Gregoire plan: merge agencies

[bobcat]

Not going to save any money?    Why would they do it then if it weren't going to save money? That is the whole reason for the merger.

[Wacenturion]

Not going to save any money?    Why would they do it then if it weren't going to save money? That is the whole reason for the merger.

It's politics....a shell game....it only appears to be saving money by doing something of significance.  The proposal is marketed to the public as some super efficient merger/management approach that will save the day.   Nothing more than that...all smoke and mirrors.  Don't believe everything they feed you.

I would wager that you find dealing with car salesmen a pleasurable experience...  

[bearpaw]

Not going to save any money?    Why would they do it then if it weren't going to save money? That is the whole reason for the merger.

It's politics....a shell game....it only appears to be saving money by doing something of significance.  The proposal is marketed to the public as some super efficient merger/management approach that will save the day.   Nothing more than that...all smoke and mirrors.  Don't believe everything they feed you.

I would wager that you find dealing with car salesmen a pleasurable experience...  

[bobcat]

Well- I think in the past the smoke and mirrors may have been enough, but now with as bad as the budget is, I really think they don't have a choice and they're going to be forced to do what it takes to actually cut spending and balance the budget for the long term. Whatever they do, it will involve cuts somewhere, somehow. If it were up to me, the first thing I'd cut would be the entire Fish & Wildlife Commission. What a joke that is.....

[bearpaw]

Well- I think in the past the smoke and mirrors may have been enough, but now with as bad as the budget is, I really think they don't have a choice and they're going to be forced to do what it takes to actually cut spending and balance the budget for the long term. Whatever they do, it will involve cuts somewhere, somehow. If it were up to me, the first thing I'd cut would be the entire Fish & Wildlife Commission. What a joke that is.....

Bobcat I hope you are just jerking our chains and are not that far out of touch with reality. The Wildlife Commission while not perfect is a citizen body and a direct voice for the citizens and I can personally attest to the fact that you can talk to these people in a reasonable manner and have your thoughts heard and on occasion listened to and acted upon. I absolutely guarantee that if you take away the commission we will have greater losses in hunting. The managers in WDFW for the most part will not listen to you, most think they know best for you and I. 

[bobcat]

Kind of like how they listened to us when we tried to tell them what a joke the new permit system was? I guess you did say "on occasion." It's kind of hard for them to hear us and "have our thoughts listened to and acted upon" when they make all the decisions before they even have a public meeting. Oh, I guess they did have "broad public input and support" for their new special permit plan, ALL from the Game Management and Advisory Council (GMAC), of which 99.9% of us on here had never heard of before. They lied to the public and they lied to the Fish & Wildlife Commission. A lot of good the commission did us, in that case, huh? We'll see if they listen any better next time. Somehow I doubt it.

[bearpaw]

Kind of like how they listened to us when we tried to tell them what a joke the new permit system was? I guess you did say "on occasion." It's kind of hard for them to hear us and "have our thoughts listened to and acted upon" when they make all the decisions before they even have a public meeting. Oh, I guess they did have "broad public input and support" for their new special permit plan, ALL from the Game Management and Advisory Council (GMAC), of which 99.9% of us on here had never heard of before. They lied to the public and they lied to the Fish & Wildlife Commission. A lot of good the commission did us, in that case, huh? We'll see if they listen any better next time. Somehow I doubt it.

The way the system basically works is the WDFW lays out their proposals to the Wildlife Commission. The Wildlife Commission does not automatically enact all desires of the WDFW. They take public input, when the public is in great opposition to the WDFW, and with science considered, the Wildlife Commission sometimes set policy more in favor of the public. If you attended these meetings you would better understand the system and would also know that hunters do not make up 100% of the public that testifies. On top of that, many hunter have greatly opposing views. But at least any hunter who attends and signs up to speak has an opportunity for input.

