Dear Iowa Constituents:
You Need to Read between the lines and set the Iowa Farm Bureau strait. They have Opposed 3 major conservation efforts in your state by misleading information. Saying one thing but not being Honest with the Iowa Public or it's membership in my opinion. You Be the Judge! The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed a new three-year $2.2 million pilot program to open up private land for public hunting. ( Opening line is not Truthful. The IDNR didn't create the Open Spaces Program, in fact it was created in the U.S. Farm Bill by SENATORS in DC 2007. ) While Farm Bureau members recognize the value of expanding hunting opportunities and habitat, this program 1) creates another costly expense when state government should be focused on reducing expenses and balancing the budget and 2) fails to adequately address farmer liability and other landowner concerns. ( Second line is not being truthful either. The money allocated to the Open Spaces Conservation program are done in Washington DC under the U.S. Farm Bill Conservation programs. Iowa has the ability as all states to compete for those Conservation grants to help Iowan's battle wide spread Habitat loss and public recreational access issues to the great outdoors. If we don't those monies will be applied for by other states to help them with the same issue. Again This was done in DC in the 2007 farm bill and it has absolutely nothing to do with our states budget problems or our states general revenues. Last the Iowa FB claims there is inadequacies in liability issues and other concerns. If that was the case show us the Reader what that is and lets hear what these other so called concerns are? But they didn't did they? ) Farm Bureau members are encouraged to email DNR their comments opposing the program by Thursday, February 3. ( Really, why the Iowa FB hasn't even provided any accurate information up to this point. Pointing out a Iowa FB tactic where something other than the truth is being told.) If the Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands Promotion Program is approved, DNR plans to contract with private landowners who develop wildlife habitat on designated acres and allow public hunting access on those acres. DNR intends to pay for the program with funds it secured from a federal grant and the states Fish and Game Protection Fund. ( Now that paragraph of information is the truth but now ask yourself this question, What does a federal grant have to do with our states budget, general revenues fund, especially when we are talking about a federal grant program that was created and passed in the 2007 Farm Bill? What does the IDNR Fish & Wildlife Departments ( Fish & Wildlife Trust Fund ) have to do with the states Budget or the states general revenues Fund? I will tell you ( ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ) are you picking up what I am laying down here folks? ) The official program proposal is alarmingly short on details. It doesn't give landowners absolute liability protection from lawsuits, including ones resulting from personal injuries and property damage caused by hunters. And it doesn't address other important issues for participating landowners, including cost-share, incentive rates, contract cancellation process and penalties, weed control, law enforcement responsibilities, limits on hunting in standing crops and possible land management or endangered species restrictions. ( All I can say about the statement of " Alarmingly short on details " is that the Iowa FB for that matter in their own words hasn't really provided much details to support their claim and why do you think that is? Do you see a trend here yet? ) It also creates another program to fund while the state government tries to cope with a $263 million budget shortfall and the DNRs Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund (the largest source of revenue in DNRs annual budget) remains on pace to run out of funding in 2014! ( The above paragraph really P/M/O because they insinuate that this federal grant money for open spaces or the Fish & wildlife trust fund money could be utilized to cut the gap in the states 263 million dollar budget shortfall. What they didn't tell you is neither funding sources have anything to do with the states general revenues fund. ZERO. The money for the program isn't coming from the states general revenues fund. Not 1 red cent. Do you smell something stinky yet? What they also fail to tell their membership and the Iowa general Public is the Iowa sportsmen passed a bill to create a pilot walk in hunting program with their OWN Constitutional Protected sportsmen's revenues. How did sportsmen of Iowa do this? They supported a state Habitat Stamp fee increase 4 years ago that would direct a portion of that habitat stamp fee increase to help Iowa Farmers with cost share assistance in putting in buffer strips and filter strips along ditches, creeks, rivers, streams and lakes. One of the catches was that any farmer who sought cost share support from this program would in exchange have to provide recreational sportsmen access to those buffer strips. Again I have to remind you that Iowa Sportsmen's revenues do not come from the states general revenues Fund. ZERO Now why would the Iowa FB not share this with their membership or why wouldn't they like to ensure that anyone who did read their letter, at least got information that was accurate? Are you beginning to see a trend here yet? Why? In 2010 Iowan's Voted on a constitutional Amendment known as Iowa's Water & Land Legacy Initiative or Sustainable Conservation Funding. 