HB 5721 Would Move WDFW & State Parks Under Commissioner of Public Lands (DNR)

[bigtex]

The WA legislative session begins next week. Due to the "drama" over the WDFW Commission regarding the most recent spring bear decision there will likely be several bills targeting the makeup and authority of the commission. HB 5721 would  make WDFW and State Parks reportable to the Commissioner of Public Lands which is an elected position (currently held by Hilary Franz.) The Commissioner would have the authority to appoint the Directors of WDFW and State Parks. The WDFW Commission and State Parks Commission would become advisory commissions and lose their ability to enact regulations. The ability to enact/change regulations would be at the behest of the agency Directors, who again are supervised by the Commissioner of Public Lands.

The bill is sponsored by Senators Van De Wege & Salomon. Since Van De Wege oversees the Senate committee which oversees the natural resource agencies this bill WILL immediately have some traction.

https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5721.pdf?q=20220106192849

[hunter399]

The WA legislative session begins next week. Due to the "drama" over the WDFW Commission regarding the most recent spring bear decision there will likely be several bills targeting the makeup and authority of the commission. HB 5721 would  make WDFW and State Parks reportable to the Commissioner of Public Lands which is an elected position (currently held by Hilary Franz.) The Commissioner would have the authority to appoint the Directors of WDFW and State Parks. The WDFW Commission and State Parks Commission would become advisory commissions and lose their ability to enact regulations. The ability to enact/change regulations would be at the behest of the agency Directors, who again are supervised by the Commissioner of Public Lands.

The bill is sponsored by Senators Van De Wege & Salomon. Since Van De Wege oversees the Senate committee which oversees the natural resource agencies this bill WILL immediately have some traction.

https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5721.pdf?q=20220106192849

In one direction ,I don't feel the commission is on the up and up,but at the other end of it . I'm not a huge Hilary Franz fan.
I do like that Kelly susywind or how ever you spell his name.
I think he gets put in a rock and a hard place,and does the best he can with the cards he is dealt.
So I really just have mixed feelings about that whole dumpster fire.

[follow maggie]

I don’t see good things for hunting & fishing under the control of Hillary Franz. She has the Bainbridge Island contempt for anyone not like her.

[hunter399]

I don’t see good things for hunting & fishing under the control of Hillary Franz. She has the Bainbridge Island contempt for anyone not like her.

Ya I'll just say I didn't vote for her last time,but I don't have a problem with a woman running,I believe last time I voted for the other woman that was running against her.

[follow maggie]

I don’t have an issue with women being there, either. I met her several times when she on the Bainbridge Island city council.  She’s the least sincere, most self serving person I’ve ever met in person. She has absolutely no use or tolerance for people who aren’t rich & willing to do things for her.

[pd]

There are a lot of moving parts to this.  Sen. Van de Wege's bill is just one small piece of the puzzle.  Putting DFW under the Com. of Public Lands would create a mini-Governor (thus, weakening the actual Governor). A lot of people in both houses will think this through, and ultimately this bill will go no-where.  This is my prediction.

However, it will have one distinct effect: Gov. Inslee will wake up from his stupor, and actually do something about the F&W Commission.  What he does I have no prediction.

[hunter399]

I just don't like Hilary Franz cause ,she closes public land on the drop of a hat. For fire season she acts like DNR owns private property. This year will be a perfect example here soon ,mega snowpack and I'm just waiting to hear the woods are closed for early bear season in August.

[Moose Master]

I just don't like Hilary Franz cause ,she closes public land on the drop of a hat. For fire season she acts like DNR owns private property. This year will be a perfect example here soon ,mega snowpack and I'm just waiting to hear the woods are closed for early bear season in August.

Mega snow now has nothing to do with woods conditions in August.  Even a late wet warm spring can hurt access in August because of additional brush grow and then a couple of dry months and were in a bad situation.  If jack-wagons wouldn't insist on being careless in tinder dry woods maybe the woods wouldn't be closed.   Smokey the Bear can't be everywhere.

[Wphunt]

Franz has been trying to absorb wdfw and state parks into dnr for a few years. Hard to say weather this would ultimately be good or bad. I don’t know franz myself but I do know someone who works with her closely. Franz is doing this to further her career. She has far greater ambitions than growing the dnr. She is a politician and wants to take that as far as she can. Governor->senator/ representative-> president.

