Legislature News
Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited
Chapter #696
Blue Ridge, GA
March 30, 2011
Dear,
We are all well aware of the budget crisis our state and federal governments are facing. So, it comes as no surprise to many that the Department of the Interior is looking at cuts just like all the other areas of our federal government. Interestingly though, the Department of the Interior’s US Fish and Wildlife Service has some areas where they want to expand or increase spending by $47.9 million. But, to do that they are planning to cut or reduce some existing programs that are vital to the economic recovery of our area.
One of the targeted programs for reduction is the National Fish Hatchery Program. The current proposal calls for the “shuttering” of nine trout hatcheries nationwide, six of which are here in the southeast. These hatcheries include:
· Greer’s Ferry and Erwin Hatcheries (Arkansas)
· Chattahoochee Hatchery (Georgia)
· Wolf Creek Hatchery (Kentucky)
· Dale Hollow and Erwin Hatcheries (Tennessee)
Since 1937, these hatcheries have provided trout fishing opportunities for millions of people across the country, and created jobs…not only for those involved in the raising of these fish or the sale of fishing supplies, but in all of the tourist related businesses including restaurants, lodging, gas stations and numerous others. In 2009, these hatcheries directly supported 3,500 jobs (and tens of thousands more indirectly) and added nearly $325 million in total economic benefit to local and state economies.
The loss of these hatcheries will be devastating to the future of trout fishing in the southeast and a major blow to this valuable economic engine in our region. Additionally, if these hatcheries are closed many will quickly suffer from lack of use and will need major repair or replacement when money is once more available. The result would be an even greater expense to tax payers to return what we already had in place before the shutdown.
If ever there was a time to keep something that is working, and contributing to the economic recovery of this nation, in place…it is now. We urge you to help stop the shuttering of our national fish hatcheries and help save the economies of those areas of the country that count so heavily on fishing and eco-tourism.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tom Graves (Congressional District 9)
1113 Longworth House Bldg.
|
|
US Senators of the 112th Congress from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phone: 202-225-5211
Fax: 202-225-8272
Rep. Paul C. Broun (Congressional District 10)
325 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Phone: 202-225-4101
Fax: 202-206-0776
Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston
· In the Blue Ridge District...
·
·
·
· 706.632.2221 - Office
· 706.632.6193 - Fax
April 2010
Fannin County Trout Capital of GA
Preservation of 460 acre tract at Amicalola Creek
January 2010
Representative David Ralston Elected Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives The Blue Ridge area gained strength and stature in Georgia politics when Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) was elected House Speaker on January 10, 2010. Ralston was already a force in Georgia during his service in the Georgia State Senate from 1992 until he received the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 1998, and his leadership on several House committees since his election in 2002 to serve as Representative for the 7th District (Fannin, Gilmer, and parts of Dawson Counties). However, becoming Speaker brings Ralston to the peak of legislative power, which looms large for Fannin County’s future. David Ralston was born in Ellijay and went to high school in Gilmer. He went to in North Georgia and law school at University of Georgia. Rep. Ralston has been a good friend to Fannin County and a proponent of values and goals for this area which to date appear to be entirely consistent with Trout Unlimited objectives of preserving, protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries. For example, in December, 2008, Carl Riggs, Joe DiPietro, and Ralph Artigliere had the opportunity to sit down with Rep. Ralston to discuss the imminent danger of closing trout hatcheries. The results of that meeting are set out in some detail below. While David Ralston’s journey as Speaker has just begun, we wish him the best and express our highest hopes for strong leadership for the state while maintaining the values and strength of conviction he developed in the community here and as a member of The Georgia Bar. Leaders like this do not come along every day. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 09
There are two bills that you should be tracking. Talk to your members about being prepared to contact elected officials about them. We commonly do this through Camouflage Coalition Alerts, GEAN Alerts and asking TU members to write or call their Senators and Representatives at critical times in the legislative process – when floor votes are scheduled… GA TU position statements will be drafted as the bills firm up.
SB 155 - Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; 25 foot buffers along state waters; change certain provisions
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/search/sb155.htm+
Sponsored by:
(4) Rogers,Chip 21st
(6) Hawkins,Lee 49th
This bill was offered last week and has not been assigned to committee. It weakens existing stream buffer laws. Expect more info shortly. We are working with Georgia Wildlife Federation and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and oppose the bill.
