11pt

IllinoisShotgunDeer:
What it means is that the DNR could possibly no longer be an autonomous agency but actually at the discretion of the department of agriculture. Let's just say that agriculture and natural resources don't always see eye to eye on everything.

For the rest of you....here is an example of what the governor has done to your DNR:
The Pittman-Robertson Act imposes a tax on hunting equipment that you never even see. This money is collected by the Federal government and dispersed to the states based on the number of license sales, etc. This money is earmarked for wildlife habitat and associated costs of managing it. However, it also can be used for day-to-day operations by the state natural resource agencies. Now the IL DNR has been getting their budget cut for a long time but this money couldn't be touched. Well ol' Rod couldnt stand not being able to raid it, so he figured out a way. See the DNR used to own just about all of their buildings. In other words it cost them nothing to keep their office space, etc. Well Rod decided to transfer all of the DNR's buildings to ownership by an agency called Central Management Services (CMS). So the DNR no longer owns their buildings and now has to actually PAY RENT on them. The DNR Region 5 office in Benton costs the DNR $40,000/yr now when it used to cost them nothing. Imagine what this has done to the DNR statewide.Where do you think that money comes from? That's right....YOUR federal wildlife funds that are supposed to be for managing and purchasing wildlife habitat and public use opportunities.

This happened right under our noses....imagine what elsewe don't know about.