:32 PM
To: "John Kilday" <kilday4@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: Sherry Jones' bill designed to abolish TWRA
 
 
> Hello, I hope you are well. I strongly oppose this legislation as well.
> Thankfully, I serve on the House Conservation and Environment Committee
> and will be able to "kill" this legislation before it gets any steam.
> Please let others know that we are working hard to stop this effort.
>
> David Hawk
>
> ________________________________
>

Leo deMonbreun

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2008, 04:23:04 PM »
a little note from our Rep.

From:       
"Ben West Jr" <rep.ben.west@legislature.state.tn.us>              Save Address              Reminder       
To:       "Leo deMonbreun" <dleo6446@bellsouth.net>
Subject:       RE: Legislator Seeks to Abolish TWRA
Date:       Tuesday, March 18, 2008 2:55:29 PM   [View Source]    
   


Dear Leo,
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the TWRA bill that has been
introduced in the State Legislature.  After re-reading the bill,
regarding its intent, I have framed several questions that remain
unanswered.  Therefore, I signed the necessary form to have my name
removed as a co-prime sponsor last week.
Please keep in touch.
Best West , Jr.
State Representative for the Communities of Donelson, Hermitage and
Antioch 
 
"For the supreme test of a fisherman is not how many fish he has caught, not even how he has caught them, but what he has caught when he has caught no fish." - John H. Bradley

Steve H

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2008, 04:27:39 PM »
My rep emailed me today as well and she has removed her name.

Looks a little more positive.
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grumpy

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2008, 10:08:01 PM »
haven't heard from mine, guess i'll have to catch him feeding his cattle :-\

Grumpy

Curtis Martin

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Re: Legislator moves to abolish the TWRA???
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2008, 10:17:47 PM »
McDaddy, aka Chad, is a great guy that will back up what he says he will do. I commend him and everyone else that will stand up for a good cause and not just talk about it.

My rep chose not to seek re-election after being in since the early 70's. I'm not gonna miss him.

Now I am still waiting to hear from Mae, but I hope she will be down to earth on this one. I hope!