63% of Iowan's voted in support saying we need to protect, enhance and restore our states natural resources. That's right they said we need to do more for our resources not less. Guess what? The Iowa FB came out late in the game in opposition to the initiative becoming a constitutional amendment and put on the ballot for Iowan's to decide. In 2011 the first order of Iowa legislature business was the Tax Payer Relief Act. Again the Iowa FB went to work on conservation issues alright. On page 10 of the Tax Payer Relief Act they again snuck in a proposal that has Absolutely Nothing to do with saving the state a dime or reducing the states budget short fall. Nothing. You know how bad we hate it when somehow a little bit of legislation is snuck in a bill that has nothing to do with the title it's under? The proposal sought to Prohibit the IDNR ( Fish & Wildlife Portion from buying any new public lands, the proposal went even further by suggesting that a 6 month moratorium be put in place that would prohibit & limit the IDNR fish & wildlife department from any agreements where real property was involved. What they are saying is that you the general Public of Iowa do not have an interest in your states natural resources and the only ones who have the right are those that are grow crops. Only the farming community of Iowa has the right to buy land and use it as they see fit. You getting the picture yet my fellow Iowan's? However the proposal on page 10 of the Iowa Tax Payer Relief Act is much worse because it would allow the IOWA FARM BUREUA THE ABILITY TO STOMP 2 OF YOUR STATES CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTED AMENDMENTS INTO THE MUD and target Your Natural Resources Constitutional Protected Funds and prevents them from being applied to the landscape to do what they are specifically protected to do. Enhance, Restore, Protect the Future of Iowa's Natural resources so Your Children and future generations have greater opportunities to enjoy the Great Outdoors, better recreational state parks, clean water and certainly clean air. Here are YOUR Constitutional Amendments that the Iowa Farm Bureau wishes to kill by passing Bills that create laws that allow them the ability to do so in my opinion. However you be the judge. Amendment of 1996 [44] Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended by adding the following new section: Fish and Wildlife Protection Funds. SECTION 9. All revenue derived from state license fee for hunting, fishing, and trapping, and all state funds appropriated for, and federal or private funds received by the state for, the regulation or advancement of hunting, fishing, or trapping, or the protection, propagation, restoration, management, or harvest of fish or wildlife, shall be used exclusively for the performance and administration of activities related to those purposes. Are some suggesting that we start circumventing laws to drag state constitutional amendments through the mud? Iowa's Water & Land Legacy Constitutional Amendment A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of 2 the State of Iowa to dedicate a portion of state revenue from 3 the tax imposed on certain retail sales of tangible personal 4 property and services for the benefit of the state's natural 5 resources. 6 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 1196SS 83 8 da/rj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 2 the State of Iowa is proposed: 1 3 Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is 1 4 amended by adding the following new section: 1 5 NATURAL RESOURCES. SEC. 10. A natural resources and 1 6 outdoor recreation trust fund is created within the treasury 1 7 for the purposes of protecting and enhancing water quality and 1 8 natural areas in this State including parks, trails, and fish 1 9 and wildlife habitat, and conserving agricultural soils in 1 10 this State. Moneys in the fund shall be exclusively 1 11 appropriated by law for these purposes. The DNR uses no General Funds for land acquisition; buys only from willing sellers at or below the appraised fair market value. The REAP fund allocated to the DNR is specifically mandated to be used for open space protection and for the development of parks and facilities. There are requirements within this fund that include a percentage for cost-sharing with private conservation organizations; a percentage for the Protected Waters Area program; and a percentage that goes to pay local property tax payments. The DNR pays annual property taxes to Iowa counties. In FY 11, the DNR paid $690,000 in local property taxes. If the DNR was prevented from using these funds for land, the money would be allocated for park and facility development projects and to pay property taxes on existing state lands. There would be no savings to the state of Iowa. Iowa ranks 49th in the country in the percentage of public land. (National Wilderness Institute) In closing it is further my opinion that the Iowa FB wishes to utilize our state budget issues as the ruse in their attempt to mislead and misinform their membership and certainly Iowan's and any legislature for that matter who doesn't take the time to find out the truth about Iowa FB accusations, that if you did your homework would come to find out are simply not entirely truthful. I guess I would like to say this last bit. If the Iowa Farm Bureau leadership who approved this misinformation campaign was really worried about the state of our budget or the crisis of our countries deficit issues, maybe just maybe they should run just as fast, loud and proud to Washington DC and demand that all Crop Subsidies be taken out of the next farm bill. Talk about saving tax payers billions, shoot in 4 years we could put a huge dent in the deficit not to mention stop taking tax payer dollars out of tax payer pockets. After all if the Iowa FB claim is " Working to Protect the land for future generations " Why is it that every conservation program we have , has an incentive structure? I mean honestly if they where willing to do the right thing out on the landscape we wouldn't even have conservation programs with incentive structures, thus we would further eliminate the burden placed on tax payers of the country. I know what it is. It's perfectly fine for them to utilize the revenues as long as you get the Bill. That's it. 99% of Iowa's Native Prairie Plowed Under, 98% of Iowa's Wetlands Drained. Yep you be the judge in who is trying to do the right thing and who isn't. Email [email protected] 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 3. Tell the Iowa FB you oppose their rhetoric thats costly for ALL Iowan's. Sincerely, Concerned Iowa Citizen --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