[fireweed]

Haven't thought out all the ramifications, but I know this state has had recent a Republican commissioners of Public land but no Republican (or even moderate) Governor that I remember.

[buckfvr]

I believe this was attempted several years ago and failed.  I see it as different bureaucrat, more problems. For sure no checks and balances.  What we need is regionally elected commissioners, and regionally elected game managers so focus can be placed on the needs of specific regions without falling to the demands of the higher populated areas.

[bigtex]

I believe this was attempted several years ago and failed.  I see it as different bureaucrat, more problems. For sure no checks and balances.  What we need is regionally elected commissioners, and regionally elected game managers so focus can be placed on the needs of specific regions without falling to the demands of the higher populated areas.

This is different than the past proposals which would've essentially dissolved WDFW and State Parks into DNR. Under this bill there would still be a WDFW and State Parks, they would just report to the Commissioner of Public Lands.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[Elkaholic daWg]

I will notify my reps and senator of my thoughts on this bad idea!

[Humptulips]

You can bet if Van De Wege is sponsoring it, it is a bad idea.

[buckfvr]

You can bet if Van De Wege is sponsoring it, it is a bad idea.

Yep, driven by agenda.

[hunter399]

I just don't like Hilary Franz cause ,she closes public land on the drop of a hat. For fire season she acts like DNR owns private property. This year will be a perfect example here soon ,mega snowpack and I'm just waiting to hear the woods are closed for early bear season in August.

Mega snow now has nothing to do with woods conditions in August.  Even a late wet warm spring can hurt access in August because of additional brush grow and then a couple of dry months and were in a bad situation.  If jack-wagons wouldn't insist on being careless in tinder dry woods maybe the woods wouldn't be closed.   Smokey the Bear can't be everywhere.

I agree with fire season to a point,burn bans,no target shooting,fireworks,ect,ect.
I don't agree with kicking everybody out the woods or shuting down rifle season for bear season.
I can also argue maybe they should do more fuel management instead of kicking us to the curb.
I can see your opinion on the subject though.
This kicking us completely out didn't start till 2020 due to China flu ,now Hilary has turned it into a yearly thing.

[pd]

Governor->senator/ representative-> president.

Very perceptive.

Actually, I don't think this is a terrible idea.  Let me explain.

The Commission is currently un-accountable to the general public.  All commissioners are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate.  There is no direct input from the public.  (I know, there is a comment period on candidates.)  Those living east of the mountains, those not belonging to the Democrat party (I repeat myself) have very little sway over the Commission.  Additionally, special interest groups have a very large impact on the Governor's appointments (groups not friendly to hunting and fishing communities).

The Land Commissioner is directly elected by the entire state.  Yes, this is true of the Governor as well, but at least the Land Commissioner is a competitive race.  Yes, the current Land Commissioner would be difficult for hunting interests if she became the overlord of WDFW, but this would not always be the case.

Given how un-accountable the F&G Commission has become, I am willing to roll the dice.

I have never lived in Kevin Van de Wege's districts, so I cannot comment on Humptulips' statement.  My past dealings with the Senator have been pleasant.

[Special T]

Governor->senator/ representative-> president.

Very perceptive.

Actually, I don't think this is a terrible idea.  Let me explain.

The Commission is currently un-accountable to the general public.  All commissioners are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate.  There is no direct input from the public.  (I know, there is a comment period on candidates.)  Those living east of the mountains, those not belonging to the Democrat party (I repeat myself) have very little sway over the Commission.  Additionally, special interest groups have a very large impact on the Governor's appointments (groups not friendly to hunting and fishing communities).

The Land Commissioner is directly elected by the entire state.  Yes, this is true of the Governor as well, but at least the Land Commissioner is a competitive race.  Yes, the current Land Commissioner would be difficult for hunting interests if she became the overlord of WDFW, but this would not always be the case.

Given how un-accountable the F&G Commission has become, I am willing to roll the dice.

I have never lived in Kevin Van de Wege's districts, so I cannot comment on Humptulips' statement.  My past dealings with the Senator have been pleasant.

Van We Wag has been a HSUS senator of the year several years runnung

[Humptulips]

Governor->senator/ representative-> president.

Very perceptive.

Actually, I don't think this is a terrible idea.  Let me explain.

The Commission is currently un-accountable to the general public.  All commissioners are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate.  There is no direct input from the public.  (I know, there is a comment period on candidates.)  Those living east of the mountains, those not belonging to the Democrat party (I repeat myself) have very little sway over the Commission.  Additionally, special interest groups have a very large impact on the Governor's appointments (groups not friendly to hunting and fishing communities).

