Fish & Wildlife: Proposed staff cuts could endanger local seafood eaters

[bigtex]

House, or Senate? not seeing that in the story

Each chamber is proposing cuts, the governor also proposed cuts.

[bearpaw]

House, or Senate? not seeing that in the story

Each chamber is proposing cuts, the governor also proposed cuts.

It does sounds like posturing by legislators and the governor to get more taxes! Government has simply got to learn to function with less money. Citizens have had to take less wages and many aren't working, we cannot continue to spend more and more as government continues to do. What many in government really want is more tax money from the citizens and I'm not going to pay it. In particular, if an "Income Tax" is created on top of our other high taxes on business I am moving out of this state. They will get less from me!

Getting back to the topic, I suppose if those same legislators or their family get some bad seafood and get sick, they will learn to better prioritize their cuts! 

[JimmyHoffa]

I thought the legislature just voted themselves a 12% raise.

[Hunterman]

I thought the legislature just voted themselves a 12% raise.

It was 11.2%, and they can not vote themselves a raise. They have to vote it DOWN. No action means PAYRAISE

Hunterman(Tony)

[Elkaholic daWg]

House, or Senate? not seeing that in the story

Each chamber is proposing cuts, the governor also proposed cuts.

 But as we have seen each chamber has differing ideas and to lump them all together as that story does draws my  BS meter out. (as far as trusting our government) I have been trying to find this issue  though the legislatures websites to no avail so far

[JimmyHoffa]

Thanks for the clarification.

[bigtex]

House, or Senate? not seeing that in the story

Each chamber is proposing cuts, the governor also proposed cuts.

But as we have seen each chamber has differing ideas and to lump them all together as that story does draws my  BS meter out. (as far as trusting our government) I have been trying to find this issue  though the legislatures websites to no avail so far

You have to look at the LEAP websites which is the budget website. Both the governor, Senate, and House proposed eliminating 3 Officer positions that are funded thru the general fund (taxes).

So why does the story report 8 positions? The total goes from 3 to 8 because of the other state funding sources that compose the enforcement budget and are declining.

Also need to remember that we still don't have a 2015-17 budget agreed upon in Olympia. So even though the three powers agreed in their proposals at eliminating 3 general fund positions, that number may increase or decline when we finally get a final governor signed budget.

[Special T]

I think this a fair and justified threat. the general public what to have their bears and cougars scared away, and safe shellfish.  If public safety is reduced as a result of less general funding then Im in favor of it.

The KEY to making the un invested care is to show how it affects them... EDUCATE AWAY!

[westsidehntr]

I'm always in favor of government cuts.

[WSU]

Scare tactics.

Is WDFW and the legislature working together with scare tactics?

WDFW doesn't want their budget cut so they are trying to scare/threaten the legislature into not cutting it. It's always the most needed positions that "are going to be cut".

Exactly.  Look at the cuts they threatened before.  The most popular hatcheries for salmon and steelhead, eastern Washington trout planting, etc.  WDFW threatens to cut things people want so people will want WDFW to remain funded.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 So Bigtex who actually conducts those tests on that shellfish??

[Man Tracker]

Usually county health districts.  Big outbreak could lead to state or even the feds testing.

[bigtex]

Usually county health districts.  Big outbreak could lead to state or even the feds testing.

WDFW is required by federal law to patrol so many hours for sanitary shellfish enforcement. Basically making sure only sanitary shellfish are being harvested and sold.