WILDLIFE ALERT - VETO AB 396, NOW ON GOVERNOR'S DESK

[Guest guest]

Here is more information that explains the previous email that Eric sent.

Thought this might be helpful for those of you that don't track legislation

as closely. There is contact info (fax/email/phone) at the bottom.

 

 

eric [afa]

Saturday, September 13, 2003 9:02 AM

WILDLIFE ALERT - VETO AB 396, NOW ON GOVERNOR'S DESK

 

 

AB 396, by Assemblyman Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), is on the

Governor's desk awaiting his signature. LETTERS/CALLS ARE NEEDED NOW

ASKING FOR A VETO. THE BILL IS SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF SPORTSMEN'S

GROUPS, AND WOULD OPEN UP THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PRIVATE LANDS TO SPORT

HUNTING, ITS MAIN GOAL. Not surprisingly, the State Fish & Game

Commission also supports the bill. (The same folks who recently

narrowly approved the continued use of the unethical " roboduck " duck

decoy, despite overwhelming opposition from the DFG, most duck hunters,

and the general public. All five commissioners are appointed by the

Governor.)

 

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has written a letter of

opposition to AB 396, stating (in part):

 

" This bill would provide financial incentives to private landowners who

open up their property for wildlifie-dependent recreation and would

require the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to manage and enforce the

incentive program.

 

While we generally support incentives for private landowners to maintain

their lands as open, undeveloped space because of the resulting public

benefits, we must oppose this bill because it would further strain

scarce resources at the DFG. The state is experiencing a shortage of

Fish and Game wardens to meet the Depaartment's existing

responsibilities and areas of the state that were once the focus of

enforcement activity now go unmonitored. In addition, DFG would inclur

upfront implementation costs that would greatly impact their already

reduced budgets. The identified source of funding for the bill, the

Fish and Game Preservation Fund, has insufficient resources to fund

current activities and we cannot support new expenditures out of the

Fund. "

 

COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM, EARLIER THIS WEEK THE DFG ANNOUNCED IT WAS

LAYING OFF 32-TO-38 OF ITS WARDENS (OUT OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY, FOR

ALL OF CALIFORNIA), COME NOVEMBER. The wardens represent the last

defense against poaching and other wildlife law violators. Not only are

the wardens terribly understaffed, they are grossly underpaid, making

considerably less than CHP officers. It would require some 1,000

wardens to do the job properly, reportedly, and our wildlife suffers

accordingly. Does anyone at the top care? Let's make this a campaign

issue for the embattled Governor.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write, fax, call Governor Gray Davis NOW and ask that he veto AB 396.

 

ADDRESS - The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814

 

FAX - 916/445-4633 COMMENT LINE - 916/445-2841

 

EMAIL - gov

 

 

Many thanks.

 

Eric Mills, coordinator, ACTION FOR ANIMALS, tel. 510/652-5603