Pittman-Robertson ... Massachusetts no longer eligible for federal aid
09-30-2003, 01:10 AM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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Pittman-Robertson ... Massachusetts no longer eligible for federal aid
http://www.goal.org/MCA/USFWSletter.htm
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Declares Massachusetts Ineligible for Federal Aid'
On September 29, 2003, the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance received a letter from the United States Fish and Wildlife that had been sent to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife. The letter was to inform Massachusetts Director Wayne MacCallum that the State " ...is no longer eligible to participate in the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs."
The letter went on further to say; " In addition to eligibility issues, the State is likely in diversion based on provisions within the FY 2004 budget. In the current Federal Fiscal Year, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionments to Massachusetts totaling $4,696,755.00 are in jeopardy."
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) was approved by Congress on September 2, 1937, and began functioning July 1, 1938. This was followed by The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson act, passed on August 9, 1950. Funds are derived for these programs from excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits, etc.
These programs were created by and supported by sportsmen across the nation in an effort to help state fish and wildlife agencies professionally manage our natural resources. With these programs, the agencies would not have to rely on general tax dollars to fund their efforts or have to worry about their resources being used as political leverage. Unfortunately, the acts of the latest Fiscal 2004 Budget in Massachusetts has undone sixty years of sportsmen' s devotion and hard work.
What sportsmen and conservationists had warned the current administration about since early January 2003 is now becoming reality. With the Federal Aid making up approximately 70% of the Division' s budget, this could be the end of the most efficiently run agency in the Commonwealth. Sportsmen, conservationist and the general public are outraged at the destruction of the dedicated Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, as well as the Wildland Aquisition Program, and are calling on the legislature and the current administration to restore what was wrongfully taken.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Declares Massachusetts Ineligible for Federal Aid'
On September 29, 2003, the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance received a letter from the United States Fish and Wildlife that had been sent to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife. The letter was to inform Massachusetts Director Wayne MacCallum that the State " ...is no longer eligible to participate in the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs."
The letter went on further to say; " In addition to eligibility issues, the State is likely in diversion based on provisions within the FY 2004 budget. In the current Federal Fiscal Year, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionments to Massachusetts totaling $4,696,755.00 are in jeopardy."
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) was approved by Congress on September 2, 1937, and began functioning July 1, 1938. This was followed by The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson act, passed on August 9, 1950. Funds are derived for these programs from excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits, etc.
These programs were created by and supported by sportsmen across the nation in an effort to help state fish and wildlife agencies professionally manage our natural resources. With these programs, the agencies would not have to rely on general tax dollars to fund their efforts or have to worry about their resources being used as political leverage. Unfortunately, the acts of the latest Fiscal 2004 Budget in Massachusetts has undone sixty years of sportsmen' s devotion and hard work.
What sportsmen and conservationists had warned the current administration about since early January 2003 is now becoming reality. With the Federal Aid making up approximately 70% of the Division' s budget, this could be the end of the most efficiently run agency in the Commonwealth. Sportsmen, conservationist and the general public are outraged at the destruction of the dedicated Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, as well as the Wildland Aquisition Program, and are calling on the legislature and the current administration to restore what was wrongfully taken.
09-30-2003, 10:30 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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RE: Pittman-Robertson ... Massachusetts no longer eligible for federal aid
bubbamoose, e.t. all
Here is a reply that I have given on other forums pertaining to this issue.
Please note that this has become somewhat of a complicated political fiasco, so I am not 100% sure as to exactly what is going on, but from what I can gather, this is what has happened....
In an effort to balance the state budget, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and legislators, as part of some type of appropriations thing, first eliminated a law which had guaranteed funds from a $5 wildlife land acquisition stamp go specifically towards land preservation ,which Massachusetts sportsmen pay as part of their license. Then they diverted all funds raised from licenses, stamps, permits, etc. ( money paid by sportsmen ) from a special fund for fish and wildlife programs into the state general fund. one of the first results has been the decision to close 2 of Massachusetts 4 fish hatcheries.
Without trying to sort through everything at the moment ...
There have been a number of threads with information posted on this subject at...
http://www.nesportsman.com/
Here are some links to a few of them
The initial thread : From the website fishing forum.
