Southdakotahunter
Well-known member
Tony Dean Outdoors
Issues
SB 86, Dies in Approprations Committee
Chris Hesla emails to tell us the Appropriations Committee dealt a death blow to a dangerous piece of legislation. Here's Chris's message:
"THANK YOU to all that contacted their Senators or any other ones you did. We defeated SB 86 5 to 4 this morning, the sponsor of the Bill was the Chairman of the Committee. GREAT JOB!!!!"
Chris Hesla
This was, of course, legislation that would have prevented the SD Department of Game, Fish & Parks from land purchases of more than 40 acres without legislative approval.
Imagine legislators trying to do this in a state where pheasant hunting alone generates about $100 million in revenue each fall. Add deer, grouse, antelope and waterfowl to that and it becomes apparent that hunting is big business in South Dakota.
There is hatred for Game, Fish and Parks out there that defies common sense. And instead of seeking reasonable solutions, this band of radicals and their actions only supports the view that their agenda...is extremist and well out of the mainstream of South Dakota thinking.
The single biggest problem facing the future of hunting is access to good hunting land, and over the years, sportsmen have compromised on many issues, including the passage of a trespass bill, in an effort to build good relationships. And no other state takes 10 percent of each license dollars to maintain county roads, that often otherwise only serve a few farms and ranches.
Had SB 86 passed, it would have resulted in the loss of a considerable amount of public land for the hunters of tomorrow. Some other extremists call that socialism.
Nonsense!
There were a lot of falsehoods connected with this effort. Some legislators convinced some in the public that GFP purchases of land takes that land off the tax roles. False. GFP pays property taxes on the land they purchase, and may be one of the biggest property tax payers in South Dakota.
They also tried to convince others that these land purchases came from the general fund. False. They come from license dollars.
We were told by others that one committee member sort of upbraided yours truly, referring to me a "that Hollywood Wierdo," a guy who's "always trying to stir things up."
I'll take that as a compliment, if "stirring things up" means that our efforts, along with those of many others, let South Dakota Sportsmen know just what a few legislators were trying to do.
When you look back, in spite of the efforts of some lawmakers to hurt the GFP, conservation and sportsmen, so far, going back over the last few years, they have been unsuccessful.
I wonder if their extremist efforts played a role in the formation of the SD Mainstream Coalition, comprised mostly of Republicans (My party), was responsible for it. From what I've read, the Mainstream Coalition takes a middle of the road approach to most issues, which is where the Republican party has been historically.
Read history and it doesn't take long to realize that Teddy Roosevelt wasn't the last Republican to embrace good conservation and a fair shake for all. Richard Nixon signed into law, the most far reaching conservation and environmental laws in history. And as much as the right wing arm derides John McCain, it looks from here like he could be another TR.
On a state level, George Mortimer of Belle Fourche was one of the best legislators I can recall. And what of the late Joe Barnett? These guys were as GOP as you can be, yet they recognized that fishing and hunting were a big part of our culture.
Meanwhile, there are other crucial issues facing the legislation regarding conservation and legislation of importance to sportsmen, and you can be sure you'll be fully appraised of it here.
Tony Dean
Issues
SB 86, Dies in Approprations Committee
Chris Hesla emails to tell us the Appropriations Committee dealt a death blow to a dangerous piece of legislation. Here's Chris's message:
"THANK YOU to all that contacted their Senators or any other ones you did. We defeated SB 86 5 to 4 this morning, the sponsor of the Bill was the Chairman of the Committee. GREAT JOB!!!!"
Chris Hesla
This was, of course, legislation that would have prevented the SD Department of Game, Fish & Parks from land purchases of more than 40 acres without legislative approval.
Imagine legislators trying to do this in a state where pheasant hunting alone generates about $100 million in revenue each fall. Add deer, grouse, antelope and waterfowl to that and it becomes apparent that hunting is big business in South Dakota.
There is hatred for Game, Fish and Parks out there that defies common sense. And instead of seeking reasonable solutions, this band of radicals and their actions only supports the view that their agenda...is extremist and well out of the mainstream of South Dakota thinking.
The single biggest problem facing the future of hunting is access to good hunting land, and over the years, sportsmen have compromised on many issues, including the passage of a trespass bill, in an effort to build good relationships. And no other state takes 10 percent of each license dollars to maintain county roads, that often otherwise only serve a few farms and ranches.
Had SB 86 passed, it would have resulted in the loss of a considerable amount of public land for the hunters of tomorrow. Some other extremists call that socialism.
Nonsense!
There were a lot of falsehoods connected with this effort. Some legislators convinced some in the public that GFP purchases of land takes that land off the tax roles. False. GFP pays property taxes on the land they purchase, and may be one of the biggest property tax payers in South Dakota.
They also tried to convince others that these land purchases came from the general fund. False. They come from license dollars.
We were told by others that one committee member sort of upbraided yours truly, referring to me a "that Hollywood Wierdo," a guy who's "always trying to stir things up."
I'll take that as a compliment, if "stirring things up" means that our efforts, along with those of many others, let South Dakota Sportsmen know just what a few legislators were trying to do.
When you look back, in spite of the efforts of some lawmakers to hurt the GFP, conservation and sportsmen, so far, going back over the last few years, they have been unsuccessful.
I wonder if their extremist efforts played a role in the formation of the SD Mainstream Coalition, comprised mostly of Republicans (My party), was responsible for it. From what I've read, the Mainstream Coalition takes a middle of the road approach to most issues, which is where the Republican party has been historically.
Read history and it doesn't take long to realize that Teddy Roosevelt wasn't the last Republican to embrace good conservation and a fair shake for all. Richard Nixon signed into law, the most far reaching conservation and environmental laws in history. And as much as the right wing arm derides John McCain, it looks from here like he could be another TR.
On a state level, George Mortimer of Belle Fourche was one of the best legislators I can recall. And what of the late Joe Barnett? These guys were as GOP as you can be, yet they recognized that fishing and hunting were a big part of our culture.
Meanwhile, there are other crucial issues facing the legislation regarding conservation and legislation of importance to sportsmen, and you can be sure you'll be fully appraised of it here.
Tony Dean