tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400018814519499369.post6017944005597157954..comments2024-03-13T10:11:14.165-04:00Comments on Fair Chase Hunting: Proposed position cuts at Fish and Wildlife - call to actionEric C. Nusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08415209205400590485noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400018814519499369.post-90811079224847275222009-04-04T02:05:00.000-04:002009-04-04T02:05:00.000-04:00From the feed back I'm getting the Dems get it, so...From the feed back I'm getting the Dems get it, some GOP's like Vince Illuzi also. In general Republicans support hunters. It is time for them to stand up to the Gov and let him know that they do not support cuts that hurt hunting and fishing and don't save the state's general fund any money!<BR/>Time to get on the phone and let your local senator know where you stand and where you want them to stand. Moose and trout are counting on us to make the call - let's not let them down...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400018814519499369.post-55945776100632692802009-03-31T10:20:00.000-04:002009-03-31T10:20:00.000-04:00Last week the house appropriations committee recom...Last week the house appropriations committee recommended mothballing all the hatcheries (see link):<BR/> <BR/>http://www.leg.state.vt.us/jfo/Appropriations/Potential%20Reductions%20to%20FY10%20Budget%2003-24-2009.pdf<BR/> <BR/>This would result in losing over $17 million the hatchery fish contribute to the economy (and I pretty sure that is a very conservative number, particularly since Lake Champlain salmonid program depends almost entirely on hatcheries and this only represents stocked fish contributions). The hatcheries budget is $3 million. $2 million is federal, $1 million is license dollars. They could take the $1 million at most. By taking all the hatchery budget we would be laying off 25 people. We would lose the Roxbury hatchery (the deed has a provision if we stop rearing fish there, the facility reverts to the heirs) and the fish health lab will have to close. We would lose the fishing programs created by hatchery fish, the children fishing events (Kids' Brook Program), the visitation generated by the hatcheries (15 to 20,000 annually) and the fish health program that protects the state from the introduction of fish pathogens (e.g. VHS). <BR/><BR/>Also on the block is all of the Warden overtime funds. A partial cut could be manageable but a complete cut is just stupid. Renegotiate the terms for overtime, but don't cut it out. It is bad for the warden and the resource.<BR/><BR/>If you haven't called your legislator do it now. <BR/>Click on the following for a directory of legislators<BR/>http://www.leg.state.vt.us/lms/legdir/alpha.aspEric C. Nusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08415209205400590485noreply@blogger.com