Desert Archers - Legislation Alert

ARIZONA LEGISLATION ALERT

Copied from Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife (AZSFW)

Legislative Alert Ask the Legislature and Governor Not to Sweep Wildlife Dollars Issue: The Legislature and Governor’s Office swept $7,560,695 dollars from Arizona Game & Fish to balance the 2008 budget deficit. Another $5.6 million was taken from State Lake Improvement and Off Highway Vehicle funds from State Parks. Negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor’s Office are occurring as we speak to address the projected $2.2 Billion budget shortfall for 2009. AZGFD is again being considered for more funding sweeps. While $13 million was swept from the AGFD and State Parks 2008 Budgets, some agencies were not swept or only minimally affected and others appeared to have actually received net increases. The difference between the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD ) and other state agencies is the manner in which it is funded. As noted in the most recent edition of The Sportsmen’s Connection, the AZGFD does not receive one penny of general fund revenues. It is time for the sportsmen and women of this state to stand up and say “no more AGFD fund sweeps”.

Call and email your legislator today. Do not wait. Make contact today.
Time is of the Essence. Remember to be Respectful and Courteous.

How To Find Your Legislators

If you know your legislators, ...go to the Arizona State Legistative roster

If you do not know your legislators:

To find the Legislative District in which you live, enter your address
and 5 digit ZIP CODE in the top right corner on the linked page ... find your District

Return to the Arizona State Legistator member list ... find your Legistative members

Contact the Governor at 602-542-4331 or email the Govenor at azgov@az.gov

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Key Talking Points

I am a member of your Legislative District, one of approximately half a million active Sportsmen in Arizona

Please do not sweep AZ. Game & Fish Department Funds – they are not general fund monies

General Fund Agencies should be held accountable and not rewarded by stealing wildlife dollars

Sportsmen and women have asked the Legislature to impose fee increases numerous times in order to provide the AGFD with the money necessary to conserve Arizona’s wildlife and its habitat. Wildlife dollars should be used for the purpose for which they are earmarked.

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Important information: Southern Arizona Sportsman’s Alliance (SASA)

SASA is an alliance of a group of individuals (Sportsmen) who banded together because of a concern of foreseen access problems and closures of hunting, fishing, and camping areas. There is not a club or structured organization, no dues, no officers, just a group of concerned and determined individuals. When money is needed, they dip into their own pockets to cover expenses. They travel all over the state attending meetings, conducted by officials from Az Game and Fish, BLM, National Forest Service, state owned lands, and pima county. If they had a mission statement it would probably be "To protect our continued ability to gain access to public lands for hunting and to pro-actively manage wildlife". Their successes have been many, but it is a constant uphill battle to stay on top of and to fight the "Green" alliances that challenge our rights for hunting and access to public lands. Their meetings are the second Monday of each month at the El Parador restaurant on Broadway Blvd. Any interested sportsmen who support their cause and goals are welcome to attend. The reason I am putting this on our website is because I want hunters and sportsmen to know who is protecting their rights to access and hunt on public lands.

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Important Information: Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC)

Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife (AZSFW)

AZSFWC is a 501 c-3 not for profit organization whose mission is to educate and inform sportsmen, wildlife conservation organizations throughout the state and the public at large on important issues related to wildlife and wildlife habitat and to provide, via grants or other sources, funding to conserve Arizona’s wildlife populations through habitat enhancement initiatives. AZSFWC, in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Council, publishes a twice monthly newsletter (The Sportsmen’s Connection) to inform the public of issues related to wildlife.

AZSFW is a 501-c-4 organization whose mission is to make Arizona sportsmen an effective force in determining political, legislative, educational and administrative issues that promotes wildlife, wildlife habitat and the continuation of our hunting and fishing traditions. AZSFW is the only statewide advocacy organization in Arizona dedicated to representing the interests of sportsmen and wildlife at the state legislature and on issues related to our public lands.

If you would like to subscribe to The Sportsmen’s Connection newsletter, please go to the AZSFW website at www.arizonasportsmenforwildlife and sign up on the home page.

If you are interested in becoming a supporting member of AZSFW, membership applications are available in the Membership section of the website.

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Last modified: Sunday, July 15, 2007

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