Business as Usual?

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]
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Business as Usual? ©

By Jim Slinsky
05/24/08

Legislative change comes hard in PA. We are not the slowest moving state in the nation. Incredibly, compared to other states we are running in the middle of the pack. Yes, there are states that move even slower and a few that are quicker on the trigger. This is a good thing if we are talking about new gun laws, but not so good when we want a long-standing problem resolved. Right now there are issues pending in the Senate that very well may define the future of hunting in the Pennsylvania.

First, you must ask yourself if you are satisfied with the performance of the PGC over the last eight years. You must decide if you want their programs to continue or is it time for a change. I can vividly recall the remarks of PGC Regional Supervisor Denny Dusza at the PCN televised Coudersport meeting a few months ago. Mr. Dusza advised the crowd to stop worrying about deer and go out and hunt squirrels. Squirrels? Mr. Carl Roe, Executive Director of the PGC made a similar comment to our Senators just weeks ago. Are they telling us the real future of hunting in PA? I almost fell off my chair, twice.

The reality is the PGC Board of Commissioners is the oversight committee for the management and philosophy of the Agency. The Agency puts the programs together and the Board is supposed to vote yea or nay. Over the past eight years the areas of responsibility have blurred and it appears the Agency and the Board has been merged. It is further obvious that our PGC Commissioners are often driving the agenda and the Agency is in tow. To say the entire process and relationship of these two entities have drifted miles from the statutory intent is a massive understatement.

Although, one could say the politics of the last year or so are presently culminating in a crossroad decision for our Senators and the future of hunting in this state. State Rep Dan Surra put forth his HB1214 limiting PGC Commissioner terms to two (2) four-year terms. The bill passed the House 199-0 and sits in limbo within the PA Senate. State Rep Mike Hanna put forth his HB2381restricting PGC employees and former WCO’s from becoming PGC Commissioners. It is predicted this bill will pass the House unanimously, as well. Of course, who could forget the House Resolution calling for a deer management audit that passed by a margin of 201-0? SR Surra and SR Hanna are both Democrats and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention SR Sam Rohrer, SR Gordon Denlinger and SR Dan Moul as Republicans putting forth curative legislation, too. The concerns for our great traditions are indeed bi-partisan.

The Unified Sportsmen of PA was at the forefront of much of the landmark legislation. I must plug them because they are the only statewide organized group fighting the good fight for the average hunting license buyer in this state. They stand alone against the liberal agenda that has gripped the PGC and our Board of Commissioners for the last eight years.

At this moment in history, the ball is in the Senate’s lap. Unified has practically begged our Senators to pass HB1214 and eliminate WCO’s and former PGC employees from consideration as Commissioners. Let us not forget our sporting class is the sole financiers of the PGC for the past 100 years and yet our voices are ignored for Commissioner appointments. The embroiling mess we find ourselves in will not be resolved without appointing qualified, objective PGC Commissioners.

The people who control our destiny as sportsmen and the future of our great traditions are Senator Joseph Scarnati, Senator Charles McIlhinney and your local Senator. I heard there may be an attempt very soon to slip another PGC surrogate onto our PGC Board of Commissioners. Maybe, this time it will be the farming industry that will be appeased, or gas, coal and/or forestry once again.

It is completely fair and accurate to say the Unified Sportsmen of PA is assertively fighting for the rights of the average license buyer in this state and our House of Representatives is listening. It is unclear at this moment if our Senators are listening. The month of June will be critical. Will our Senators respond to the requests of the people? Or, will our sporting class be ignored and once again, business as usual will prevail?

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com.

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