NJ Senate to Hear Saltwater Registry Debate

[PBangler]

This went out to members in 2007

"Coastal Conservation Association Virginia Alert

Governor Kaine has extended the raid on the recreational fishing fund to the new 2008-2010 biennium budget. CCA VA would like to thank all of you for writing letters to the Governor and your senators and delegates but we need your help again when the General Assembly of Virginia opens for business on January 9th. Contact your senator and delegates that must approve Governor Kaine's budgets before they become law.

CCA Virginia Alert

Governor Kaine’s Raid on Your Fishing License Money

Action You Can Take NOW:

Starting January 9th, call 800-889-0229 between 9 am and 5 pm weekdays and tell the operator to let your legislators know you strongly object to the Governor plan to use the dedicated Recreational Fishing Development fund money to replace general funds in VMRC’s operating budget from now until 2010. Get your relatives, neighbors and fishing buddies to call, too.

Background and Details

In July 1992, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation authorizing the implementation of a saltwater recreational fishing license with the proceeds deposited into a dedicated, non-reverting recreational fishing development fund.

In 2004, CCA supported legislation to allow the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to increase license and permit fees levied for recreational and commercial fishing. A citizens committee developed the parameters for the legislation and CCA volunteers participated in this process. The committee felt it was important any fee increases be equitable and also felt it was critical the proceeds of such fee increases stay in the dedicated recreational and commercial license funds and not be used to replace general funds. Further they felt that both of these dedicated funds needed additional money in order to better serve their user group's needs.

None of that has changed. However, Governor Kaine is now proposing to break the trust recreational fishermen placed in the process and transfer $416,357 from the dedicated non-reverting Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund into the general fund in order to help cover shortfalls of revenue in the present Virginia state budget. In addition to covering these unanticipated shortfalls, Governor Kaine’s has proposed that the raid on the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund continue into the July 2008 – June 2010 biennium budget.

The only way we can prevent this type of raid on our license funds is for YOU to let Richmond know that YOU want them to honor the promise made by the Governor’s predecessors, former Secretaries of Natural Resources, and the Legislature. The promise is that our license money would not replace the general funds allocated to VMRC, VIMS and other state agencies. It will take a lot of phone calls, letters, faxes and emails to state senators and delegates to turn this raid around. You have to insist they not break their agreements between recreational fishermen and the government regarding the dedicated nature of this fund. If the Governor and the General Assembly are successful in raiding the funds this year, we will undoubtedly see more raids on the VSRFDF Funds in the future."

emphasis added