Inslee: No New Taxes after Car Tab Initiative Passes, Hello Higher User Fees!

[Fl0und3rz]

And so they always peddle the whole, "see we have to cut your favorite programs" BS.  How about tightening your belt and reducing government expenditures?  Leeches.

[pianoman9701]

Because then, there's be no room for trans stripper expenses. Get with it!

[KFhunter]

Because then, there's be no room for trans stripper expenses. Get with it!

can you provide a link or verifiable source that WDFW funded trans stripper expenses?

[pianoman9701]

It was the Seattle homeless commission. It's an example for rampant government waste in our state. Our government is totally out of touch with the realities of our needs.

[Pegasus]

Because then, there's be no room for trans stripper expenses. Get with it!

can you provide a link or verifiable source that WDFW funded trans stripper expenses?

I don't have the link but they certainly funded a lot of parties that turned into lawsuits for deviant behavior.

[Dhoey07]

Because then, there's be no room for trans stripper expenses. Get with it!

can you provide a link or verifiable source that WDFW funded trans stripper expenses?

I don't have the link but they certainly funded a lot of parties that turned into lawsuits for deviant behavior.

https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2019/12/15/seattle-hires-transgender-stripper-to-perform-at-conference-to-solve-homelessness/

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

I think this fits into the thread since we are talking about where WDFW is going to get money, maybe we need a new thread, I couldn't find one on this yet but....

I would suggest a call to action? We all need to write our Reps in support of HB 2122. I'm not as good as many of you on here looking up new legislation and such but HB 2122 would be monumental IMO for Hunters and Anglers. If you don't know HB 2122 - "Imposing a sales and use tax on recreational equipment and apparel to provide funding to the state wildlife account." would act similar to Pittman-Robertson on guns, ammo, etc, but instead on backpacks, tents, and what have you (bikes, items less than $200 and a few other things were exempt). Yes us hunters buy all these things too but so do a lot of the anti's. This would also pave the way for other states to adopt similar legislation and help wildlife all over the nation.

Sure this might not make up the shortfall in $$$ we are talking about here but it's something and every dollar counts in my mind at this point.

(What research I have found suggest its "In the House - In Committee".)

[bigtex]

I think this fits into the thread since we are talking about where WDFW is going to get money, maybe we need a new thread, I couldn't find one on this yet but....

I would suggest a call to action? We all need to write our Reps in support of HB 2122. I'm not as good as many of you on here looking up new legislation and such but HB 2122 would be monumental IMO for Hunters and Anglers. If you don't know HB 2122 - "Imposing a sales and use tax on recreational equipment and apparel to provide funding to the state wildlife account." would act similar to Pittman-Robertson on guns, ammo, etc, but instead on backpacks, tents, and what have you (bikes, items less than $200 and a few other things were exempt). Yes us hunters buy all these things too but so do a lot of the anti's. This would also pave the way for other states to adopt similar legislation and help wildlife all over the nation.

Sure this might not make up the shortfall in $$$ we are talking about here but it's something and every dollar counts in my mind at this point.

(What research I have found suggest its "In the House - In Committee".)

The bill essentially died this year. It had it's hearing but the committee didn't vote on it. The bills from 2019 will still be considered active for 2020, so legislators can try to push the same bill through or they can trash it and try again with a new bill.

[JimmyHoffa]

It was the Seattle homeless commission. It's an example for rampant government waste in our state. Our government is totally out of touch with the realities of our needs.

When I first read about that, it reminded me of some of the crazy, wasteful spending of the EU groups.  Didn't think even Seattle or San Fran progs were quite down to that level yet.  If they felt comfortable doing that in this state, who knows what other state agencies are doing.  All a bunch of smelly swamp critters.

[dreadi]

Can we just get some champions for the hunting and fishing community voted into high offices?

[idahohuntr]

I have no doubt that costs to run WDFW have increased since 2011. I would be willing to pay more in license fees, but it would be easier to stomach if there was an indication that the department cares about hunters. If they do care about hunters (and I’m sure many of their employees do), they need to do a better job in demonstrating and communicating that they do.

It’s hard not to conclude they care about wolf lovers and hunters to an equivalent degree. If so, then go after an equivalent amount of funding from the wolf lovers and leave hunting license fees alone.

Well said.

And so they always peddle the whole, "see we have to cut your favorite programs" BS.  How about tightening your belt and reducing government expenditures?  Leeches.

Agreed.  I could cut millions from WDFW and not impact hunters or anglers in the slightest...every time WDFW comes out in a budget shortfall and threatens to cut programs that are most critical to hunters and anglers I'm never amused.  It's also why I laugh when people try to justify auction tags by describing the revenue from those tags as "critical" or "important" or "needed" for conservation...golly gee, sure glad we got that $50k...otherwise we couldn't do that critical project because in our $437 million budget we just never would have found 50k...

[Bango skank]

I have no doubt that costs to run WDFW have increased since 2011. I would be willing to pay more in license fees, but it would be easier to stomach if there was an indication that the department cares about hunters. If they do care about hunters (and I’m sure many of their employees do), they need to do a better job in demonstrating and communicating that they do.

It’s hard not to conclude they care about wolf lovers and hunters to an equivalent degree. If so, then go after an equivalent amount of funding from the wolf lovers and leave hunting license fees alone.

Well said.

And so they always peddle the whole, "see we have to cut your favorite programs" BS.  How about tightening your belt and reducing government expenditures?  Leeches.

It's also why I laugh when people try to justify auction tags by describing the revenue from those tags as "critical" or "important" or "needed" for conservation...golly gee, sure glad we got that $50k...otherwise we couldn't do that critical project because in our $437 million budget we just never would have found 50k...

Hey, that 50k pays francine maddens salary for 2 months!  That poor woman is probably driving around in a 2 year old bentley like some sort of destitute third worlder right now.

[Bigshooter]

It's not a not enough money problem.  WDFW has more than enough money to operate.  The problem that WDFW has is a spending problem.  If you don't have the revenue to make the budget you want, you have to cut the *censored*ing budget. 

[opdinkslayer]

I am willing to bet the number 1 spending issue with WDFW is feeding the giant bureaucracy at the top of the agency. Need to let the knowledgeable men & women with boots on the ground make all the decisions & feed the bureaucrats to the wolves!

[Fl0und3rz]

Possibly not feed them to the wolves, but I agree that the possibility that they are too top heavy may provide an opportunity for some deep spending cuts.  It is not as if they should be rewarded for their excellent stewardship and hunter/fisher recruitment.