From Anna Minicucci's site- http://www.awriter.com :
RISAA president, Steve Medeiros, was acting as co-chairman of the recreational license (sub) committee and how he gave the appearance that the RISAA membership approves of the saltwater license proposal. (The other cochair, David Borden was not at the meeting that night.)

The e-mail, who appears to be a RISAA member, continued, “With all due respect, several members have the opinion Steve needs to step back and reappraise the road Dave Borden, has led him down”.(Borden is asst. director natural resources development and planning). The e-mail continued, “Contrary to what has been said, our membership is not equally divided as to support on this issue. I’ve yet to discuss the issue with any RISAA member in favor of it. Steve has publicly stated we are going to get a license whether we like it or not.”

“The RI General Assembly has reduced the fish and wildlife budget to the point where Chairman Borden is hoping fishermen will bail them out and pay for their existence The word came down to generate revenues from a saltwater license or kiss your job goodbye...Borden saw a wonderful opportunity in persuading RISAA’s president to join his cause is another word for taxation. No way will a saltwater license help us catch more cod, mackerel, winter flounder, fluke and striped bass.....”

Whether or not the writer of that e-mail is speaking for a whole lot of folks remains to be seen, but he clearly states the relationship between David Borden and Steve Medeiros.


RISAA
When Medeiros and others formed RISAA it was looked upon as a consortium of recreational anglers and related marine businesses, as the one voice they would finally be able to rally when needed. Medeiros flexed RISAA’s organizational muscle with DEM’s hierarchy and it was apparent that they recognized an opportunity to cultivate Steve Medeiros - big time. Before one could blink, Medeiros was courted by DEM and the Governor’s office for various volunteer spots, and quite soon he was appointed to the RI Marine Fisheries Council representing recreational (sport fishing) anglers.

[QUOTE]RISAA president, Steve Medeiros, was acting as co-chairman of the recreational license (sub) committee and how he gave the appearance that the RISAA membership approves of the saltwater license proposal. (The other cochair, David Borden was not at the meeting that night.)


So much for fairplay with the licenses,Its all for the money.I guess its time for all of us to "bail out" Dem...............

Anna's original piece is over on her site; click on "Enviro Sports" on the left panel and go to this weeks article....

Smells kinda fishy don't it... I'm still generally opposed to more fees to fish, something must be done but I'm not sure another tax ix the answer, especially based on how much revenue for the state is already generated by sw fishing :af:

Just a Money Grab.

they are all ( states ) doing it . Money grabbing thieves . In Ct we even have 2 casinos forking over 100s of millions to the state and yet they want more from us in taxes . The govenor has asked all his dept heads to look into licences and permits and if there hasnt been an increase they will recommend increases where they think they can get the most money and least amount of fight . The cost to get into Ct state parks is going up . to make a reservation will cost you an extra 8.50 for a transaction fee . Damn out sourcing . Just like the new cigarettes tax . less people smoke so less of a fight . matter of fact there is no one opposing it . No cigar tax ! WHY ? cause thats what is socially accepted The in thing and not to mention the rich smoke cigars .

We need a good old tea party . did the American people piss away the fight in America ? Are we a bunch a of pansies that let government rule us for the " safety of us all " . If the government says doing this will make it a safer country people let it happen . Its all hog wash the government CANT make it any safer than it is or isnt . They are in controll . soon we will live like the east germans did during the 60s, 70s, 80s . them telling us when and when we cant do something or be somewhere !
Ive said enough !
for now

Chris....Vote Libertarian. ;)

I'm with Chris, OUR Servants have become the masters. Just follow the money and you'll know why we need a saltwater license. :af:

We are quickly becoming a two class society. Don't be fooled just because you still have enough money to buy fishing tackle. With NAFTA finally coming of age and most manufacturers moving to China I am surprised we haven't seen a labor uprising :o

If you are a politician and want 100 million for your pork barrel programs and you propose to or vote to raise taxes , you will get voted out. People don't want new taxes.

If howeever , you are a politician who needs 100 million extra for pork , you go out and raise all the user fees and impose new ones. That way you are never held accountable by the voters for actually raising taxes.

They call it taxation without representation and that's one of the reasons we fought the revolution.

Maybe I'm stupid but what ever happened to....this is how much money we have , how will we spend it? NOOOOOO Now its .....this is how much we want to spend , how will we get it out of the peoples pockets.

I forget the exact program but something like 3 years ago they vote to spend 10 million in 2002. Come 2002 , we don't have it. We say sorry , we don't have it , we can't spend it.

They sue the government saying we don't care if you have it or not. You voted to spend it , you must spend it or we'll sue! So if they MUST SPEND , we MUST PAY? Bull!

This is part of an e-mail I got today from someone who is running for Govenor of Mass:

BIG GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE LESSON #1

The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, Associated Press, State House
News Service, and the Boston ABC, NBC, and CBS TV Stations agree
with the State Legislature and Republican Governor Jane Swift:

Massachusetts Government faces a budget deficit.

Deficit. A favorite Big Government word. Deficit.

A gap between Big Government Spending and Big Government Taxes.

A Tax shortfall.

If a private citizen earns $40,000 a year and spends $50,000 a year,
he does NOT have a $10,000 earning deficit. He has a $10,000
over-spending problem.

