A little lesson in Government

[Steve]

I'm back! Well it's a new year and we all have to have a new Shellfish license to carry. Many have cheered that the State will monitor the shellfish fisheries with the funds generated by the the new tag.. hate to burst your bubble,, only a very small fraction will be allocated to the fisheries, when you visit the state parks and have to pay license fees and pay users fee, do you believe that all the money goes directly to maintain the parks? Any and all go into the General Fund to be used as the state sees fit. The state uses threats when they see the money drying up. Oh! we have to cut the State Police, turn loose criminals, put the insane out on the streets, the little children are going to go hungry..yada yada.. I would like to see the fees go to the activity that you are paying for, Parks would get 100% of collected reciepts, fishing and hunting the same, a sort of use or lose, rather than supporting an unresponsive creature that gobbles money by the semi load.

[Salmon Loser]

Amen! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Pete]

Steve, we've had this discussion before. In the previous thread I posted the laws which require the shell fish licence to go to the shell fish program and forbid the funds from going to the general fund.

2003 Oregon Laws Chapter 656 - Relating to licenses for taking shellfish

SECTION 12. ORS 496.303 is amended to read:
496.303. (1) The Fish and Wildlife Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. All moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Fish and Wildlife Account shall consist of the moneys in its various subaccounts and any moneys transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly. Unless otherwise specified by law, interest earnings on moneys in the account shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the State Wildlife Fund.
.... All moneys in the subaccount shall be used
to carry out the provisions of ORS 315.138, 498.306, 498.311, 509.615 and 509.620.

ODFW states:
The $6.50 tag price includes a $1.50 agent fee for every license issued. All revenue collected from the recreational shellfish license will be dedicated to shellfish-related programs operated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The House Revenue Committee issued:
House Measure Summary of Fiscal Impact of Shellfish Fees

As I said before, if you have any evidence that the funds have been misappropriated, please share that knowledge so we can have the misdeed prosecuted. If you don't have that evidence, then please don't speculate on what you think might be happening.

[freespool]

For crying out loud it costs more to buy a six pack of quality beer than a crab and shellfish license. It's cheaper than buying one crab from Safeway. I think it's a real bargin at $6.50.


salmon hugger

[First Light Bite]

Well said Pete [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Additionally we now collect moneys from out of state visitors using the states resources. We have had to buy licenses to dig clams in Washington for years now. Its about time we returned the favor. :grin:

[Born to be Wild]

Well said and good points Pete, Freespool and First Light Bite! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Dano

[Woody]

Your beating a dead horse Steve. The law's pretty clear(thanks Pete) IF that's how it goes, I'm all for it.

[Jerry Dove]

When we fought for the fee, we stated we will back it if it all goes to the right places. As Pete pointed it is in the law. thanks to all that helped.

[Steve]

I must have missed the prior discussion. I still don't trust the State to do what is right, voted no on 30. While I don't mind having to pay for the new tags, and have mine, I catch many times the dollar value just in crabs and razor clams. NOTE to self, May 3 - 9 Go Clamming, turn off phone, stay out of Politics!!!!!!!!!!! Steve

[SPAZZ]

Thanks for informing me also. I was not aware of where the monies went.