Proposed Legislation To Expand The Conservation Commission

[Chief Grey Bear]

I recived this email today and thought I would pass it along for all of you that truely have a love for our outdoors in Missouri and believe we have one of the top if not the top programs of any state. And if we want it to continue, please take the appropriate action and contact the appropriate person of your district. Or contact all of them. This is posted as information only not to start some BS, anti MDC thread.

Thanks Gene.

As some of you are aware, Dave Murphy has shared information on legislation that is moving very quickly in the Missouri General Assembly. If you haven’t seen it yet I wanted to share and help spread the word.

Senate Joint Resolution 27 and House Bill 1178 have been introduced by the General Assembly to expand the Conservation Commission.

The current Commission serves all citizens. The proposed legislation will create regional competition amongst commissioners for projects in their region, instead of serving statewide interests (a direct line to politics in conservation). In addition, expanding the Commission will slow the Department’s ability to conduct business that benefits forest, fish and wildlife. Why change the entire system?

Thanks for what you do.

Aaron P. Jeffries

Missouri Department of Conservation

Assistant to the Director - Governmental Relations

2901 W. Truman Blvd.

Jefferson City, MO 65102

(

Action Alert!

MDC Commission in Jeopardy

75 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION IN JEOPARDY

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Happy New Year, 2012!

As we look forward to another great year in the Missouri outdoors, I wanted to personally thank you for your lifelong commitment, considerable hard work and leadership role in support of conservation in Missouri. We are proud to have the 4th largest Teaming With Wildlife Coalition in the nation comprised of 304 partner organizations and businesses. Wise use of our precious natural resources by us and by our ancestors has produced a legacy for forests, fish and wildlife and all Missourians. This has not happened by accident. The future will not be bright without our continued efforts.

Already this year, proposed legislation has been filed which would put politics back into conservation in Missouri. Since 1937, we citizens have protected conservation from special interest favoritism, this year we face a very, very serious threat. The proposal, SJR 27, would expand the MDC Commission, assigning each commissioner to a district of Missouri. To some, this may sound like a good idea, but immediately forests, fish and wildlife lose. Under such a system, regional interests would be pitted against each other for funding and personnel. The results of such conflict would be decisions based on political influence instead of the interests of forests, fish and wildlife. This WAS the way things worked in Missouri before we citizens created MDC, this WOULD be the way things work in the future, if this proposal were to become law. The most effective way imaginable, the direct path to inject regional interests and favoritism into conservation. This is a power struggle, a politically motivated effort to control conservation. We citizens have spoken up consistently AGAINST such nonsense since 1935, when the Conservation Federation of Missouri was organized. We always will. We need you to be an active part of our efforts. There is also similar legislation proposed in the House, HB1178.

Soon we will also be tested with proposals to sunset the Design for Conservation Sales Tax. Another bad idea, an attempt to exert political control over something which works very, very well. If and when that day comes, we must be prepared to speak up! Rest assured, as Theodore Roosevelt said "the wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will." The Voice for Missouri Outdoors, the Conservation Federation of Missouri will be there, well prepared and waiting for any and all attacks on Missouri conservation.

With term limits, one of the many challenges to political activity is that there are many new people, ignorant of precedent, history, tradition and even law coming to serve us at the Capitol. Let's make 2012 a very special year, as the 75th anniversary of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Contact your Senator and your Representative today AND copy your comments to leaders in both chambers at the Capitol. As a courtesy, I ask you to also copy me on your messages, if possible.

Senate Committee Members

Senator Brian Munzlinger (573) 751-7985 brian.munzlinger@senate.mo.gov

Senator Mike Parson (573) 751-8793 mparson@senate.mo.gov

Senator Dan Brown (573) 751-5713 Dan.Brown@senate.mo.gov

Senator Chuck Purgason (573) 751-1882 Chuck.Purgason@senate.mo.gov

Senator Bill Stouffer (573) 751-1507 bstouffer@senate.mo.gov

Senator Victor Callahan (573) 751-3074 victor­­_callahan@senate.mo.gov

Senator Ryan McKenna (573) 751-1492 rmckenna@senate.mo.gov

Senate Leadership

President Pro Tem - Sen. Rob Mayer Rob.Mayer@senate.mo.gov 751-3859

Majority Floor Leader -Sen. Tom Dempsey Tom.Dempsey@senate.mo.gov 751-1141

Asst. Maj. Floor Leader - Sen. Jack Goodman Jack.Goodman@senate.mo.gov 751-2234

Majority Caucus Whip - Sen. Mike Parson MP arson@senate.mo.gov 751-8793

Majority Caucus Chairman - Sen. Bill Stouffer BStouffer@senate.mo.gov 751-1507

Majority Caucus Secretary - Sen. Eric Schmitt ESchmitt@senate.mo.gov 751-2853

Minority Floor Leader - Sen. Victor Callahan Victor_Callahan@senate.mo.gov 751-3074