The real meat and potatoes of this issue is that if you eliminate the Wildlife Commission, you basically will allow the WDFW to inmplement all their ideas as they choose with far less public input. There will not be as much opportunity for citizen input. That is the bottom line. 

[billythekidrock]

I'm not sure how important the discussion was anyway. I mean it's not like anybody's opinion here is going to affect whether they do or do not merge the portions of the agencies they are talking about merging. And really, the way I'm looking at it is if it's going to actually save a lot of money, then go for it. Hopefully with the merging they can cut some of the upper managment positions which is where they really need to cut anyway.

Cut upper management positions....you have got to be kidding ...right?   If anything there will probably be added positions near or at the top.  Not going to save any money either......but hey, maybe we could have permit drawings for campsites in the future.....that would make for some additional revenues.

And Dave............I can surely relate.   

I know of an agency that recently changed comissioners and somehow ended up with a couple new positions in upper management. One whole division was lost and most folks found other positions in the agency, but there was no where for the WMS manager to go so they should have let him go. But he was a "save" for one of the other managers and now he manages 4 positions instead of 20 plus. Go figure.

Obvious bloating to save upper management. I am sure it is happening all over.

[Skyvalhunter]

With such a impact on the state I would hope the head of the div containing the WDFW would have some kind of wildlife back ground but that would be asking alot.

[DOUBLELUNG]

The merger would put all natural resources agencies under the Governor's direct control by elimination of appointed citizen commissioners.  Any elected official wants direct hire/fire control over the heads of agencies.  Consumptive users would no longer get even the appearance of consideration.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

The merger would put all natural resources agencies under the Governor's direct control by elimination of appointed citizen commissioners.  Any elected official wants direct hire/fire control over the heads of agencies.  Consumptive users would no longer get even the appearance of consideration.

DING-DING-DING We have a winner.  What it basically boils down to is the Gov will run WDFW, State Parks and the DNR.  What she wants she gets, no more commissions, no more commissioners just the Gov.

[WDFW-SUX]

Wdfw is terrible. Can things get worse?  Probably, but were not going to win in this state the deck is stacked against us and I really don't think its worth worrying about anymore. The democrat party is the bastion of the extreme left and they dictate the environmental policy to the Governor, dept of ecology, parks dept, wildlife commission, DNR, WDFW.. ect...

Your average voter is to concerned with what parties they wont be invited too to vote anything but the party line...yes on global warming, anti human, anti business anti hunter, pro wolf (because the magical) ect...


They won we lost its time move on people.

[WDFW-SUX]

With such a impact on the state I would hope the head of the div containing the WDFW would have some kind of wildlife back ground but that would be asking alot.

If spotted owl litigation counts then YES!

[Elkaholic daWg]

 A response to A thread I started  on Backcountry Rebels on this topic, and it's spot ON!





"Hunters and fisherman will never do anything about this because they are too busy fighting with each other. Mods VS Archery, Horses VS Hikers, Powder VS Archery, spinners VS fly's, off-roaders VS everyone.. They all hate each other and will never organize together. Just think how powerful we could be if we all got along??

What we should do "but won't" is skip a year. EVERYONE!!! No buying ANY fishing or hunting tags AT ALL!! Maybe then they will listen.

I can't wait to open the wolf "food bank" this week in the Methow Valley while riding!! Mmm yummy glass filled meat balls...."
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[Skillet]

It was bound to happen sooner or later.  The WDFW is terrible at managing the resources - unless you are the guy that just wants to buy a tag, put on the ol' red jacket one weekend a year and go walk in the woods carrying a long, heavy metal wood "walking stick" along with tens of thousands of your closest friends.  Then you've been managed for by being provided the "opportunity".

This is a money grab, plain and simple.  If she gets more power to hire/fire department heads, so be it.  She won't be governor forever.  The government in this state is so big and inefficient it could use some streamlining.  I agree with Bearpaw 100%, however - eliminating the commission would be a bad deal for us.