Just read an email stating that the bill to restore the fish and game fund passed so we will still get those matching Fed. funds.
However the 2 hatcheries are still scheduled to be closed.
There is a petition at Redtop in Buzzards Bay to sign to try and keep it open so if you can , sign it.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Hey slip,
I put my name on it a few weeks ago.
I will heading over the bridge tomorrow, u going over it as well ?

VB

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/fishwildlife24.htm

Keep the pressure on, Mitt da Twitt still has to sign off on this thing to keep the hatchery open.

The House and Senate today passeed legislation restoring the Inland Fish & Game Fund and the monies diverted as part of the F/Y 2004 Budget. The Wildlands Stamp money was included in the legislation and $200,000 was earmarked to keep the Montague and Sandwich hatcheries running thru next June. This was accomplished thru the efforts of the MA Sportsmen's Council, MA Audubon, MA Conservation Alliance, Gun Owners Action League, many supportive legislators, and phone calls from numerous sportsmen and women to legislators and the Governor.

The Governor filed legislation to put things back the way they were as did House Natural Resources Chair Bill Greene (D - Billerica). A hearing was held just a week ago and the bill was "fast-tracked" due to the Feds indicating that )assachusetts would loose $4.7 million if the fund was not reestablished along with statutory language specifying the purposes for which the funds could be used. We expect that Governor Romney will sign the bill shortly!

Thanks to all who contacted the governor and legislators, it DID make a difference!

While this gets things back to where we were, we must now try to get the legislature to permit the Division to fill some of the 37 vacant positions and to appropriate the necessary funds.

John E Kellstrand
Legislative/Executive Agent
Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council

Signed at Redtop this past weekend - while I picked up some Fall "goodies" :D

Any way we can also sign a petition online rather than having to go to Red Top? I'm down that ways often, but I rarely go to Red Top.