Mass. Fish and Game fund law passed

[Karl F]

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