Note ( newspaper link in first post is no longer active )
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30110
A subsequent thread from the hunting forum
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...fighunt.pl?rea d=8113
One of the first results of this involves hatchery closings
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30595
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30494
It seems that Romney installed a gag order earlier this year preventing fish and wildlife officials from talking to the media.
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...fighunt.pl?rea d=8432
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30544
There may be more threads at New England Sportsman.com
Plus there are some posts about this at bowsite on the Mass. state forum.
An additional link with some possible info.
Note: This originally came up this past spring and it was stated that the fish and wildlife funds were safe. Romney and his cohorts lied through their teeth to sportsmen.
http://macouncil.tripod.com/id18.htm
Here is a reply that I have given on other forums pertaining to this issue.
Please note that this has become somewhat of a complicated political fiasco, so I am not 100% sure as to exactly what is going on, but from what I can gather, this is what has happened....
In an effort to balance the state budget, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and legislators, as part of some type of appropriations thing, first eliminated a law which had guaranteed funds from a $5 wildlife land acquisition stamp go specifically towards land preservation ,which Massachusetts sportsmen pay as part of their license. Then they diverted all funds raised from licenses, stamps, permits, etc. ( money paid by sportsmen ) from a special fund for fish and wildlife programs into the state general fund. one of the first results has been the decision to close 2 of Massachusetts 4 fish hatcheries.
Without trying to sort through everything at the moment ...
There have been a number of threads with information posted on this subject at...
http://www.nesportsman.com/
Here are some links to a few of them
The initial thread : From the website fishing forum.
Note ( newspaper link in first post is no longer active )
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30110
A subsequent thread from the hunting forum
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...fighunt.pl?rea d=8113
One of the first results of this involves hatchery closings
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30595
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30494
It seems that Romney installed a gag order earlier this year preventing fish and wildlife officials from talking to the media.
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...fighunt.pl?rea d=8432
http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/m...nfigfish.pl?re ad=30544
There may be more threads at New England Sportsman.com
Plus there are some posts about this at bowsite on the Mass. state forum.
An additional link with some possible info.
Note: This originally came up this past spring and it was stated that the fish and wildlife funds were safe. Romney and his cohorts lied through their teeth to sportsmen.
http://macouncil.tripod.com/id18.htm
10-01-2003, 12:50 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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Posts: 87
RE: Pittman-Robertson ... Massachusetts no longer eligible for federal aid
Feds give state 30 days to restore hunting and fishing license fees
By TRUDY TYNAN
Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Federal officials have given the state30 days to restore money from hunting and fishing license fees thatwere diverted to the state' s general fund, or face the loss ofmillions of dollars in federal aid.
The crackdown centers on the state' s share of federal excisetaxes on guns and fishing tackle, which this year amounts to $4.7million.
To receive the money, states must spend hunting and fishinglicense fees only on the preservation of wildlife and habitat.Instead, lawmakers this year voted to divert the money to thegeneral fund to combat a statewide fiscal crisis.
" We believe that Massachusetts is no longer eligible toparticipate in the federal aid program," said Robert Sousa, chiefof federal aid for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service' s regionaloffice, in a letter to state officials.
John F. Organ, regional head of wildlife aid for the federalagency, said Tuesday that the " strong warning" gives the state 30days to take corrective action.
" If we are not satisfied we will go to the director (of theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and we are confident at this pointthat he will find funds have been diverted," Organ said.
To remain eligible, the state would have to revise legislationadopted in this year' s state budget that eliminated the dedicatedenvironmental funds and return the money diverted to otheraccounts, Sousa said in the letter.
In addition to wildlife preservation, a portion of the federalaid Massachusetts receives supports endangered species, marinefisheries and riverways protection programs.
" The governor' s office is trying to find a way to make thechanges to keep us from losing the money," said Kathleen Ford, aspokeswoman for the state executive office of environmentalaffairs. " That' s an important source of revenue for us."
Elizabeth Moroney, a spokeswoman for state Sen. Pamela Resor,D-Acton, who chairs the Senate Natural Resources Committee, saidResor was also scrambling to come up with corrective legislation.She said the office has been flooded with calls from outragedsportsmen and environmentalists.
