Legislation Threatens Conservation Authority and Funding

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Jefferson City, MO | January 16, 2015 –  Conservation is under attack. As you read this, legislation aimed at destroying the Department of Conservation by eliminating funding sources and altering the composition of the Conservation Commission is working it’s way through our State Legislature. For the past 80 years, the Conservation Federation of Missouri has fought against legislative attacks aimed at diminishing the authority and funding of MDC. This year will be no different. CFM will do everything in our power to ensure MDC remains the agency our founders fought to establish based on the belief that science, not politics, should govern the forest, fish and wildlife of our state.

In 1976, the citizens of Missouri voted to self-impose a sales tax for the benefit of conservation. Today, because of this tax, we have flourishing game and fish populations, top resource professionals, hundreds-of-thousands of acres of public land, nature centers, private lands programs and so much more. If Missouri is to remain a national leader of conservation, our Federation, comprised of the diverse conservation community of Missouri, must band together like never before and make our message heard loud and clear – “Enough is enough, leave conservation and the millions of Missourians who enjoy our natural resources alone.”

These bills are threats to conservation: 

  • HJR 8 (Redmon) – Proposes a constitutional provision repealing the Conservation sales and use tax.
  • HJR 27 (Spencer) – Proposes a constitutional amendment reducing the sales tax from 1/8 of a cent to 1/16 of a cent.
  • HJR 28 (Spencer) – Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the conservation sales tax to be approved by voters every 10 years.
  • SB 56 (Munzlinger) – Eliminates hunting, fishing, and trapping permit fees for Missouri residents.
  • SJR 1 (Munzlinger) – Modifies the membership composition and terms of service of the commissioners on the Conservation Commission.
  • SB 178 (Munzlinger) – Modifies provisions relating to captive cervids.
  • HB 315 (Brown) – Requires the Department of Conservation to conduct testing of deceased deer found along state highways for chronic wasting disease.
  • HB 316 (Brown) – Requires Conservation Commission members to register as lobbyists upon appointment by the Governor, and to follow all lobbyist rules and regulations.
  • HB 317 (Brown) – Requires the Department of Conservation to reimburse automobile owners up to $500 for damages inflicted upon their vehicles by deer.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri is toiling on the front lines to ensure your outdoor passions of hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and overall outdoor enjoyment remain for today and tomorrow.

To stay informed of how these bills progress, sign up to receive our Legislative Action Alerts (Click Here).

 

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