HB 207 - Off-road vehicles; operating restrictions; change certain provisions
www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/search/hb207.htm
Sponsored by:
(1) Sims,Chuck 169th
This bill is moving through committee. Expect “waters of the state” to be changed to “navigable and non-navigable streams”. We are working with Georgia Wildlife Federation and supporting the bill in the committee hearings.
Kevin F McGrath
Chairman, Back-the-Brookie
Georgia Trout Unlimited
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meeting with State Rep. David Ralston
By Ralph Artigliere
December 08
Joe DiPietro arranged an appointment with Rep. David Ralston of Blue Ridge today, which was attended by me, Joe, and Carl Riggs. The meeting was productive and friendly.
The initial reason for the meeting was the proposed closing of the Lake Burton Hatchery for budgetary reasons. After the meeting was set, but before we met, the hatchery was removed from the list of proposed cuts under the current list of items to be cut at the 6-8-10% levels. Rep. Ralston and TU received the same message about the status change: Right now it looks good for the Hatchery staying open, but that could change when the final cuts are determined. However, we felt it was still important to meet and so did Rep. Ralston. We are on the same page in many ways.
Rep. Ralston opened with a realistic view of the lay of the land. He told us that this year is like no other in recent or even past history regarding the budget process. None of the current Georgia legislators have ever faced financial cutbacks like these, which will result in significant loss of services for Georgia citizens and loss of jobs and programs, to include loss of public safety positions. Rep. Ralston thinks the cuts are likely at the max level (10%) in the projections. He also feels there may be shifting of cuts, including adding of some items and removing others, so the Lake Burton Hatchery is not out of the woods (his words) until they are done with the session. It will be up to the legislature (not DNR) on what items are eventually cut. Rep. Ralston is in favor of saving the hatchery and preserving as much as possible regarding natural resource management and enforcement. He is also very concerned about the Wildlife Management Areas, which he says are facing uneven and dangerous cutbacks statewide, putting funding for our mountain WMA's on the chopping block.
Using the PowerPoint I received from Georgia TU State Council, we presented the information regarding the economic rationale to preserve the hatchery as well as the social reasons. We also presented the alternative of raising trout stamp fees. Rep. Ralston was impressed that State TU Presidents voted unanimously to up fees on ourselves to preserve the Hatchery. He feels that raising out-of-state fees would be more palatable politically, and he asked Joe to get info on the number of out-of-state trout stamps and licenses obtained and comparison of fees with neighboring states. He also wanted the info in the PowerPoint (both of which have been given to him).
Rep. Ralston had the following suggestions for us, which we feel is very good advice:
1. With the hatchery off the list of cuts for now, we should not continue a blizzard of letters in support of the hatchery. Keep an eye on the process and be ready to come forward with support for the hatchery if and when support is needed.
2. When writing or calling legislators in support of the hatchery, the most persuasive letters, emails and calls come from local constituents and preferably someone the legislator knows. Representatives will literally be getting hundreds of e-mails and letters during the session, and they can only digest so many of them. Letters from out of the district and especially out of state have little chance of helping. However, he realizes that sometimes we have to plead our case to legislators outside our district. That's OK, but it's much tougher to be effective.
3. Regarding the recommendation by the Georgia. TU State Council to raise trout stamp fees in lieu of closing the hatchery or otherwise cutting DNR trout enforcement or programs, Rep. Ralston is impressed that we are willing to "tax ourselves" to keep the services, but he says it is political suicide for some representatives to support raising fees because it is like raising taxes. A rise in out-of-state fees may work. He suggests letters from the TU State Chair and/or the Presidents expressing the support we have for raising trout stamp fees and a request to raise in-state and out-of-state fees. He said out-of-state fee increases are an interesting prospect, but we should not expect in-state fees to be raised by the legislature this year.
After the meeting, we had a pleasant chat about Georgia and Georgia Tech football and other important small talk. The meeting began well and ended better, in my estimation. I like Rep. Ralston and he obviously sympathizes with our cause.
The draft form of the currently proposed fiscal year 2010 DNR Budget Cuts (is available upon request)
“is fluid and still a work in progress,” according to DNR Communications Staff