A spokesman for House Speaker Thomas Finneran, D-Boston, did notimmediately return a call seeking comment.
Last week, the state Board of Fisheries and Wildlife reluctantlyvoted to close two of the state' s five trout hatcheries, saying ithad neither the staff nor the money to keep them operating.
The agency, which does not rely on tax money for its operations,takes in about $12.6 million annually, including the federal aidand $7 million in hunting and fishing license fees. However, inthis year' s state budget appropriations it was given about halfthat amount for operations.
Organ said the federal agency has issued more warnings aboutdiversion of license fees recently as states have become pressedfor cash, but in the past decade only one northeastern state hasbeen declared in violation.
In that case, the state had moved wildlife agency vehicles intothe state' s common motor pool to leverage its borrowing power. Butstate officials backed off within days. Organ did not say whichstate was in violation.
Under the aid program, in effect since the 1930s, a state inviolation cannot be reinstated until it repays the federalgovernment for the aid it received, plus interest.
" Dedicated money is sometimes seen as a source of bailoutfunds, especially by new state administrations," Organ said. " Butin recent times I don' t think that we have seen anything assubstantial as what has been done in Massachusetts ... It' s reallya strike at the natural heritage of the state."
By TRUDY TYNAN
Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Federal officials have given the state30 days to restore money from hunting and fishing license fees thatwere diverted to the state' s general fund, or face the loss ofmillions of dollars in federal aid.
The crackdown centers on the state' s share of federal excisetaxes on guns and fishing tackle, which this year amounts to $4.7million.
To receive the money, states must spend hunting and fishinglicense fees only on the preservation of wildlife and habitat.Instead, lawmakers this year voted to divert the money to thegeneral fund to combat a statewide fiscal crisis.
" We believe that Massachusetts is no longer eligible toparticipate in the federal aid program," said Robert Sousa, chiefof federal aid for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service' s regionaloffice, in a letter to state officials.
John F. Organ, regional head of wildlife aid for the federalagency, said Tuesday that the " strong warning" gives the state 30days to take corrective action.
" If we are not satisfied we will go to the director (of theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and we are confident at this pointthat he will find funds have been diverted," Organ said.
To remain eligible, the state would have to revise legislationadopted in this year' s state budget that eliminated the dedicatedenvironmental funds and return the money diverted to otheraccounts, Sousa said in the letter.
In addition to wildlife preservation, a portion of the federalaid Massachusetts receives supports endangered species, marinefisheries and riverways protection programs.
" The governor' s office is trying to find a way to make thechanges to keep us from losing the money," said Kathleen Ford, aspokeswoman for the state executive office of environmentalaffairs. " That' s an important source of revenue for us."
Elizabeth Moroney, a spokeswoman for state Sen. Pamela Resor,D-Acton, who chairs the Senate Natural Resources Committee, saidResor was also scrambling to come up with corrective legislation.She said the office has been flooded with calls from outragedsportsmen and environmentalists.
A spokesman for House Speaker Thomas Finneran, D-Boston, did notimmediately return a call seeking comment.
Last week, the state Board of Fisheries and Wildlife reluctantlyvoted to close two of the state' s five trout hatcheries, saying ithad neither the staff nor the money to keep them operating.
The agency, which does not rely on tax money for its operations,takes in about $12.6 million annually, including the federal aidand $7 million in hunting and fishing license fees. However, inthis year' s state budget appropriations it was given about halfthat amount for operations.
Organ said the federal agency has issued more warnings aboutdiversion of license fees recently as states have become pressedfor cash, but in the past decade only one northeastern state hasbeen declared in violation.
In that case, the state had moved wildlife agency vehicles intothe state' s common motor pool to leverage its borrowing power. Butstate officials backed off within days. Organ did not say whichstate was in violation.
Under the aid program, in effect since the 1930s, a state inviolation cannot be reinstated until it repays the federalgovernment for the aid it received, plus interest.
" Dedicated money is sometimes seen as a source of bailoutfunds, especially by new state administrations," Organ said. " Butin recent times I don' t think that we have seen anything assubstantial as what has been done in Massachusetts ... It' s reallya strike at the natural heritage of the state."
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