ALERT - ACTION REQUIRED: Sportsmen’s Act Will Soon Face A Vote

[300UltraMagShooter]

I am so sick and tired of simple minded people saying that conservatives are anti-goverment just because we don't like big government.  We like the government outlined in the constitution.... and we are not easily bought off like some of the simple-minded people out there. 

Everyone in their right mind should be anti-big govt....  and this bill is just that.

[huntrights]

JLS, I asked some rather important questions regarding this bill and had hoped for some simple answers. A couple of your replies were probably not the most productive replies to build my support for the bill.


jshunt maybe you can help, I cannot remember once that Cantwell & Murray have agreed with or supported any request that I have sent them asking for their support of any hunting or firearms issue. The fact they are reportedly supporting this bill raises red flags. Why are they supporting this bill and why are republicans who normally support hunting and firearms not actively supporting this bill? I think this is a fair question to ask.

I quickly read through the bill online and on the surface there are a number of positives, I have said I might support this bill, but I would also like to know how much they plan to charge for duckstamps to fund this bill and the new Fish Habitat Board? Thanks for any info you can provide.

Here is some feedback from Senator Tester's Press Secretary:

"... What you should emphasize is that the Sportsmen’s Act is composed of half Republican bills and half Democratic bills – and that’s why Murray and Cantwell support it.

As far as Republicans, Jon’s bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the earlier procedural votes (over 90 votes in one case), but the recent vote was more about politics and does NOT reflect opposition to the merits of the bill by Republicans.

As you can see from the attachments I sent you earlier, the overall bill contains measures for hunters, anglers, conservationists, etc.  and there are tons of organizations that support it...."

Please read the attachments that have been referred to.  For convenience, I have attached them to this post again.  Just click on the links located at the bottom of this post and your understanding of this legislation will be greatly increased. 

Please contact your senators and urge them to pass the Sportsmen's Act of 2012 (S.3525).


 The links to the documents are located directly under this line.  Please read them.

[fireweed]

Sent emails to senators.  Particularly like the "making public land public" which directs some Land and Water funds (which usually just buy habitat) to purchase access easements.  Anyone hunt the Margaret, Toutle, Packwood, Lewis River: this affects you where timber companies have tens of thousands of acres of public land "locked" behind their gates.  If we don't fix that, soon we will be paying companies for the privledge of getting to our own land.

[bearpaw]

I figured there was more to the story, tester needs to get the bill within legal spending limitations! I am also concerned that SCI has not signed onto this bill yet? They are one of, if not the biggest, legislative watchdogs for hunters with a fulltime office in WA D.C.!

Sportsmen’s Act Hits Roadblock in the U.S. Senate
 Posted on December 3, 2012

The latest version of this bill – a Reid-Tester substitute amendment – included provisions allowing for federal spending in excess of the budget limitations adopted last year by Congress.  These spending features prompted a “point of order” to be raised against the package and a Tester motion to waive the point of order (proceed with the amendment even though it violates budget limitations).  Tester’s motion did not pass.  New efforts are underway to see if the substitute amendment can be modified to address the budget problems and enable it to be passed before Congress adjourns.

more:  http://www.ussportsmen.org/hunting/sportsmens-act-hits-roadblock-in-the-u-s-senate/

[huntrights]

Article from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation "Elk Tracks", Thursday, November 29, 2012

http://rmefblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/rmef-ceo-david-allen-urges-hunters-to.html

RMEF CEO David Allen Urges Hunters to Take Action on Sportsmen’s Act

"To RMEF Members,

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation considers the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 to be of vital importance for conservation, wildlife, and sportsmen and women. We are asking all of our members to consider supporting it by immediately calling your U.S. Senator. This bill is good for ALL sportsmen and for wildlife conservation. The Senators who voted against this bill are not thinking about wildlife and sportsmen and women. We need them to support this bill NOW.
Again, please consider calling your Senator to ask them to support this good bill. Thank you for your consideration.

David Allen
RMEF President/CEO


Despite overwhelming support by Democrats and Republicans, Senators who previously backed the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525) used an earlier procedural vote this week to scrap it. The proposal is a collection of 17 bills that offer many beneficial things for conservation, fishing, hunting, and sportsmen and women. Here are some of its highlights:

-It earmarks a percentage of offshore oil and gas drilling revenue to purchase improved access for up to 35 million acres of public land that has limited access.

-It channels more of the excise-tax funds that hunters currently pay on guns and ammunition to public shooting ranges across the U.S.

-It brings the federal Duck Stamp into the modern age by allowing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to sell them electronically and bump up the price from $10 to $25 to fund critical wetland and duck habitat.

Some Senators cited financial concerns as a reason to table the proposal; however the Congressional Budget Office estimates enacting the Sportsmen’s Act would actually reduce the deficit by $5 million over the next ten years. Suffice it to say that this bill does not add to the national debt and it provides substantial benefit to wildlife. It seems that this what good legislation should do.

Go here for a full view of S. 3525."
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3525/text


Please contact your senators and urge them to pass the Sportsmen's Act of 2012 (S.3525).

[bearpaw]

jshunt I really appreciate the effort you put into sportsman's issues for everyone, THANKYOU   

I have been cautious on this bill because spending is an issue that America has got to get under control. It appears most likely the Senators will negotiate the funding and spending and adjust the bill to be within congressional limits. It sounds like they are on the right track and no doubt it's important for everyone to show support of the issues within the bill to our senators.

I will be sending out a message indicating my support of the hunting and shooting benefits in this legislation and ask Senators to support the bill once funding is provided within the bill and there will be no increase to the national debt.

Thanks Again For All Your Work,
Dale