$30 million loan from the CA F&G Preservation Fund????

[spectr17]

Letter to Sacramento Bee

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Trade loan for lower fees (1/14/09)

Buried in the just-released 2009-10 governor's budget, there is a $30
million loan from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund to the general fund.
This is equivalent to one-third of all the revenues the fish and game fund
annually receives from hunting and fishing license fees, money that
California Department of Fish and Game is supposed to use for management and
protection of fish and wildlife (i.e., wardens, fish hatchery operations,
endangered species, etc.). However, there are no details about these program
impacts, or if or when the loan will be repaid.

This year, the cost of a resident fishing license is over $40, up from
$38.85 in 2008, which was already the most expensive in the United States.

If the Legislature is going to approve this $30 million loan, it should
immediately cut license fees or at least suspend further inflation increases
in license fees until the loan is repaid. Otherwise, anglers and hunters
will be continually paying more and getting less. Combine that with the new
hatchery fish planting cutbacks, it should come as no surprise if fewer
Californians buy fishing and hunting and licenses in 2009.

- Jeff Shellito, Sacramento[/b]

 

[Speckmisser]

Now that just pisses me off. Dead serious.

 

[easymoney]

Now that just pisses me off as well...

 

[559hog]

Wow, talk about rape . I remember just 5 years ago a fishing license was 28.50, now over 40??? I won't be doing any fishing this year.

 

[ltdann]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spectr17 @ Jan 15 2009, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Letter to Sacramento Bee

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

Trade loan for lower fees (1/14/09)

Buried in the just-released 2009-10 governor's budget, there is a $30
million loan from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund to the general fund.
This is equivalent to one-third of all the revenues the fish and game fund
annually receives from hunting and fishing license fees, money that
California Department of Fish and Game is supposed to use for management and
protection of fish and wildlife (i.e., wardens, fish hatchery operations,
endangered species, etc.). However, there are no details about these program
impacts, or if or when the loan will be repaid.

This year, the cost of a resident fishing license is over $40, up from
$38.85 in 2008, which was already the most expensive in the United States.

If the Legislature is going to approve this $30 million loan, it should
immediately cut license fees or at least suspend further inflation increases
in license fees until the loan is repaid. Otherwise, anglers and hunters
will be continually paying more and getting less. Combine that with the new
hatchery fish planting cutbacks, it should come as no surprise if fewer
Californians buy fishing and hunting and licenses in 2009.

- Jeff Shellito, Sacramento[/b]

[/b][/quote]

You know, I looked for that in the budget after I read this. Didn't find it. I'd like to point out line and verse before I blast my congressman. Anybody verify this is in fact true? The letter was in the Sac Bee in the letter to the editor section, if I recall.

 

[Huntr Pat]

We still haven't got a Salmon season so whats the rush to get a fishing license. I pay $5 for a fishing lic and have to pay full bore for the wife's fishing lic. Our water levels in the lakes and rivers dont have any water for the fish to swim in anyways. It ridiculous.

 

[Valley Hunter]

This is getting STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frenimy]

Has anyone confirmed this or know where to start and I will try to confirm it before I send nasty grams to the congress man

 

[sidepass]

WTF have I been buying an extra Duck Stamp for ? Didn't fish for Salmon but bought a license to support the cause. I too am pissed off. Standing by to fire off letters to our representatives . Californias buget problems shouldn't be at the expense of our wildlife programs.


sidepass

 

[spectr17]

COHA Field Wire

http://www.outdoorheritage.org

January 16, 2009 No. 2008-23

Governor's Proposed Budget Fix Targets Conservation Programs

In an attempt to plug budget holes, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to "borrow" $30 million dollars from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund - the account where hunting and fishing license fees, all bear tag monies, a significant portion of deer tag funds, and many other hunter/angler generated revenues are deposited. This proposal would not only facilitate the further misuse of hunter and angler dollars at the state level, but would undermine the Department of Fish and Game's ability to carry out its wildlife conservation mandates - including providing adequate enforcement in the field. While the proposal would require that the loan be repaid by 2013, it is unclear exactly how this would be accomplished.

