Proposed Legislation To Expand The Conservation Commission

[msamatt]

Chief: Thanks for starting this topic.

I don’t know why Senator Brian Munzlinger proposed Senate Joint Resolution 27. I do know, however, that this Wednesday afternoon the Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food and Outdoor Resources Committee, of which he is the current Chair, is going to have a hearing on SJR 27. Is the 4 person Conservation Commission really unable to do their job effectively anymore? If it isn’t broke, and I don’t think it is, then why should the Missouri Legislature waste its valuable and limited time with this non-issue? Will creating a larger administrative structure help either the Conservation Commission guide the MDC any more effectively? I don’t think so.

I happen to think this is yet another attempt by some Missouri State Legislators to undermine the constitutional authority of the Conservation Commission. To the best of my knowledge section 40(a) of the Constitution of Missouri (http://www.sos.mo.gov/pubs/missouri_constitution.pdf) gives the Conservation Commission, not the House or Senate, the authority to establish and administer our game laws.

What does this have to do with SJR 27? If you do a bit of research you’ll find that Senator Munzlinger sponsored SB 150 to Allow Regulated Hand Fishing for Carp and Catfish in June and July on Certain Waterways (http://www.senate.mo.gov/11info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4084718)

last year even though the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a trial hand fishing season in 2005 and 2006 and then, in April 2007 voted to end that experimental season. Visit here for more info:

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/sport-fish-regulations/why-no-noodling

Munzlinger’s proposed bill was similar to SB 350 from 2009 http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=760235

and SB 1107 from 2006

http://www.senate.mo.gov/06info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=154220

Why do Senators who must know that neither the House nor Senate has the authority to pass any legislation to create or amend game laws keep introduction legislation which attempts to do just that? Draw your own conclusions.

[Gavin]

The bozo's in the legislature always have to take their annual poke at Commission. I wouldnt get too concerned about it. It's never gone anywhere before. Guess Mudslinger is the new farm bureau bought & paid for Greishaber.

[rfd515]

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.

I'd say that's a pretty broad generalization.

And it's not like the right is all that interested in protecting the environment. Romney is chomping at the freaking bit to expand fracking.