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California Sportsmen Must Oppose Plans to Divert Wildlife Funds

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal includes a shell game shifting $30 million away from state wildlife programs to cover other budget shortfalls.  This action raises significant concerns in the sportsman community that the diversion will hamper the Department of Fish and Game’s ability to conduct its operations. 

This is especially pronounced since those programs are paid for by sportsmen’s hunting and license fees.  The USSA calls on sportsmen in California to oppose this diversion designed to prop up unrelated state programs.

According to Gov. Schwarzenegger, the funds being diverted from the state Fish and Game Preservation Fund will be repaid by 2013 with interest.  However, recent history shows that similar raids in the past have not been paid back in full.  Furthermore, if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deem this to be a “diversion” of license fees, matching federal dollars could be in jeopardy.

Adding insult to injury are inflationary hikes proposed in the same budget to both the 2009 hunting and fishing licenses.  Upset anglers are already voicing their displeasure and, according to some media reports, are planning a “license burning” rally outside the state capitol.

“These are tough budget times for many states,” said Rick Story, USSA senior vice president.  “However, the Governor should not be robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Sportsmen expect their license fees to go to wildlife programs, as established by law, and that’s the way it should stay.”

The USSA urges sportsmen in California to go the USSA Legislative Action Center, find their state legislators and tell them not to support the Governor’s plan to divert their license fees to other state programs.  Sportsmen should also contact Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office and let him know that the diversion is a bad idea.