If the Massachusetts State Legislature collects $22 Billion in Tax
funds and intends to spend $23.6 Billion, the politicians and the
media call this over-spending a budget deficit.

"What are we going to do about a $1.6 Billion state budget deficit?"
asks the politicians and media.

"What are we going to do about this year's $1.6 Billion in state
government over-spending?" ask the advocates of honest talk and
fiscal responsibility.

We stand for honest talk. Plain language.

Massachusetts government has an over-spending problem, not a
deficit problem.

Massachusetts politicians are over-spending, not under-taxing.

Over-spending, not a Tax shortfall.

Call the problem by its real name: over-spending. Then we can solve
the real problem.

Oh yah, here we go.

You know, when you're relatively comfortable, I think you tend to ignore these things. But when you start to think about it in simpler terms, you just get pissed off.

I know things aren't this simple, but isn't the idea of the communist form of government to basically take all the money and make everyone equal?

Well, what do you call it when the government takes 40% of everything you earn? 16 of your 40 hours per week, we're working for someone else. I have taxes taken out of my pay. I pay taxes for my property, my vehicles (excise tax), I pay taxes when I buy clothes or go out to eat.

And the only thing bi-partisan about the whole tax issue, is where the money goes. And tax cuts? I'm not trying to start a political battle because I'm an issue guy, not a party guy. But when the republicans promise a tax cut, look at the programs they want to get rid of... alot of times, conservation issues suffer badly at the hands of republican tax cuts. That's a big issue for me. And big money get the biggest breaks, not working folks like us.

But dudes, when I hear that someone can immigrate to this country and get on freakin' welfare... that makes me sick too. This ain't a charity. I would like my money to go towards my family. Not to some lady who has 6 kids and keeps having more because she gets more assistance.

I just think the scary thing is that you get conditioned to accept these things. Its only a 1% increase... then in 10 years its 10%! We've gotta watch.

When do we rise up... when they take 50%? How do we make our voices be heard? By voting? They still control who we chose from. Two parties equally evil. Why can't we just vote on issues? I have to chose the liars from this side because I strongly support these couple issues. I support ideas from both sides, but my passions force me to support the democrats. Do I like the candidates or support all their ideas? Not even close.

When there are so many issues, how can a two party system possibly work... and you can't tell me its not a two party system. If I vote anyone other than rep or dem, does my vote count? It may make a small statement, but realistically it doesn't affect the outcome. So I am forced to pick from a lesser of two evils... that sucks.

Not enough people look at the issues... the election fiasco proved that. How many peoople presented unbiased arguements for their cause. Most people cannot see past their party lines. As long as that is the case, and people just vote for a party, nothing will change. We will have minimal power to affect change. From huge issues...

... to issues such as this license. Even on a localized level, it seems like the people's voice isn't heard. Are we making a bigger issue out of this than we should? Most people might laugh at Saltheart and Chris bringing up the revolution... or Fishpart talking about a labor uprising...

Over a fishing license? We must be nuts.

No, its just symptomatic of the BS that seems to be gaining momentum from year to year. The people in power seem to get bolder and bolder, while we sit back fat and happy, and get quieter and quieter.

I'm not preaching 'cause I'm as guilty as the next guy. But its the truth. We allow too much... taxation without true representation, invasions of our privacy (not on a gov't level... I'm talking in a business sense... aka-10 telemarketing calls per night, 20 spam emails a day), getting screwed by big companies that don't honor their products or business practices, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Whew, let me step down from my soapbox... I get a bit rowdy over these issues.

ps... good post Steve. I hate when they use political potty mouth BS to try and cloud the issues. Fuzzy math, fuzzy english, fuzzy history... its all fuzzy BS to try anything to avoid telling the truth.

I love this country... and recent events have shown that we can still be great. Its still the best there is... a nation of this size. But we need to make changes.

its not a party thing . Its what they all do they lie and steal . They want a tax hike I want the government to take a pay cut . No more senate subway no more new furniture cause you dont like what was in the office when you took over . They come into it rich and they leave even richer . The dems blame the rep , the rep blame the dems , the green party ( or what ever they want to call it today ) blames everyone else . They are all guilty of being liers beggers anr thieves . We need to take this country back to a time when serving the government was a unpaid job when your done you go back to what ever it is you did before hand . People say its not realistic . well it is ! The US citizen just has to step up to the plate and take the risk . RISK we dont take no risks . we let the governmet dictate how and when and who for that matter . when I was growing up my parents took control of me and my 3 brothers well being the government didnt make laws to protect us our parents did . Today the government controlls how I have to parent . I DONT LIVE IN A GLASS CASE ! Its a law my kids ride in a car seat and they stop us to make sure I use one . Do I really need a cop parenting for me . NO I DONT ! The cops have enough other real problems to deal with than wheather my 7 year old or 4 year old are in seatbelts or are under 60 #s and in a car seat or booster . I know enough parents dont do the right thing . But how come it is that I have to have a licence to work , to drive and to fish but yet I can parent as many kids as I can without one . I tell ya , as a country we've gone to hell in a hand basket . Big corporations and lobbyists and politions suck . If I have offended any one here who is an honest ( no such thing ) politition Im sorry you took the road in life you did .

Dave I hope you get well soon .