SB 5817 Changing the Governance of WDFW

[bigtex]

SB 5817 would change the governance of WDFW. Under current law the Fish and Wildlife Commission is the entity that really runs WDFW. The commission then appoints a Director who manages the day to day operations. Under SB 5817 the Director would be appointed by the Governor and the commission would be the "fish and wildlife advisory commission" whose role is to simply advise the director on managing the department and fish/wildlife.

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5817.pdf

[dreamingbig]

Gulp.  I can't decide if this is good or bad.  New director with every change in governor?


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[Katmai Guy]

So is this an effort to put control of wildlife under a dem govenor to control delisting of wolves or eliminate hunting, thinking the state will always elect a dem?
  Very bad idea putting control under one person.

[dreamunelk]

If you like the idea of our current Governor running WDFW than click yes.  Not that he does not hold a lot of power over the WDFW now, there is some separation.

[Fl0und3rz]

As bad as things may be, I can't imagine an Inswee cwonie being an impwovement.

[Hunter4Life]

This bill is dead on arrival.  Senator Pearson won't even give this awful bill a hearing.

[csaaphill]

voted No because Inslee is a piece of work!

[timberfaller]

When you can't even get a decent Commission,  how do you expect to get a Director of any caliber?? from a Governor!!

Best thing that could happen, would be split the department up and get Wildlife away from Fish!!

[Mark Brenckle]

As bad as things may be, I can't imagine an Inswee cwonie being an impwovement.

  No that's funny!  

[JimmyHoffa]

I think the Director and Commission should be selected by vote of license holders....

Just can't see how things would get better letting someone like Gregwoire or Inslee have even more control over wildlife management.

[Gringo31]

No


Also, it makes me scratch my head to think that of all of our issues in this state, this is the kind of "solutions" they have.....

[Special T]

I think the Director and Commission should be selected by vote of license holders....

Just can't see how things would get better letting someone like Gregwoire or Inslee have even more control over wildlife management.

I think some modified version of this is what is necessary but unlikely to happen. All of us sportmen are fairly headstrong, but a our differences are mostly magnified by anitgun/hunting groups. I have thought that people with SKIN IN THE GAME should always be the ones voting... People with none have no vested intrest in reasching and making an informed decision.  I would pay more for a sportmen led/focused/science based department instead of this crap we have now...

[pd]

OK, I will happily take the bait, and argue for the bill.

Question: Do you know who your commission members are?  Do you know who appointed them?  And, by the way, did YOU have a say in their appointment?

I didn't think so.  The commission is one of the best examples of unaccountability that we have in government, either at the state or federal level.  At least with most federal commissions (FTC, FCC, FEC, etc.) statute requires an almost even split between Republicans and Democrats, with the slight majority going to the party of the chief executive.  With the state commission, guess how many members of that commission can be appointed by the governor from a single party?  Well?

Whether you like your current governor or not, I don't care.  But I want my state government to be 100% accountable to the people.  The only way to ensure this is to have a powerful governor, who directly controls ALL state agencies.  You want to be able to hold the feet of state agencies to the fire, and the best way to do this is to appeal (publicly, loudly) to the governor.  Remember Harry Truman's famous desk sign: "The buck stops here."  That is what we want.

There are too many layers of protection for DFW right now.  The director is appointed by a commission that is appointed by the governor.  You sportsmen and women are really powerless and toothless when it comes to directly influencing agency work.

Yes, eliminate this commission, and let the governor take full control and responsibility for all agencies.

[Special T]

While i agree with your basic assesment it still does nothing to increase the influence for those with Skin In the Game.

Washington states WHOLE funding system is based off of a User pays system. If you need/require/want some services you should be willing to foot the bill.

There is a good reason why there are snowpark passes/ ORV tabs, Hunting Lic, Vessel registration, gas tax, etc... It is only our fault that we fail to throw out the leaders of the party that have controlled this state for near 30 years. The *censored*ation of this basic funding princibles is WHY we have so many problems.

Politics will always be part of the WDFW. Since they Fail to represent and service sportsmen then there does need a major overhaul, but i fail to see how this bill helps any. 