Asst. Minority Floor Leader - Sen. Jolie Justus Jolie.Justus@senate.mo.gov 751-2788

Minority Caucus Chair - Sen. Timothy Green Timothy_Green@senate.mo.gov 751-2420

Minority Caucus Secretary - Sen. Robin Wright-Jones Robin.Jones@senate.mo.gov 751-2606

House of Representatives Leadership

House Speaker - Rep. Steven Tilley Steven.Tilley@house.mo.gov 751-1488

Speaker Pro Tem - Rep. Shane Schoeller Shane.Schoeller@house.mo.gov 751-2948

Majority Floor Leader - Rep. Tim Jones Tim.Jones@house.mo.gov 751-0562

Asst. Majority Floor Leader - Rep. Jeanie Riddle Jeanie.Riddle@house.mo.gov 751-5226

Majority Caucus Chair - Rep. Jason Smith Jason.Smith@house.mo.gov 751-1688

Caucus Chair - Rep. Shelley Keeney Shelley.Keeney@house.mog.gov 751-5912

Caucus Secretary - Rep. Sue Allen Sue.Allen@house.mo.gov 751-9765

Minority Leader - Rep. Mike Talboy Mike.Talboy@house.mo.gov 751-1309

Assistant Minority Leader - Rep. Tishaura Jones Tishaura.Jones@house.mo.gov 751-6800

Minority Whip - Rep. Mike Colona Mike.Colona@house.mo.gov 751-6736

Thank you for your immediate attention and action on this vital issue! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Yours in conservation,

Dave Murphy, Executive Director

Conservation Federation of Missouri

From: Gene Gardner

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 3:52 PM

To: Burk, John (jburk@nwtf.net); Burwick, Charley; Cooper, Ted; Currier, Mike; Donnell, Denny; Graber, Dave; Hazelwood, Susan; Heying, Steve; Ladd, Doug; Morton, Wayne; Mowry, Steve; Oberle, Frank; Robyn, Tony; Srigley Werner, Kelly; Tossing, Linda; dlee@confedmo.org

Cc: Aaron Jeffries

Subject: Aaron Jeffries Will Be Sending Information

Aaron Jeffries, Assistant to Director, has some information that he would like to share with you and your membership. Aaron will be replying to “All” on this email so he can use your email addresses above.

Thanks,

Gene Gardner

Wildlife Diversity Chief

Missouri Department of Conservation

[Feathers and Fins]

Chief, Wouldnt the competition possibly create more outdoor areas or better managed and maintained areas?

We know the South Zone for instance has really NO managed waterfowl area. Couldnt this spur a movement to get us a few, also couldnt this also spur some type of movement to re-establish a good quail population. I'm a little confused, then again MDC has a tendancy to confuse me in alot of their actions.

[fishinwrench]

Senate Committee Members

Senator Brian Munzlinger (573) 751-7985 brian.munzlinger@senate.mo.gov Senator Mike Parson (573) 751-8793 mparson@senate.mo.gov Senator Dan Brown (573) 751-5713 Dan.Brown@senate.mo.gov Senator Chuck Purgason (573) 751-1882 Chuck.Purgason@senate.mo.gov Senator Bill Stouffer (573) 751-1507 bstouffer@senate.mo.gov Senator Victor Callahan (573) 751-3074 victor_callahan@senate.mo.gov Senator Ryan McKenna (573) 751-1492 rmckenna@senate.mo.gov Senate Leadership

