#2392347 - 05/13/11 06:44 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: fatboy]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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As I understand the situation, by deferring the vote until 2012, the Agency will have to enter shut-down mode after June 2011 because they have not been reauthorized. In other words, because Rep Cobb et al didn't vote to extend the authorization (deferred the vote), then the Agency faces shutting down.
Now, what that will actually mean in terms of physically preparing to close up shop, will have to be determined by the Commission, and possibly the Gov.'s Office. Hope the Governor has more sense than Chairman Cobb and his Committee Members who participated in this petty political maneuvering to hold the Agency hostage.
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"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2392349 - 05/13/11 06:47 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: backstraps]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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Well maybe everyone wont wait until next year, or even a couple days prior to a meeting start cloggin phones lines. Needs to be an ongoing effort from here to 2012.
There is enough (too much) politics inside the TWRC now. Sure dont need more coruption!
Good idea, and it would be extremely helpful to let your Representative know right now exactly how silly and non-productive this Committee's actions are. I am because it still just might not be too late to get rational House Members to encourage Chairman Cobb et al to move on re-authorization.
I understand the Senate passed a TWRA re-authorization Bill for 5 years; good for them. Maybe, just maybe, if enough of us pressed our Republican Representative to push for a vote on this Bill, the Speaker and others could salvage what has become the epitome of absolutely stupid political maneuvering. Petty power plays are not uncommon for some politicians, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be called out when they do it, especially when they target sportsmen as chumps.
Edited by Monty (05/13/11 07:11 PM)
_________________________
"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2392352 - 05/13/11 06:57 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Beekeeper]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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If I understand what I have been hearing the legislatures problem is with the TWRC not the TWRA. I don't know exactly what their problem is but they seem to be very upset with the TWRC.
I do not know if there is anything that we can do at this point and I think the legislature will let the TWRC fade away and create another commission that will be more amenable to the wants of the legislature.
I don't know how the rest of you feel but I don't like the way the TWRC is appointed now. Everyone on this commission is a political appointee and they owe a political debt to whoever appointed them. The people on the commission should be elected by the people that pay the bills (the hunters and fishermen of Tennessee) and they should be someone that understands wildlife management not attorneys, land developers, restauranteurs or other folks that have been appointed because of their political contributions rather than their knowledge about the resource they are in charge of handling. JMHO
I've pondered your point for several days, but darned if I can come up with a better (more workable) approach than what's in place. Opening up the TWRC to elections would seem to encompass more of what we have already - only the upper crust folks could afford to campaign and, importantly, gain a particular political Party's backing.
The better candidate might get whipped like a red-headed stepchild simply because he or she didn't belong to the "right" Party (say running as a Democrat rather than a Republican - or vice versa) and get the financial backing needed to win the election. I imagine the local Legislators would come out in force to support "their" like-minded good friend, which would, it seems, be like turning the TWRC over to the Legislators anyway. Does this scenario make sense, or am I way off base?
Yep, the current system has it's flaws, but darned if I can see a better one right now.
_________________________
"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2393348 - 05/15/11 09:41 AM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Monty]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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The following is an email I sent to the entire Government Operations Committee with Cc: to the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Chair/Vice-Chair of the Conservation Committee Sat night. Hopefully, many of you will also contact Representatives and ask them to re-authorize the TWRC for 5 years, like the Senate has already done. Feel free to use any of my language, if you so desire.
Honorable Representative,
I am contacting you in your capacity as a Member of the House Gov Ops Committee. This morning I was invited to participate in a conference call with some rather influential and highly upset sportsmen from around the State re: your Committee's failure to pass HB 258. This failure has created considerable confusion, frustration, and consternation among many game and nongame wildlife enthusiasts throughout Tennessee. Quite frankly, some constituents are mad as hell, and I imagine folks from the Governor's Office thru the Legislature's leadership will be hearing over the next several days about their displeasure.
