NO SUBSTANCE, NO VALUE, NO PURPOSE. SAY NO TO THE 16 AMENDMENTS FOR THE STEELE DEAL

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

Correspondence For:

Rep. Joanna E. McClinton

Rep. Matthew D. Bradford

Rep. Dan L. Miller

Rep. Bryan Cutler

Rep. Timothy J. O'Neal

My name is Kevin Askew, I am the executive director of Hunters United for

Sunday Hunting, the lead organization working to end the archaic blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday.  I am addressing you as the decision makers and leadership team for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  First, I recognize the tough and stressful task you all have in navigating, deciding, and tabling quality legislation for a vote.  It has to be a daunting duty.  This brings me to the subject at hand The Steele Deal of HB2106, HB2107, HB2108, and the 16 irrelevant and ridiculous amendments that have been introduced for consideration and inclusion.  These amendments have no substance or value and serve no purpose being added to The Steele Deal.  They just don’t.

This has been a nearly 53-year process getting to this current position and point of removing the blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday bringing PA into the 21st Century societal standards.  Rep. Mandy Steele has done a tremendous job, one that could not be done in all those years of bringing all the stakeholders of hunter-conservation, agriculture, Pennsylvania Game Commission, law enforcement, and legislators to the bargaining table with the common goal of penning a fair deal for all, The Steele Deal. 

Take a moment and put all the politics and emotions aside.  Simply and frankly The Steele Deal provides everything needed not everything wanted.  HB2106 removes the archaic blue law deemed unenforceable in 1976 by the PA Supreme Court.  HB2106 also strengthens trespass laws something that agriculture and hunter-conservation have both wanted. HB2107 provides a tool that will connect hunters and agriculture to assist with the crop damage issues being experienced throughout the commonwealth by farmers. HB2108 is a hunter-conservation and agriculture mission multiplier when viewed and interpreted correctly.  It quantifies and qualifies what has existed for at least a decade on the PGC commissioner board as an agriculturist. That applicant will now have to meet the criteria of being knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management as well as actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation as defined in the Right-to-Farm Law. 

This legislation is not about Rep. Mandy Steele and what she wants.  It’s not about politically punishing or controlling the PGC.  It’s not about any individual politician's idealogy. It’s not about one political party versus another.  It’s not about your personal feelings as a leader.  What The Steele Deal is all about is doing the right thing and ending this 53-year benign fight to remove the blue law while benefiting agriculture and updating the long-needed trespass laws.   This is about allowing free people to be free people as stated in the PA Constitution  “All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.”

French philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sarte wrote “Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” I implore you as leaders to do the right thing. Do not molest The Steele Deal with any of the 16 irrelevant amendments.  They are of no value and do no good for the quality piece of legislation presented by Rep. Mandy Steele and sponsors. All stakeholders have worked on and agreed to The Steele Deal.  Do not allow those who are not rowing the boat to only rock it.

You as leaders are on the cusp of history.  It is time to end the stupidity and get this done.  Five decades is long enough.  Don’t be the leaders that make it six decades.

Thank you for your time.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for further

discussion on this issue.  

///Kevin B. Askew///

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Reference: 

The outdoor industry [including hunting/shooting/trapping] added more value to

our commonwealth’s gross domestic product than all of Pennsylvania’s farms,

all of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas wells, and even all of Pennsylvania’s lawyers. 

2021 Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce.

PA House Bill 2106 

PA House Bill 2107

PA House Bill 2108

Steele Deal 16 Amendments

Pennsylvania Constitution

Misc:

Western Pennsylvania farmers support Sunday deer hunting legislation

Hunters Celebrate More Than 25 Percent Surge Over Past Five Years

THE GREAT RAID OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION GAME FUND

 

Hunters United For Sunday Hunting  

huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

717-350-6741

Click Here - Tell the Politicians DON’T DO IT!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/DISTRIBUTION

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting opposes any further action and is highly disappointed with the provision in  Pennsylvania House Bill 1300, Session 2023 that would loot the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Game Fund of over $150 million and negate nearly $40 million of Pittman and Robertson yearly funding; as well as the taxation of PGC real property estimated at $10 million per year.   There is nothing to be gained and much to be lost with this unprecedented transfer of funds.

HB1300 immediately steals $150 million from conservation, loads over $10 million of taxes on the backs of PA’s hunters and fishermen in the form of a per acre tax on our public lands, and takes Pennsylvania’s eligibility of nearly $40 million for federal Pittman and Robertson funding away.