The Governor is also proposing to eliminate state funding for the Williamson Act; a program that currently protects 16.4 million acres of farm ground - including wildlife-friendly agricultural lands such as flooded rice and corn fields leased for hunting - from conversion to non-agricultural uses. The 42-year-old program gives farmers a tax break in return for them agreeing to not develop their property, typically for a 10 year period. The state funding targeted for elimination consists of subventions to local counties to reimburse them for lost tax revenue. Without the state subventions, most counties would simply not participate in what has proven one of California's most successful land conservation programs.

California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) will actively work both of these issues at the State Capitol over the coming weeks to protect these critical funding streams from being ripped off for unrelated uses. COHA also urges hunters, anglers and other conservationists to contact their Senator and Assembly Member to ask that these proposals be soundly rejected due to their negative impacts on habitat protection, wildlife and fishery conservation efforts, and hunting and fishing opportunity.

To find your Legislator, go to http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html

 

[NikolaKangrga]

Man do I want to move out of this state. Hmm.... I guess oregon would not be too far away yet good hunting/fishing....

 

[DiamondHunter]

Why don't we just start impeaching people until we get our point across. Political leaders cried out when we impeached Gray Davis. They said that it would open the door for more of this and it would WASTE taxpayers dollars! Hmmm.... WASTING taxpayers dollars? Unheard of! Put the power back in the people's hands so our leaders can be held accountable for this nonsense. If we don't do our job.. We get fired! What's good for the goose!

 

[MikenSoCo]

Between the lack of Game Wardens and now this? Our monies pillaged to pay for the great give-away? I predict a HUGE increase in poaching activities.

 

[easymoney]

The idiosy of this is profound...
Why not cut the social welare programs that are the real problem and bleeding our budget dry ?
This is like being asked to conserve and when we all do, they want to raise fees because the amount we use is less... Doh...

 

[Kentuck]

didn't Illinois just get threatened by the Feds to withhold Pitman-Robertson(???) funds for taking money out of their DFG budget for their General Fund? Seems to me this loan would be illegal.

 

[Speckmisser]

Funny timing, Kentuck... although it's not a funny issue.

I just spoke with the guys from the FWS about this, and if this loan takes money that includes the FWS habitat grants (from P-R), the state will effectively be taking a loan from the FWS, and may very well lose these federal funds in the future... or until the loan is repaid.

If no federal monies are included in that fund (I haven't researched this, so I don't know), then there is no federal risk.

I've said it a million times... CA Hunters need to step up and speak up for themselves here. COHA is a great organization and they should have our support, but don't sit back and hope they will do it all for you.

 

[muddy_udders]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=content-left>Good news :smiley_yahoo:

California Sportsmen Block Wildlife Fund Raid


2/25/09

California sportsmen have beaten back an attempt to steal as much as $60 million in conservation funding. The lessons of the victory should be recognized nationwide as other states grapple with budget challenges.
As previously reported, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had proposed “borrowing” $30 million from the state Fish and Game Preservation Fund to plug budget shortfalls elsewhere. The dollars are generated by fees paid by hunters, anglers, and trappers and are to be directed to conservation and wildlife management.
Though Gov. Schwarzenegger promised to pay the money back over time, there were concerns that would not happen. Additionally, the loss of the money would today severely damage state conservation and wildlife management programs.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and other groups, including the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, joined forces to defeat the raid. Through a grassroots effort, awareness was raised among sportsmen, who convinced members of the legislature to leave sportsmen’s money alone.
Particularly helpful in making the case was a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The letter made clear that California stood to lose an additional $30 million in matching federal funds if the diversion took place.
The USSA is monitoring developments in other states. Should similar efforts be attempted, the USSA will coordinate responses to prevent those dollars from being taken.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

 

[hatchet1]

god bless california!!! 14 years to go, lord give me strength!!!