I wish to thank all those legislators who opposed HB256/SB176 during the past session. Though promoted as wildlife management "housekeeping measures," the proposed legislation would have allowed, for the first time, the airborne hunting of grizzly bears and wolverines. It would also have given the Board of Game the ability to enact predator control programs essentially on a hunch -- or a whim. And it could have taken away the public's opportunity to participate in wildlife policy matters through the initiative process.
I especially wish to thank Sen. Hollis French and his staff for their work in stopping this egregious legislation, pushed by Gov. Sarah Palin and her staff. It's about time someone in the Alaska Legislature took the lead in representing the broader public's interest on wildlife management issues.
-- Bill Sherwonit
Anchorage |
