CRUNCH TIME WDFW COMMISSION NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW!!!!

[LeadBouncer]

Dear LB,

Early in February, we warned you about Senate Bill 5127, an attempt to silence your voice in Washington's fisheries management by gutting the Fish and Wildlife Commission's authority to manage our fisheries. Despite your overwhelming opposition as shown by your 4,600 e-mails and letters, this dangerous bill has passed out of the Natural Resources Committee and was actually made worse. (Please note SSB 5588 was found on 3/4/09 Page 9 section 41)

Attached is a comprehensive summary of the specific changes Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5127 would enact. The goal of SSB 5127 is to take power from the people of the state and the Commission and centralize it in one committee of the Senate in order to better serve influential commercial fishing interests. These same interests are pushing this bill through so they can reverse the science and conservation-based approach of your current Fish and Wildlife Commissioners.

The vote of the people formed the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Not only would SSB 5127 end the Fish & Wildlife Commission as you know it, but the bill contains an emergency clause that prohibits citizens from gathering signatures to put it on the ballot for a vote of the people. Does this sound like they respect democracy? Are they looking out for you or the needs of the resource?

Do not allow this power grab by a select few succeed in undoing the Commission or your ability to have a say in the management of our fish and wildlife resources. You can sit by and watch, or you can make your voice be heard. Click on the link below to take action now!
(THE ATTACHMENT with the details is below the next line. ********

Type in your name and address and sign the letter. You may change the letter to reflect your job in the industry etc.
The cca action alert will automatically send your letter to your reps and the governor. If it gives you a choice, select email. You can check the box to request an answer back from the reps. Please be respectful. CCA is in this for the long haul and we dont want a bad reputation for ugly letters. We have a bill in the house for next session that will legalize Commercial selective harvest gear, to protect wild fish from extinction. When you send the letter, you will be added to the list for future Action Alerts from CCA. (HB2266) click on the link to browse our sites. ONLY IMPORTANT ACTION ALERTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU. NO JUNK MAIL. ONLY CCA WILL APPROVE ACTION ALERTS.

Thanks for helping out and enjoy the site. Ask your friends to send letters.

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Legislative website.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/Defa ... ?Chamber=S



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To All CCA Members
CCA SYNOPSIS OF SSB 5127 Please ADD SSB 5588 to your replies. Page 9 section 41

The substitute bill passed by the Senate Natural Resources Committee neuters the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s authority and centralizes power over the commission in the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate after throwing out all of the current commission members as of January 1, 2010. Specifically the bill would do the following:

Change the number of commissioners from 9 to 7 and change their terms from 6 years to 3 years. Turn over would be so fast they would have little time to learn the complexities of the subject matter.

The Governor would appoint the Director subject to Senate confirmation. The Governor would also appoint the Chair of the Commission, who would also be subject to Senate confirmation.

All current commissioners would have their terms cease as of the end of this year and the Governor would be required to appoint all new commissioners. Those new commissioners would be subject to Senate confirmation. In one of the most insidious power grabs, any commissioner could not serve more than one year if not confirmed by the Senate. This gives the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee absolute veto power over the Governor’s choices through a pocket veto. Failure to act on the part of the Senate now becomes a new form of passive-aggressive government.

The current power to adopt departmental rules is stripped from the commission and given to the director. The commission has no oversight powers, and is limited to having 4 meetings a year, holding “forums” (a term that is not defined in the act) and making “broad policy recommendations” to the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate (not to the Governor or to WDFW.)

In the final blow to electoral democracy, as the Senate Committee moves to repeal a voter adopted commission, it has placed an emergency clause on the bill that would prohibit voters from gathering signatures to place it on the fall ballot for a vote of the people.

They have prohibited the people from having a referendum on this bill through a cheap parliamentary move. This is a bill pushed forward by a small group of Senators who wish to wrest policy decisions away from a voter mandated Commission that has been appointed by the Governor. Instead, they wish to centralize that power in one committee of the Senate in order to serve the organized commercial fishing interests. 2/26/09 08:00

[Anglinarcher]

I have done my part, now please all, do yours.

[LeadBouncer]

Thanks, but you arent quite done.

I just found this on another site.


Check out the latest language in substitute bill 5588:

10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 41. A new section is added to chapter 77.04 RCW
11 to read as follows:
12 The following acts or parts of acts are each temporarily suspended
13 until July 1, 2011: RCW 77.04.013 (fish and wildlife commission).
14 During the temporary suspension, the powers, duties, and authority of
15 the fish and wildlife commission shall be assumed by the department of
16 fish and wildlife within the current resources of the department.


http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

REFER TO SSB 5588

PAGE 9 SECTION 41

[LeadBouncer]

bump

[Hawg hunter]

We sent our opposition.....sure hope they don't get this bill through