President Pro Tem - Sen. Rob Mayer Rob.Mayer@senate.mo.gov 751-3859 Majority Floor Leader -Sen. Tom Dempsey Tom.Dempsey@senate.mo.gov 751-1141 Asst. Maj. Floor Leader - Sen. Jack Goodman Jack.Goodman@senate.mo.gov 751-2234 Majority Caucus Whip - Sen. Mike Parson MP arson@senate.mo.gov 751-8793 Majority Caucus Chairman - Sen. Bill Stouffer BStouffer@senate.mo.gov 751-1507 Majority Caucus Secretary - Sen. Eric Schmitt ESchmitt@senate.mo.gov 751-2853 Minority Floor Leader - Sen. Victor Callahan Victor_Callahan@senate.mo.gov 751-3074 Asst. Minority Floor Leader - Sen. Jolie Justus Jolie.Justus@senate.mo.gov 751-2788 Minority Caucus Chair - Sen. Timothy Green Timothy_Green@senate.mo.gov 751-2420 Minority Caucus Secretary - Sen. Robin Wright-Jones Robin.Jones@senate.mo.gov 751-2606 House of Representatives Leadership

House Speaker - Rep. Steven Tilley Steven.Tilley@house.mo.gov 751-1488 Speaker Pro Tem - Rep. Shane Schoeller Shane.Schoeller@house.mo.gov 751-2948 Majority Floor Leader - Rep. Tim Jones Tim.Jones@house.mo.gov 751-0562 Asst. Majority Floor Leader - Rep. Jeanie Riddle Jeanie.Riddle@house.mo.gov 751-5226 Majority Caucus Chair - Rep. Jason Smith Jason.Smith@house.mo.gov 751-1688 Caucus Chair - Rep. Shelley Keeney Shelley.Keeney@house.mog.gov 751-5912 Caucus Secretary - Rep. Sue Allen Sue.Allen@house.mo.gov 751-9765 Minority Leader - Rep. Mike Talboy Mike.Talboy@house.mo.gov 751-1309 Assistant Minority Leader - Rep. Tishaura Jones Tishaura.Jones@house.mo.gov 751-6800 Minority Whip - Rep. Mike Colona Mike.Colona@house.mo.gov 751-6736

My God, would ya look at that list of phoney baloney jobs !!!

What'll it cost man, what'll it cost? !!!

Pardon me for my ignorance....but are all of the$e people nece$$ary ?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chief, Wouldnt the competition possibly create more outdoor areas or better managed and maintained areas?

We know the South Zone for instance has really NO managed waterfowl area. Couldnt this spur a movement to get us a few, also couldnt this also spur some type of movement to re-establish a good quail population. I'm a little confused, then again MDC has a tendancy to confuse me in alot of their actions.

This is the main reason to be against this movement. Read an understand this pargraph carefully:

Already this year, proposed legislation has been filed which would put politics back into conservation in Missouri. Since 1937, we citizens have protected conservation from special interest favoritism, this year we face a very, very serious threat. The proposal, SJR 27, would expand the MDC Commission, assigning each commissioner to a district of Missouri. To some, this may sound like a good idea, but immediately forests, fish and wildlife lose. Under such a system, regional interests would be pitted against each other for funding and personnel. The results of such conflict would be decisions based on political influence instead of the interests of forests, fish and wildlife. This WAS the way things worked in Missouri before we citizens created MDC, this WOULD be the way things work in the future, if this proposal were to become law. The most effective way imaginable, the direct path to inject regional interests and favoritism into conservation. This is a power struggle, a politically motivated effort to control conservation. We citizens have spoken up consistently AGAINST such nonsense since 1935, when the Conservation Federation of Missouri was organized. We always will. We need you to be an active part of our efforts. There is also similar legislation proposed in the House, HB1178.

As to the South Zone, where would you put one??? The land features are just not really there for one. That is probaly the best reason for not having one. There is just not a lot of flat farm land that can be flooded to provide an ideal waterfowl area.

The MDC has been working in recent years on quail populations. But there is not a lot you can do unless you own the land. That is where farmers, ranchers and land owners have to step up. The MDC has programs in place to work with those that desire to increase quail numbers on their property.

Here is a little reading of some good info on quail in Missouri. It is somewhat dated though. I think it was published 3-4 years ago.

http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/animal-management/bird-management/quail/quail-management-faqs

[skiburd]

This scares the hell out of me. Politics has no business being involved in MDC. Just follow the money on this legislation and I think we will see where this is coming from and why it should be stopped.

