Time to kill the bill.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee tonight added an amendment on to HB 96 which would significantly alter the terms and conditions that came out of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council by allowing landowners to designate who receives the limited entry permits or license to anyone they choose. The amendment tries to reign in the pay-to-play scenarios that we are fairly certain will happen by saying the landowner cannot receive payment. Unfortuntely, even this draft will lead to loss of opportunity and would make Montana's elk licenses a trade-able commodity.
Earlier draft amendments would have not had such sideboards, and then some sideboards were gradually added when resistance to amendments became stiff. Unfortunately, the no votes we had thought were secured did not come through, and the amendment was added 9-8. Last week, 16 sporting groups from across Montana sent a letter expressing our displeasure with the attempts to turn a consensus bill out of PLPW in to a vehicle to introduce a ranching for wildlife style program. While many groups had swallowed hard to support the bill, this amendment turns that support to opposition.
It is now time to kill HB 96
Please take some time to contact the Legislature and let the House Floor know that HB 96 as amended has broken the faith with Montana Sportsmen, and that we respectfully request that House members vote no on HB 96. You can call the Legislative phone line at 406-444-4800 or you can search for your house member here
Action alerts from various organizations will come forward tomorrow, but time is of the essence.
The amended version will be online tomorrow, as of now, it is not posted.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee tonight added an amendment on to HB 96 which would significantly alter the terms and conditions that came out of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council by allowing landowners to designate who receives the limited entry permits or license to anyone they choose. The amendment tries to reign in the pay-to-play scenarios that we are fairly certain will happen by saying the landowner cannot receive payment. Unfortuntely, even this draft will lead to loss of opportunity and would make Montana's elk licenses a trade-able commodity.
Earlier draft amendments would have not had such sideboards, and then some sideboards were gradually added when resistance to amendments became stiff. Unfortunately, the no votes we had thought were secured did not come through, and the amendment was added 9-8. Last week, 16 sporting groups from across Montana sent a letter expressing our displeasure with the attempts to turn a consensus bill out of PLPW in to a vehicle to introduce a ranching for wildlife style program. While many groups had swallowed hard to support the bill, this amendment turns that support to opposition.
It is now time to kill HB 96
Please take some time to contact the Legislature and let the House Floor know that HB 96 as amended has broken the faith with Montana Sportsmen, and that we respectfully request that House members vote no on HB 96. You can call the Legislative phone line at 406-444-4800 or you can search for your house member here
Action alerts from various organizations will come forward tomorrow, but time is of the essence.
The amended version will be online tomorrow, as of now, it is not posted.