The Committee Chair's comment that rolling the Bill is not intended to put the Agency out of business, but is predicated on getting the Commissioners' attention is not being accepted by many as either factual or logical. A large number of the sportsmen I've talked with Friday and today believe the motivation for holding the Agency hostage is more directed at either (1) punishing the Agency for perceived wrongs committed against some Legislator's pet projects (deer farming, Norris Lake bass size limits, their favorite candidate not getting the TWRA Exec. Director's job, hog hunting, etc); or (2) abolishing the current Commission structure and installing a politically appointed "Commissioner" similar to other agency heads - thereby providing more "control" over the Agency's professional biological decisions; or (3) both. None of these options is acceptable and are at the heart of the core issues that prompted public demands for the development and implementation of the existing Commission approach. Whatever the motivation, the current situation is wasting time, money, and energy that should be directed to important matters, according to many of the people I've talked with about this matter.
As I understand the current situation:
Both Chambers have held Sunset hearings, and no objections were made in either hearing to extending the Commission or expressing serious reservations about the Agency's operations. The Comptroller’s audit provided no adverse findings with the Commission or the Agency. The Senate has already passed a 5-year extension for the Commission. There have been no special House hearings in any Committee or discussions on the Assembly floor regarding issues with the Commission or the Agency. The previously formed two study committees ostensibly satisfactorily addressed the real or perceived previously reviewed communications problems. Yet, certain Committee Members and others, allegedly behind closed doors, decided to roll the Bill - - thereby, failing to re-authorize the Commission, despite the fact that neither Chairman Cobb nor any other Committee member has openly provided any specific concerns with the Commission or the Agency.
I respectfully ask each Member to please work diligently and cooperatively to re-authorize the TWRC for 5 more years before this Session ends. Doing so is truly in the spirit and interest of the public's welfare and clearly demonstrates that there is nothing nefarious or malicious behind the Committee's (and thereby the Republican-dominated House's) failure to pass HB 258, as the Committee has already done this Session with so many other agencies and commissions. There is considerable concern among many sportsmen, who fund the Agency through their purchase of licenses that many of the innuendos and backroom stories regarding the Agency are simply not accurate and their license dollars are being wasted because of the pending Sunset provisions hanging over the Agency's head.
One subject I think we can all agree on is, if there are legitimate problems that indeed need addressing, then by all means please bring them forward so they can be discussed and resolved as openly and professionally as possible - in the same manner as we have been privileged to receive such cooperation in the past from the vast majority of our Representatives and Agency personnel.
In closing, let me sincerely thank you for your service to all Tennesseans; a professional politician's job is certainly neither easy nor as appreciated as they deserve. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
_________________________
"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2393389 - 05/15/11 10:50 AM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Monty]
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Beekeeper
Good ol' Boys "Team Buckcreek"
16 Point
Registered: 08/26/09
Posts: 10954
Loc: McMinn Co. Tennessee
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If I understand what I have been hearing the legislatures problem is with the TWRC not the TWRA. I don't know exactly what their problem is but they seem to be very upset with the TWRC.
I do not know if there is anything that we can do at this point and I think the legislature will let the TWRC fade away and create another commission that will be more amenable to the wants of the legislature.
I don't know how the rest of you feel but I don't like the way the TWRC is appointed now. Everyone on this commission is a political appointee and they owe a political debt to whoever appointed them. The people on the commission should be elected by the people that pay the bills (the hunters and fishermen of Tennessee) and they should be someone that understands wildlife management not attorneys, land developers, restauranteurs or other folks that have been appointed because of their political contributions rather than their knowledge about the resource they are in charge of handling. JMHO I've pondered your point for several days, but darned if I can come up with a better (more workable) approach than what's in place. Opening up the TWRC to elections would seem to encompass more of what we have already - only the upper crust folks could afford to campaign and, importantly, gain a particular political Party's backing. The better candidate might get whipped like a red-headed stepchild simply because he or she didn't belong to the "right" Party (say running as a Democrat rather than a Republican - or vice versa) and get the financial backing needed to win the election. I imagine the local Legislators would come out in force to support "their" like-minded good friend, which would, it seems, be like turning the TWRC over to the Legislators anyway. Does this scenario make sense, or am I way off base? Yep, the current system has it's flaws, but darned if I can see a better one right now.
How about having to have at least a two year degree in a discipline that is compatible with wildlife management?
