jims,
The amount of extra revenue that would have been generated is a big question mark. I think the conflicting "data" that showed a fiscal note of $266,000 last year when WYOGA ran the same bill, compared to the fiscal note this year of $424,000 was a deal breaker with the senate. Even worse, in public testimony in the senate trw committee, Krone was spouting "half a million" as the revenue.
While that sounds like a lot of revenue to you, its not a game changer for the WYGF when considering the annual operating budget is 74 million a year.
There's plenty more to consider regarding the budget as well, the main one being that the budget is not in the dire situation that many think. There is no doubt a projected shortfall coming, but a few things have happened to shore up the GF through this decade. One is a huge "bump" in Pittman/Robertson funding via the "Obama is going to take our guns" scare. Another is a savings in revenue from the 6-8% reduction that Gov. Mead demanded on all State Agencies. Finally, the last piece was the passing of SF45 last year that if fully implemented by the Legislature and Governor Mead will give the GF another $7,000,000 in revenue (Grizzly Bear Management and Employee health coverage).
That's all real money that isn't going to take tags away from the average guy, isn't going to shred the North American Model, or create classes of hunters and associated tag distribution based on the size of one guys wallet over another. Further, it takes the Legislature out of the tag allocation business, which they really have NO right meddling in and also sends a message to WYOGA that the minority of outfitters can not get their way over the 95% of hunters that come to Wyoming and hunt on their own.
The upside to this failing is, there simply is no downside. Its a big win for the average hunter and those that want to experience Wyoming hunting with their families/friends without breaking the bank. Its about attracting future generations of hunters and giving youth hunters a chance at 60% of the tags at NR youth fees VS.40% of the tags. Its about the preservation of the best Wildlife Conservation Model in the world.
Thanks again to all that participated in the process and did what's right for the average hunter...you guys are rock stars.