As currently written, HB1300 would transfer $150 million from the PA Game Fund to the Clean Streams Fund, a complete misnomer at best.  The PA Clean Streams Fund was formed to assist agriculture and has nothing to do with hunter-conservation.  Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Fund was created with $220 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and funds conservation programs including ACAP, designed to share the costs to farmers for farm management practices that reduce sediment in waterways, keeping the nutrients out of waterways, and on the farm to build soil health.  This transfer of monies in HB1300 is substantial with long-standing detriment to hunter-conservation with less funding immediately available and putting Pittman and Robertson funding at risk and loss. All to provide another free money stream to an already heavily subsidized agriculture industry.

Pennsylvania received more than $38 million from federal Pittman and Robertson funding in 2022.  A state's Game Fund is the only designated account to receive the annual federal disbursement.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set a rule that does not allow any diversion of license funds.  The $150 million transfer to the Clean Streams Fund will violate the USFW rules and immediately exempt PA from receiving the annual allocation from P&R.

HB1300 also dictates that the PGC pay taxes on real property to counties, townships, and school districts.  That tax assessment is over $10 million per year.  The PGC is exempt from paying taxes on this type of property.

As stated earlier, there is nothing to be gained and much to be lost with this unprecedented transfer of funds.  The hunter-conservation community will not be able to absorb or compensate for this immediate loss of $200 million and any future deficit created by this legislation.

The PGC is funded primarily by hunting and furtaker license sales; State Game Lands timber, mineral, and oil/gas revenues; and a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition; the PGC is almost entirely supported by hunters and trappers, or assets that have been procured with license dollars. The PGC does not receive state General Fund appropriations.

The PA Game Fund is designed to be used in support of the PGC mission to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. Citizens of the Commonwealth have the expectation and understanding that the PGC will do as sanctioned and that these funds are to support things such as habitat improvement, wildlife enhancement, and all other conservation efforts for the 480 species of wildlife in the state from the biggest bear or elk to the smallest pollinators.

To the entire Pennsylvania Legislature:  It has been reported that Pennsylvania has a surplus of $13 billion in its budget.  With that amount of money immediately available; why set the PGC on a path for which they may not recover?  Why place an unneeded and unnecessary tax burden on the PGC and hunter-conservationists? Why make the calculated and conscience decision to exclude Pennsylvania from future federal Pittman and Robertson funding?

If the answer is to support the Clean Streams Fund, which as stated and published is to assist in farm productivity with such things as ‘concrete barnyards, heavy use area protection, manure storage, agronomic or ecological practices like cover crops, planted streamside buffers, stream-bank fencing, and grazing systems to conserve water and soil resources and farm productivity.  That answer is not good enough.  We as hunter-conservationists pay our way.  We expect our hunting monies to be used for the specified purposes, not to build concrete barnyards or purchase cover crops for a farmer to plant.

If the goal of HB1300 and the transfer of this money is to change hunter-conservation in PA, it will definitely do that. Just not for the better. 

###

For more information about this topic, please contact Hunters United for Sunday Hunting 

Executive Director Kevin Askew at 717-350-6741 or email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com 

View our Blog - https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/

IT'S ABOUT TIME CONFERENCE - WESTERN PA. FEB 10, 2019 - HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting ‘It’s About Time’ Conference 1pm - 4pm Sunday, February 10, 2019 Penn State New Kensington Campus, 3550 Seventh Street Road, New Kensington, PA  15068

All hunters, sportsmen, sportswomen, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationist, media outlets and all other like-minded people are invited to attend this information session.

Please Register & Sign up early: Pre-Registration & Sign Up
Let us know you are coming: It's About Time Event

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is hosting an information conference focusing on the importance of removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting in Pa Title 34 Game Law and providing regulatory authority to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to decide what is best for Sunday hunting.

Speakers include: Pa. Senate Game & Fisheries Committee: Chairman Senator Dan Laughlin, Erie County

Pa. Senate Game & Fisheries Committee: Minority Chairman Senator Jim Brewster, Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties

Pa. House Game & Fisheries Committee: Minority Chairman Rep. William C. Kortz, Allegheny County

Pa. Game Commission: Executive Director Bryan Burhans

National Shooting Sports Foundation / NSSF

National Wild Turkey Federation / NWTF

Discussion will involve current legislation that is focusing on:

*amending Title 34 Game Law authorizing the Pennsylvania Game Commission to provide for Sunday hunting.  

*amending the Pennsylvania Game Code to address the offense of trespass while hunting.