[buckfvr]

That idea would do no more than deliver " status quo " management ( what we want rid of ), and ensure wdfw stayed the course of special interest groups, ie. west side constituency.   We need a ground up overhaul in management and commissioners...................

[bearpaw]

With the commission you have a nine member group making decisions rather than one person. I've always thought at least 2 heads are better than 1, nine heads are bound to be better than 1! The commission is organized so that both sides of the state are represented, there are members from eastern and western WA. Also, no two commissioners can be from the same county.

There are liabilities with any system of establishing a commission, I don't think there is a perfect way that could be implemented, everyone has a different perspective of the "perfect" way to establish a commission. At least the current method used has resulted in a variety of commission members!

Eastern WA is currently lacking, two appointments need to be made.

[Humptulips]

Nothing is going to be perfect. I don't think you are going to get a better system then we have now for appointing the Director.
I would like to see a change in the appointment of Commissioners so they would have to be confirmed by the Legislature in a timely manner.
Right now the confirmation process is a joke.

[elk247]

With the commission you have a nine member group making decisions rather than one person. I've always thought at least 2 heads are better than 1, nine heads are bound to be better than 1! The commission is organized so that both sides of the state are represented, there are members from eastern and western WA. Also, no two commissioners can be from the same county.

There are liabilities with any system of establishing a commission, I don't think there is a perfect way that could be implemented, everyone has a different perspective of the "perfect" way to establish a commission. At least the current method used has resulted in a variety of commission members!

Eastern WA is currently lacking, two appointments need to be made.

Having the commission under the director is the way it was done from 1987 to '94 correct? I would like to see the 9 person commission split 4 & 4 east/west with the last seat alternated every 6 years. Might not be perfect but one side of the state would never be outnumbered 2 to 1.

[Odell]

OK, I will happily take the bait, and argue for the bill.

Question: Do you know who your commission members are?  Do you know who appointed them?  And, by the way, did YOU have a say in their appointment?

I didn't think so.  The commission is one of the best examples of unaccountability that we have in government, either at the state or federal level.  At least with most federal commissions (FTC, FCC, FEC, etc.) statute requires an almost even split between Republicans and Democrats, with the slight majority going to the party of the chief executive.  With the state commission, guess how many members of that commission can be appointed by the governor from a single party?  Well?

Whether you like your current governor or not, I don't care.  But I want my state government to be 100% accountable to the people.  The only way to ensure this is to have a powerful governor, who directly controls ALL state agencies.  You want to be able to hold the feet of state agencies to the fire, and the best way to do this is to appeal (publicly, loudly) to the governor.  Remember Harry Truman's famous desk sign: "The buck stops here."  That is what we want.

There are too many layers of protection for DFW right now.  The director is appointed by a commission that is appointed by the governor.  You sportsmen and women are really powerless and toothless when it comes to directly influencing agency work.

Yes, eliminate this commission, and let the governor take full control and responsibility for all agencies.

I agree completely. The only better scenario would be having the director a publicly elected position.

[bobcat]

I agree completely. The only better scenario would be having the director a publicly elected position.

   You do realize that less than 5% of Washington's citizens are hunters?

[Firedogg]

Ohh yeah, want to muck up the system even more just add political appointments to it. 👎👎👎

[bearpaw]

Nothing is going to be perfect. I don't think you are going to get a better system then we have now for appointing the Director.
I would like to see a change in the appointment of Commissioners so they would have to be confirmed by the Legislature in a timely manner.
Right now the confirmation process is a joke.

   I agree, that would be an improvement.

Appointments should be made quicker by the governor, the eastside has been lacking two commissioners for too long!

[jasnt]

Nothing is going to be perfect. I don't think you are going to get a better system then we have now for appointing the Director.
I would like to see a change in the appointment of Commissioners so they would have to be confirmed by the Legislature in a timely manner.
Right now the confirmation process is a joke.

   I agree, that would be an improvement.

Appointments should be made quicker by the governor, the eastside has been lacking two commissioners for too long!

 

[bearpaw]

This bill is dead on arrival.  Senator Pearson won't even give this awful bill a hearing.

Just saw your post, thanks for that info!

[stevemiller]

No way,Nuff said.