[Outside Bend]

Chief, Wouldnt the competition possibly create more outdoor areas or better managed and maintained areas?

We know the South Zone for instance has really NO managed waterfowl area. Couldnt this spur a movement to get us a few, also couldnt this also spur some type of movement to re-establish a good quail population. I'm a little confused, then again MDC has a tendancy to confuse me in alot of their actions.

Perhaps, and I'll admit I haven't been able to find much information about this legislation. But I could also see it becoming no more than a political #!@#-storm, too.

It probably could be used to create more hunting and recreation opportunities statewide. But if the commissioners take the position of benefiting the most people with their money, you could just as easily see those funds diverted to urban areas and educational programs. If commissioners from ag-dominated regions feel MDC should pay landowners for deer damage, they'd be able to create those policies. If a Chamber of Commerce in the northwestern part of the state wanted their commissioner to pursue pheasant-stocking by the state, it could be done. If constituents in the Ozarks felt regulation of gigging and deer dogging seasons were inappropriate, they could be adjusted. And it may be a reach- but I could forsee situations where a well-connected landowners attempt to restrict access to our state's waterways via a Commission such as this.

I'm not saying it could or would happen, or that the legislation was designed for those ends. But from what I know, this legislation seems to leave the door open for those sorts of attacks. There are many areas where I don't agree with MDC's policies and methods, but IMO they've done far more good than harm, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I do feel there's room for improvement, but I also would like to see more stakeholder involvement in the agency- more sportsmen going to meetings, inviting biologists/agents/bureaucrats to meetings/events, engaging the folks at MDC, asking questions creating a dialogue and rapport between the agency and the state's sportsmen. IMO it'd be at least as effective as more legislation- as of late I've noticed an inverse relationship between the amount of work getting done and the number of politicians involved

[Justin Spencer]

Looks like passage of this bill would lead to the programs with the most economic benefits being the ones that get preferential treatment. The more the department can think about conservation first and politics and economics second the better off it should be for fish and wildlife. Anytime you give politics any sort of path to effect policy we are in for lobbying and battles over every dollar spent, which would slow any decsion making down to a crawl. While MDC is not perfect it operates better than most states and I for one don't feel changes in the way they operate would be beneficial for the fish and wildlife in Missouri.

I'm with F&F in wishing that Southern Missouri had managed waterfowl areas, but that is selfish on my part because (at least where I am in the Ozarks) it would be an expensive undertaking creating waterfowl areas in areas that were never hotspots for waterfowl migration, and probably would only be met with limited success. Battles like these would be occuring all over the state with the most populated areas with the most money probably winning the majority of the battles. Before I decide to write my representatives I would love to hear any reasons for passage of this bill, but at this point I think it seems like a bad idea.

[ness]

Before I decide to write my representatives I would love to hear any reasons for passage of this bill, but at this point I think it seems like a bad idea.

I'm not a MO citizen, but I am a MO taxpayer. I agree with Justin that it would be good to see the arguments for it. That said, the arguments laid out against it are pretty common sense and convincing.

The original idea to remove it from the general spending pot and fund it separately keeps the politics out of it. MO has an excellent and enviable system. Seems a shame to mess with it.

[jdmidwest]

You surely do need to keep politics out of the wildlife conservation system. If politics gets involved, you could end up with more liberal views in conservation management leading to loss of hunting ground and hunters rights due to the nature of that groups views on anti-hunting and anti-gun. You could get a member of PETA on a board making decisions. You could lose a MDC area because some politician is pressured to develop the real estate for some other reason. What would surely happen is competition of one populous area getting more than another less populated area.

None of the names on the bill are from my area. I am betting the ones generating the bill are coming from an area around ST Louis or Kansas City.

While the current system has a few gripes, it has worked well for the last 75 years and is the envy of many other states because they do such a good job and are funded solely with a small percentage of a sales tax. Many other states operate their systems out of the general revenue of the state and get squeezed on lean years.

[Outside Bend]

I looked it up- Brian Munzlinger. Serves several counties in the northeastern part of the state. Member of Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers’ Association, Missouri Soybean Association, and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and the NRA.

I couldn't find anything on his website about his involvement in conservation-related programs or organizations.

Here.

Bill Text

It looks like it'll be put on a statewide ballot, though. So there's that.