New Bill Could Limit Stream Access

[Guest]

I certainly hope they don't do something this stupid, but they're politicians.

If this passes, I won't buy another non-resident fishing license in MO.

There will be no need if I can't wade fish the Elk & its tributaries.

[David Unnerstall]

Each of these characters has anywhere between zero and eight years on the job. What if we made it law that doctors, lawyers and airplane pilots had to change careers after eight years?

[Justin Spencer]

I won't be able to be in Jeff City on Monday, but I know some of our association will, our lobbyist has been on top of it and with the Bob Burns's and the Bear Bass's of the world being directly affected you better believe they will get an ear full. They have a whole lot more to lose than I do, I'm leaving on a cruise in case it is my last chance to vacation before I need to change careers. It seems like our public officials get worse with each election! On a brighter note, get out and fish this week, water levels are awesome and the weather should be good!

[Haris122]

I'm not a big politics follower, but it seems to me that regardless of affiliation, these people are just coming up with more and more extreme BS to attempt to pass into law, just so they can both look more marketable to campaign contributors and more die-hard to core members of party A, or party B, come primary elections. At this rate it wouldn't be a complete surprise if they start thinking up laws on who owns the air or atmosphere within a certain area, and who's stealing someone else's property by breathing it. Spineless, opportunistic b#######.

[grizwilson]

Smallibigs: I'm not saying for certain that our representatives are trying to avoid us, but when I clicked on the link for the legislator lookup you provided, only one of three was actually my representative. Hmmmmmm. I caution everyone using this link to check the maps provided to see if you're actually located in the districts these people actually represent.

I used this link and it worked fine, got them all at once.

http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/default.aspx

g

[grizwilson]

I just obliterated Representative Deb Lavender in district 90 as she lives a street away from me. She is a chiropractor as well in Des Peres. I had a 15 minute conversation with her. She seemed to be unaware of the bill as they always seem to be. My wife and I have both emailed and have written a letter to Eric Schmitt our state Senator in regards to this as well.

I have Ann Wagner insured and she has been a friend of mine for a long time, I spoke with her husband at 9:00am and he is having her call me back, I'm waiting on her call right now. She is US Congresswoman but, I am trying anyone and everyone on this one.

I am with Ron on this........TOTAL BS!!!!! who the hell do they think they are?????

This is war and Representative Robert Ross is the enemy and so is any Representative or Senator that will vote for this......everything is on hold for me until this is dead.

I have made 5 of my office partners promise me they will contact their state Representatives today......get on your computers and phones and tell them what you think.

I am sending a Blitzkrieg their way, it's the only thing I know to do.

Mr. Smalliebigs

Hope you do not mind, but I have got the giggers in on this also..... We are all in this together.

g

[Smalliebigs]

Mr. Smalliebigs

Hope you do not mind, but I have got the giggers in on this also..... We are all in this together.

g

anyo

Hahahahaha. ...hell no anyone who is for legal enjoyment of our rivers and proper corridor usage and wants to help squash this please do so. I think this bill goes against a missouri supreme court ruling but we shall see. I am a huge advocate of keeping our river and streams open....I treat them like it is my own and I take care of my stuff.

[Al Agnew]

I've read and re-read this bill, and to be honest it doesn't make much sense. The terms they use for "navigable", "non-navigable", "public" do not match the present laws of Missouri, and it's difficult to really figure out what streams are described in those terms. However, I strongly suspect that was done purposely to obscure exactly what the bill proposes. I have absolutely no doubt that the intent of this bill is to limit public access to floatable streams and shut off entirely the marginally floatable streams. And that's not even the ONLY problem with this bill. There's one bit of it that says that a landowner can't be fined or prosecuted if he "substantially" follows state and federal pollution regulations and harm results! Who defines "substantially"? At best, this would result in far more lawsuits and court decisions, at worst, friendly judges would decide that ANYTHING could be "substantially".

[fishinwrench]

I read through it twice and it didn't make sense to me either time.

I figured it was just ME being dense.

I guess the part of all of this that makes it seem trivial to me is.... What's the point (or importance) of having a "ruling" on something if it can be swiped off the books and reversed during the very next legislative session?

We go to all these great lengths to insure our kids....and their kids...have quality water and good fishing in the future..... For WHAT ?

Screw it! Just more stupidity!

[MOsmallies]

Ron - Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I don't normally get involved with politics, but like all of us here, the outdoors and stream fishing in particular is very important to me!!! The scariest part of these proposed bills is the fact that my 2 year old son may not get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors that Missouri has to offer. To me that's a tragedy!!!

I have emailed 6 elected officials in my area and urge everyone else to try and do the same.