Lead Bouncer

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION

Early in February, CCA warned its members, about Senate Bill 5127, an attempt to silence your voice in Washington's fisheries management by gutting the Fish and Wildlife Commission's authority to manage our fisheries. Despite your overwhelming opposition as shown by your 4,600 e-mails and letters, this dangerous bill has passed out of the Natural Resources Committee. Worse yet, another Senate Bill, SSB 5588 Page 9 section 41 would SUSPEND THE COMMISSION until July 2011.

SSB 5127 would do the following:

Change the number of commissioners from 9 to 7 and change their terms from 6 years to 3 years. Turn over would be so fast, they would have little time to learn the complexities of the subject matter.

All current commissioners would be terminated at the end of this year. The Governor would be required to appoint all new commissioners. The Governor would appoint the Director, and the Commission Chair, subject to Senate confirmation. No commissioner could serve more than one year, if not confirmed by the Senate. This gives the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee absolute veto power over the Governor’s choices through a pocket veto. None of the current commissioners has ever been confirmed.

The current power to adopt departmental rules would be stripped from the commission and given to the Director. The commission would have no oversight powers, and would be limited to holding 4 meetings a year, holding “forums” (a term that is not defined in the act) and making “broad policy recommendations” to the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate (not to the Governor or to WDFW.)

As the Senate Committee moved to repeal a voter adopted commission, it has placed an emergency clause on the bill, that would prohibit voters from gathering signatures, to place it on the fall ballot for a vote of the people. ADD SSB 5588 to your letter and reference page 9 section 41.

CCA respects your privacy. No junk mail. You can opt out, anytime.
Type the complete link, to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/targe...w29500596.aspx