Action Alert: Cuts to the GO FISH GEORGIA program

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Cuts to the GO FISH GEORGIA program You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the directions at the bottom. Cuts to the Governor’s recommended funding of $13 million for GO FISH GEORGIA BACKGROUND We are very concerned about funding for GO FISH GEORGIA. You have received two action alerts on this issue. Many of you responded by sending the message to your legislative members supporting the Governor’s recommended $13 million for GO FISH GEORGIA. However, some Georgia legislators did not listen. The House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee cut funding back from $13 million to $5 million. This subcommittee has recommended only $5 million to the full House Appropriations Committee instead of the $13 million the Governor included in his budget. It appears that many of the subcommittee members do not understand the program, and are opposed to fully supporting an initiative for Georgia Sportsmen and women. Why should you care? A fully funded GO FISH GEORGIA program will make a huge difference to the quality of fishing for you in Georgia. It will improve fishing in the lakes and rivers of Georgia. A proposed hatchery will produce a genetically superior bass with a much increased growth rate. These bass will be stocked in large and small lakes around the state. Today, most lakes are limited in producing large bass by the number of forage fish available. But along with the superior bass, this hatchery will also grow forage fish that will be stocked in lakes and rivers. This program will significantly increase the productivity of the rivers and lakes in the state and result in catches of larger fish. A fully funded program will put Georgia back on the map as a state that produces large bass. While Georgia holds the world record, it is only a matter of time before California, Texas or another state beats our record. GO FISH GEORGIA will put us back in competition to keep our world record recognition. Unfortunately, the General Government Appropriations Subcommittee’s recommendation of $5 million left funding for only a few boat ramps. It’s a start, but it certainly doesn’t improve fishing. The Governor’s recommendation of $13 million is necessary for Georgia anglers to recognize any real benefit and for the state to receive the economic benefits that this program can produce. The program will pay for itself in a very short period of time. This is the Georgia sportsmen’s best chance in the history of the state to finally get the funding to turn Georgia into a world class bass fishing state. Don’t let General Assembly members tell you that funds aren’t available. Don’t let them tell you it’s GO FISH versus kids’ health. They represent you. You elected them. You’ve paid license fees for many, many years, specifically to fund the natural resources of the state. This is your money. Act now and get all of your friends and neighbors to act now. You can make a difference. With enough contacts from the Camo Coalition, the General Assembly members will understand that this is a priority in the budget because they have heard from the people who elected them. To voice your opinion continue to the message button. A message has been prepared for your review. All you have to do is to click on send. But we encourage you to click on the edit button and personalize this message. This is something all sportsmen should be passionate about. It is more effective if you put it in your own words so they will not be getting what they call “form letters.” This message is being sent to all of the Appropriations members in the House of Representative and the Senate as well as to your individual House and Senate member. Your message will be sent to each of the following targets: Lt. Governor Casey Cagle Representative Alan Powell Representative Amos Amerson Representative Ann R. Purcell Representative Ben Harbin Representative Bill Hembree Representative Billy Maddox Representative Bob H. Smith Representative Bob Hanner Representative Bob Lane Representative Bobby C. Reese Representative Buddy Harden Representative Burke Day Jr. Representative Butch Parrish Representative Calvin Hill Representative Calvin Smyre Representative Carl Rogers Representative Carolyn Fleming Hugley Representative Charles E. Martin Jr. Representative Charles N. Sims Jr. Representative Daniel L. Stout Representative David E. Lucas Sr. Representative David Ralston Representative Don L. Parsons Representative Donna Sheldon Representative DuBose Porter Representative Earl Ehrhart Representative Ed Rynders Representative Ed Setzler Representative Ellis Black Representative Gerald E. Greene Representative Greg Morris Representative Howard R. Maxwell Representative James Mills Representative Jan Jones Representative Jay Neal Representative Jay Powell Representative Jay Roberts Representative Jay Shaw Representative Jeff May Representative Jerry L. Keen Representative Jill Chambers Representative John Lunsford Representative John P. Yates Representative Judy H. Manning Representative Keith G. Heard Representative Kip Smith Representative Larry O'Neal Representative Lee Anderson Representative Lee Thompson Representative Len Walker Representative Lynmore James Representative Lynn Ratigan Smith Representative Mark Butler Representative Matt Dollar Representative Mickey Channell Jr. Representative Mike Cheokas Representative Pat Gardner Representative Paul R. Battles Representative Penny Houston Representative Rahn Mayo Representative Ralph A. Long III Representative Rich Golick Representative Richard H. Smith Representative Roger Williams Representative Ron Stephens Representative Rusty Kidd Representative Sheila Jones Representative Terry L. England Representative Thomas P. Knox Representative Tom Weldon Jr. Representative Tommy Smith Representative Vacant Representative Vacant Representative Vacant Representative Wendell K. Willard Senator Bill Cowsert Senator Bill Heath Senator Buddy Carter Senator Cecil Staton Senator Chip Pearson Senator Dan Moody Senator Don Balfour Senator Don Thomas Senator Freddie Powell Sims Senator George Hooks Senator Greg Goggans Senator Horacena Tate Senator Jack Hill Senator Jack Murphy Senator Jeff E. Mullis Senator Jim Butterworth Senator John Bulloch Senator John J. Wiles Senator Johnny Grant Senator Lester Jackson Senator Mitch Seabaugh Senator Preston W. Smith Senator Renee S. Unterman Senator Ross Tolleson Senator Seth Harp Senator Steve Henson Senator Steve Thompson Senator Tim Golden Senator Tommie Williams Senator Valencia Seay Senator Vincent D. Fort Senator William Hamrick Your State Representative Your State Senator A sample message appears below, which you may edit before sending. Maintain $13 million for GO FISH GEORGIA Dear Lt. Governor Cagle I am a Georgia sportsman and I am extremely disappointed to learn the House Appropriations Subcommittee cut the Governor’s GO FISH GEORGIA initiative from $13 million to $5 million. It appears that many of these Subcommittee members do not understand this program and the important economic benefits it will bring to Georgia. They certainly do not understand the benefits to Georgia anglers. This is a program that all sportsmen want. There are 1.5 million FISHERMEN in this state who support GO FISH GEORGIA. How can you not fully fund this program? It appears that that many of the General Assembly members are out of touch with Georgia’s sportsmen. This is the best opportunity in the history of the state to turn Georgia into a world class bass fishing state and retain our world record status. Furthermore, this state investment will return an economic development benefit providing Georgians with jobs and increased economic opportunities. The General Assembly will recognize future increases in tax revenues deposited into the state treasury for redistribution to other needs. Sportsmen have been footing the bill for wildlife conservation funding in Georgia since the 1930’s through licenses fees and federal excise taxes on fishing tackle. It is about time the state started doing something for us. As a Georgia sportsman, I respectfully request that you listen to your constituents on this issue and that you use your influence to maintain the $13 million recommended by the Governor to fund GO FISH GEORGIA. Sincerely, Your name and address here This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.

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