More on SB132.

[dan hall]

Please consider your opposition to SB132. This can be done by attending the
hearing this Thursday 4/23 and speaking out against this Bill, or contacting the members of the Committee (details below).

Thanks for your consideration,
Dan

FAQ's:
-What is the background on this Bill?
The text of SB132 started off as recommendation for a committee to be established to study the efficiencies of merging state agencies to include NHF&G. Then without any public input the Senate amended this Bill to an implementation.

-As a angler, hunter or trapper what's the big deal with this Bill, why should I get involved?
For NHF&G in 2007 over $15,000,000 came from license fees and Federal Funds:

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/Inside_FandG_PDFs/PieCharts_07_Budget.pdf

These are your monies and will go a long way to fund a state budget in with a deficit if this money is diverted to the General Fund. This being the tip of the ice-berg ....

-Points to consider if you can speak out at the hearing or contact House Members.
1. NHF&G Federal Funds from the Federal Fisheries or Wildlife Restoration can only go to a state F&G Dept. that has a separate account not a general fund as will be done with this Bill.

2. In Jan. 2008 a "NH Fish and Game Performance Audit Report" was published whose objective was to increase the efficiency and offer cost savings for the department. In this report

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/PDF/FG_2007p.pdf

there is NO mention of merging NHF&G with other state agencies. Therefore on what basis can SB132 touts to enhance efficiency and lower costs, where are the studies?

3. The public had no say in the amendment of this Bill to an implementation. Supporting it is unethical.


-What action can I take:
Ideally you can attend the next hearing on 4/23, at 11:00AM in LOB 306. If that’s not an option please contact the House Executive Department and Administrations Committee members (phone and emails provided at):


http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?code=H07

Also contact your own Representative of your opposition to this bill.

[Owl's Roost]

Thanks Dan for bringing this to everybody's attention. Given that I talked to some Representatives this weekend about this bill I want to share some insight with you all. Both the Chair and the Vice Chair of ED&A are very much under the impression that this is a bill to merely create a commission to look at merging some state agencies. If one looks at the amended version of SB 132 that happened on April 8 you will find under the duties of this commission that: "The commision shall develop implementation plans for, and identify necassary legislative and rules changes for:" So not everyone in the Senate and the House has seen through Sen. Hassan's parlimentary boondogle that she pulled off in her motion for reconsideration. The language of the amendment is almost verbatim from the Governor's address in Feb. It took Sen. Hassan approximately 2.5 minutes to strew the F&G dept to the four corners of state government.

[Gerry]

Dan, thanks for bringing this outrage to our attention. And thanks to Rick for the behind-the-scenes- details.

NH Fly Fishers! now is the time to act! If you can make it Concord on Thursday, go. Whether you go or not, call your State Rep AND send an email voicing your concern that this action will result in very bad unintended consequences. This is not a bill to study or recommend consolidation, but a bill to create an implementation plan for consolidating NH Fish and Game out of existence.
There have been no public hearings to even consider the feasibility of consolidation of any agencies. This is another case of knee-jerk, ready-fire-aim. Don't wait until it's too late. Call and email now.
Gerry

[kmudgn]

I have spoken and/or emailed with several friends and associates who are New Hampshire reps. I have yet to find anyone who is in favor of the bill. I have been told that there is "a lot of opposition to it" as the bill "came out of nowhere" with respect to the implimentation vs study aspect.

I don't know if the bill will pass, but as far as I can tell its passage is at least in doubt.

[Gerry]

Guys, it is not too late to send emails to all the committee members reviewing this bill. The hearing is at 11AM today. I hope at least some of you can make it there to show the opposition of the NH sporting community to this bill. If not, it only takes 10 minutes to send email to them to let them know that this bill is an outrageous attempt at gutting NH Fish and Game.
Hope to see you there,
Gerry

Here is a link to the committee members with access to their email:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?code=H07

[Relheok]

It'll never happen. The state is too political. Those departments will stay the same :)

[Gerry]

Mike,
It is because the state IS political that there is such a risk. This proposed consolidation came directly from the gov's office. They slipped a fast one through the senate where it passed unanimously. But the word got out and SOME organizations rallied the troops and put up a loud opposition. It is still not dead. Subcommittees will now hold additional hearings before a decision is made to put it to a vote of the House.
Complacency is our biggest enemy. It is a shame that this board couldn't muster support and make a showing. So many people showed up at the hearing that it had to be moved to the House chamber of the General Court. They estimate as many as 250 people attended. It is still not too late. Send an email. Let your voice be heard. We are all naive if we think this couldn't happen.
Gerry

[Owl's Roost]

This was in the Sunday News.

"Some agencies or commissions of state government may be better off put under one roof or even eliminated altogether. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department isn't one of them.

Fish and Game can no doubt be run more efficiently. But it has a special and important place in the fabric of what we know as New Hampshire. Lawmakers tinker with it at our peril.

A bill to split up Fish and Game, putting its enforcement division under the Department of Safety and its other components under a new mega-department, is a disaster in the making. Game management would be tossed in with Agriculture, Food, and Parks and Recreation into a "Department of Natural and Cultural Resources."


Click for Editorials & Op-EdsDo that, and we predict that within five years the shooting of "Bambi" and "Bullwinkle" (aka deer and moose hunting) will be outlawed; and "fishing" will consist of occasional trips to the Amoskeag Fish Ladder.

Game and wildlife management are important on many levels. They bring in resident and visitor revenue. They maintain wildlife habitat. They work cooperatively and, for the most part, well with private groups and volunteers to maintain the state's distinct quality of outdoor life.

Putting that department under some big bureaucracy, no matter how well-intentioned, is a sure recipe for the end of that aspect of New Hampshire life.

The bill that would do this harm was initially introduced as an act merely to "study" the idea. But when it emerged from the state Senate last week, it had been changed to "An Act establishing a commission to develop IMPLEMENTATION plans (our emphasis) for merging state agencies and programs to enhance efficiency and lower costs."

Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan apologized, at a House hearing, for what she dismissed as a poorly worded amendment.

Poorly worded? Hmmm. We think word changing that would allow an unelected commission to "implement" its own merger plans with no further input from the public or even elected representatives is a bit beyond being just poorly worded. Hunters, fishermen and others who like natural New Hampshire shouldn't rest until they get Fish and Game removed from this "study" bill entirely."

[Relheok]

Mike,
It is because the state IS political that there is such a risk. This proposed consolidation came directly from the gov's office. They slipped a fast one through the senate where it passed unanimously. But the word got out and SOME organizations rallied the troops and put up a loud opposition. It is still not dead. Subcommittees will now hold additional hearings before a decision is made to put it to a vote of the House.
Complacency is our biggest enemy. It is a shame that this board couldn't muster support and make a showing. So many people showed up at the hearing that it had to be moved to the House chamber of the General Court. They estimate as many as 250 people attended. It is still not too late. Send an email. Let your voice be heard. We are all naive if we think this couldn't happen.
Gerry

Your good with names! I am glad you remember me! Working in county government I have come to see how political this state truly is. I believe that some thing may get consolidated but I would bet my new fly rod that you'll never see F&G operations merge.

[Aljack]

Nice work Gerry

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090426/SPORTS/904260345

[Owl's Roost]

Here is a message I received earlier today.

"To all: The House committee on ED&A meet at 9:45 today and vote as a committee of the whole to recommend ITL on SB132 by a roll call vote of 17-0. The bill will or should be on the regular floor calendar on May 20. another nail it its coffin. "

[kmudgn]

I was advised today of the following:

The House ED&A committee has voted to kill the bill. The House vote should be May 20th.