What about requiring that before anyone can be considered for a commission seat they will have to have had a Tennessee hunting and fishing license for 5 consecutive years immediately prior to their appointment?
_________________________
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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#2393705 - 05/15/11 06:37 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Beekeeper]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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If I understand what I have been hearing the legislatures problem is with the TWRC not the TWRA. I don't know exactly what their problem is but they seem to be very upset with the TWRC.
I do not know if there is anything that we can do at this point and I think the legislature will let the TWRC fade away and create another commission that will be more amenable to the wants of the legislature.
I don't know how the rest of you feel but I don't like the way the TWRC is appointed now. Everyone on this commission is a political appointee and they owe a political debt to whoever appointed them. The people on the commission should be elected by the people that pay the bills (the hunters and fishermen of Tennessee) and they should be someone that understands wildlife management not attorneys, land developers, restauranteurs or other folks that have been appointed because of their political contributions rather than their knowledge about the resource they are in charge of handling. JMHO I've pondered your point for several days, but darned if I can come up with a better (more workable) approach than what's in place. Opening up the TWRC to elections would seem to encompass more of what we have already - only the upper crust folks could afford to campaign and, importantly, gain a particular political Party's backing. The better candidate might get whipped like a red-headed stepchild simply because he or she didn't belong to the "right" Party (say running as a Democrat rather than a Republican - or vice versa) and get the financial backing needed to win the election. I imagine the local Legislators would come out in force to support "their" like-minded good friend, which would, it seems, be like turning the TWRC over to the Legislators anyway. Does this scenario make sense, or am I way off base? Yep, the current system has it's flaws, but darned if I can see a better one right now. What about having minimum requirements before they can be appointed? How about having to have at least a two year degree in a discipline that is compatible with wildlife management? What about requiring that before anyone can be considered for a commission seat they will have to have had a Tennessee hunting and fishing license for 5 consecutive years immediately prior to their appointment?
Very good ideas! Some proof of common sense would be nice, too.
_________________________
"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2400122 - 05/23/11 03:29 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Monty]
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Hawk
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 09/03/99
Posts: 6147
Loc: west tenn.
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BREAKING NEWS:
May 21, 2011, NASHVILLE) - Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) today assured sportsmen across the state that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) will be extended until 2016.
Tennessee's "Sunset Law" requires that each agency, board and commission be reviewed at certain intervals by the legislative Government Operations Committees. The reviews and subsequent approvals take the form of a bill, which then extends the entity. In 2012, the TWRC will be extended to 2016.
"I can confidently assure Tennesseans that the TWRC will continue to lead the way for outdoorsmen and conservationists in our state," said Speaker Harwell. "The legislature appreciates hearing from concerned sportsmen and constituents. I look forward to continuing this dialogue between the legislature, the TWRC, and citizens."
She continued, "The commission will not shut down, and will continue to serve Tennesseans. The State House will be acting in January to ensure the extension of the TWRC," Speaker Harwell concluded.
_________________________
"Sometimes it's not enough to know what things mean, sometimes you have to know what things don't mean."
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#2401004 - 05/24/11 02:42 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Hawk]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25247
Loc: TN
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Hearing different things from different places??? Anybody know the whole deal?
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#2401120 - 05/24/11 06:15 PM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Winchester]
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Monty
4 Point
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 475
Loc: Bedford Co.
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Hearing different things from different places??? Anybody know the whole deal?
Just what the news release is saying...what are you hearing????
_________________________
"What is man without the beasts? For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." (Chief Seattle)
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#2401496 - 05/25/11 07:31 AM
Re: TWRA Sunset Status !!!!!!!!!!*********!!!!!!!!!!
[Re: Monty]
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Beekeeper
Good ol' Boys "Team Buckcreek"
16 Point
Registered: 08/26/09
Posts: 10954
Loc: McMinn Co. Tennessee
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I don't trust the legislature on this. I believe they will try to make major changes to the TWRC and TWRA. Look for the deer farming bill to resurface after the changes are made. Also look for the legislature to take more of an active hand in the management of the TWRA and their budget.
We shouldn't let this happen if there is any way we can stop it.
_________________________
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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