Come, listen, and get informed.  Learn how you can help in removing this barrier to hunting opportunities and strike this ‘blue law’ from the books.  

Let’s “Keep The Needle Moving” and make this happen in Pennsylvania.

Your attendance is welcomed and appreciated.

Harold Daub, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Sponsored by:

National Shooting Sports Foundation

National Wild Turkey Federation

TO ALL PA FARMERS & AGRICULTURALISTS - HUSH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HAROLD DAUB

I want to take the time and direct a message to all the hard-working farmers and agriculturalists in Pennsylvania.  As we move forward in this year's legislative cycle to work a solution on having PA Title 34 Game Law changed and updated to remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting.  It is important that you understand that Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is not singling you out or personally attacking you in our endeavor to correct this outdated blue law.

Unfortunately Pa. Farm Bureau has placed us in a position where that looks like the case.  The PFB has bullied the legislators to a point where they believe that Pa. Farm Bureau speaks for all farmers and agriculturalists in the commonwealth.

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting knows this is not the case.  Facts show that the PFB represents less than half of you, with 58,000 farm operations in the state and the PFB only representing 22,648 voting Farmer members.  Please believe me when we hear statements like ‘I am a farmer, the Pa. Farm Bureau doesn’t represent me’ there is undeniable truth to it.

But it is also important that you understand and realize I and my organization has no choice but to play in this same sandbox of misrepresentation created by Pa. Farm Bureau. There is no other course of action.  I combat it and separate as much as I can by continually reminding politicians and those that I meet with that the PFB does not have the support of the entire farming community.

I would like to report that lawmakers listen.  In some cases, they are coming around and starting to realize the charade is over and standing up to the PFB leadership bullies; and for good reason.

Again, this message is for farmers and agriculturalists.  I understand that you have been asking for the strengthening of trespass laws as a route to the overall Sunday hunting issue.  Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is on record as supporting an update to trespass laws in Pa.

My overall concern is that as the oppression of the PFB is unmasked, the politicians in their frustration will dismiss your asks in totality and not provide you with the necessary means to get the law updated.  The Pa. Farm Bureau will have ruined it for all.

The mission of our organization will remain steadfast.  That being to remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.

If you are a Farmer member of the PFB:  my first ask is that you accept this as qualified reasoning that I do understand that you are a victim of association.  My second ask is that you contact the PFB leadership, tell them to just acknowledge and accept that the strengthening of trespass laws is the objective.  My third ask is to have PFB leadership acknowledge and accept the fact that the PFB as an organization is not wildlife managers; leave that to Pa. Game Commission.

For the majority of farmers who are not in the PFB.  I encourage you to contact your Pa. representatives, let them know that as an independent farmer the PFB does not represent you.

For the non-farming, hunting and conservationist community:  my ask is that you understand the position the PFB has placed all Pennsylvania farmers in as we continue to work on getting PA Title 34 Game Law updated.

In closing, the only people that can affect change is us.  Make it known to the Pa. legislature; contact them, voice your concerns as it pertains to Pa. Farm Bureau, tell lawmakers to support legislation that would amend Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to authorize the Pennsylvania Game Commission to provide for Sunday hunting. Sincerely;

Harold Daub Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Contact Information:
FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR - BY PA COUNTY

PA FARM BUREAU

PA GAME COMMISSION

EDUCATION SERIES 9 OF... WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 9 of……

What Does This All Mean?

The Pa. Game Commission has the authority to do everything it needs to manage wildlife by law.  They are already managing Sunday hunting for foxes, coyotes and noncommercial regulated hunting grounds with a permit for ring-neck pheasants, bobwhite quail, mallard ducks, and chukar.

Lawmakers have tied PGC hands with Section 2303 - Hunting on Sunday prohibited.  Which essentially tells PGC to manage Sunday hunting...but don’t you do it unless we the legislature make an exception.  

Bottom line, nothing will happen if legislators do not change or eliminate section 2303 - Hunting on Sunday prohibited.  The PGC can only up-hold law and regulations as written, that’s their job.

There is support for a law change! * When asked people state ‘TIME’ or lack of it is most important factor affecting change or interest in hunting.      * Current surveys and polls conducted indicate an average of 70% respondents support expanding Sunday opportunity. * In all 18 Pa. voting districts there is strong approval and support, 85% approve of legal hunting.

Let’s get this done. Deconflict and fix Pa. Title 34 Game Law for good.

WHAT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE.  HOW YOU CAN HELP - “KEEP THE NEEDLE MOVING”

https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/2018/09/what-actions-you-can-take-how-you-can.html