IMPORTANT: Wildlfie License Plates

[Carl Guffey]

On a recent trip to Nashville, while attending a TWRC meeting, I discovered that all monies for Tennesee Wildlfie plates are not going to help or promote wildlife. A legislative bill was passed designating that forty(40) percent of these funds would go to the Tennessee Arts Commission. Currently the money from the wildlife plates are being divided in this manner.
20 percent: materials, shipping, and oversight
40 percent to the wildlife fund and/or TWRA
40 percent to the Tennessee Arts Commission

This was not TWRA's or the commissioners idea, it came directly from your state legislators.

I am asking everyone to e-mail, fax, call or write a letter to your State Representative, State Senator, and Tennessee Wildlife Commissioner demanding that the forty(40) percent of revenue now going to the Tennessee Arts Commission be returned to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for the uses we have designated by purchasing these license plates.

You can find your personal reps at this site: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us ... Henning, TN 38041 Business: (731) 738-1061

 

[J-Dub]

Absolutely politics at it's 'best'. Great job of digging this up and bringing it to the light. I wondered if the money actually went to the projects I thought it was designated for but evidently the greedy politicians just have to bastardize something that was intended to be a good idea.

 

[Guest]

Carl Guffey - 12/19/2006 6:31 PM

On a recent trip to Nashville, while attending a TWRC meeting, I discovered that all monies for Tennesee Wildlfie plates are not going to help or promote wildlife. A legislative bill was passed designating that forty(40) percent of these funds would go to the Tennessee Arts Commission. Currently the money from the wildlife plates are being divided in this manner.
20 percent: materials, shipping, and oversight
40 percent to the wildlife fund and/or TWRA
40 percent to the Tennessee Arts Commission

I believe it was setup this way from the begining, against the wishes of TWRA. I think I saw a press release where 80% of the smallmouth is king plate is going to TWRA fisheries fund.

 

[rsimms]

Just so you know, that breakdown doesn't only apply to Wildlife Plates. The same is true for the overwhelming majority of specialty plates (and there are dozens and dozens). There was some political wheeling and dealing going on when they first came up with specialty plates... but they weren't specifically picking on TWRA or wildlife.

 

[drumking]

Politicians and the "Golden" rule. They make the rules, then take the gold.

Term limits, yes! Incumbents, no! Jail time for abusers of power.emoGeezer

 

[Davo]

By all means, let's support the "arts". This is why politics burns me up.

 

[Carl Guffey]

Actually this just happened three years ago, Steven Cohen from west Tennessee sponsored this bill.

Only 40 percent of the SMALLMOUTH plate is going to wildlife. emoEnforce

 

[Guest]

Carl, thanks for setting me straight. 40% is better than none.

 

[Carl Guffey]

We are losing 300,000 to 400,000 dollars that could be going to habitat. We can get it back, if everyone will just send a couple notes and/or make a call. If anglers want a better fishery, now's your chance to make a difference.

 

[TennesseeTalker]

I love sending letters and I'll be sure and send this one. That's like getting 40% of your co-workers paycheck each pay day even though they work the same hours as you.

Sweet deal for you ... bad deal for those who actually earned it. DK ... I agree with you on limit terms, get rid of the lifers!

TT

 

[Carl Guffey]

Has anyone contacted reps on this issue? I need to know who and how many.