The Land Commissioner is directly elected by the entire state.  Yes, this is true of the Governor as well, but at least the Land Commissioner is a competitive race.  Yes, the current Land Commissioner would be difficult for hunting interests if she became the overlord of WDFW, but this would not always be the case.

Given how un-accountable the F&G Commission has become, I am willing to roll the dice.

I have never lived in Kevin Van de Wege's districts, so I cannot comment on Humptulips' statement.  My past dealings with the Senator have been pleasant.

If the Lands Commissioner takes control of WDFW it will make the race equivalent to a referendum on hunting every four years. Remember what happened on the baiting and hound hunting Initiative and the trapping Initiative. HSUS outspent us to get their way. Imagine that every four years. Most voters in WA are not hunters. We have a poor track record of convincing them in our favor.
The Lands Commissioner would have virtually dictatorial powers. The F&W Commision would be irrelevant. At least now the members are approachable, and you can talk with them. I grind my teeth at times but at least I feel we have input.
The system we have now is broken because of the horrible Governor we have. He won't be there forever. I feel there are some changes that could be made to improve the Commission, but you are not going to get them from Kevin Van de Wege. I am in his district and when he was my Representative, he would not even talk with me because I represented trappers. When he was on the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources his input was always negative towards Sportsmen. Thank God, Brian Blake was there to keep him in check.  He will screw us if he gets the chance.

[Hovel Downs]

I just don't like Hilary Franz cause ,she closes public land on the drop of a hat. For fire season she acts like DNR owns private property. This year will be a perfect example here soon ,mega snowpack and I'm just waiting to hear the woods are closed for early bear season in August.

Mega snow now has nothing to do with woods conditions in August.  Even a late wet warm spring can hurt access in August because of additional brush grow and then a couple of dry months and were in a bad situation.  If jack-wagons wouldn't insist on being careless in tinder dry woods maybe the woods wouldn't be closed.   Smokey the Bear can't be everywhere.

the fuel moisture 1000 hour fuels (3-6 inches) and larger are effected primarily by snowpack and absolutely contribute to fire intensity and spread.  Snow pack has little influence on grass and brush fuel types except to delay green-up thus the ultimate curing date they are available as fuel.   This is why drought years are so devastating in timber, drought indexes rely heavily on heavy fuels for their inputs.

[bigtex]

This bill is up for it's public hearing today.

[JimmyHoffa]

I have never lived in Kevin Van de Wege's districts, so I cannot comment on Humptulips' statement.  My past dealings with the Senator have been pleasant.

If you want to get anywhere with him, you need to be a firefighter or come from their perspective.  Not sure where the bunny hugger angle comes from, maybe the wife or kid?  But the district is really so Californian suburbia, if he wants to stay in and do things for firefighters he needs all votes from the old ladies that knit dog sweaters for the animal shelters.

[bigtex]

I just watched the public session scheduled for this bill. After Van De Wege saw that all public comment that was going to be heard was going to be opposed to this bill he canceled the hearing. He stated most opposed were State Parks supporters.

[pickardjw]

So kind of a win but not really based on the three commission appointees?

[buckfvr]

I just watched the public session scheduled for this bill. After Van De Wege saw that all public comment that was going to be heard was going to be opposed to this bill he canceled the hearing. He stated most opposed were State Parks supporters.

So at the end of the day what does this mean ?  Does this essentially kill the bill or what ?

[blackdog]

Bill is dead.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Bill is dead.

How do you look this up?

[pickardjw]

This link gives updates.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5721&Year=2021&Initiative=false

[bigtex]

Bill is dead.

How do you look this up?

In most instances there's not a way to look up if a bill is dead or not. This bill is a perfect example, it was scheduled for public hearing but the chair of the committee who is also the sponsor of the bill decided to not hear it. So the hearing did not occur, and a vote will not occur. So if you look at the link pickard provided it just shows that it was scheduled for a hearing.

[pickardjw]

Yeah, kind of in purgatory until it's officially closed out...however it is they do that.

[hunter399]

I'm not sure what to think anymore.
But one thing I do know....
Is us as sportsman are not gonna get a fair shake ,Commission,or DNR.
So it really doesn't matter.

[blackdog]

This issue will be dealt with as a proviso in the budget.