hey guys,
i thought id open this up to help you to:

• discuss your opinions, ask any questions, , or anything else you'd like regarding the fee situation for sportsman's licenses. in CT.

• give us input on our course of action, and the way we should implement things.

Some major strides are being made here, but we need to know what to push, and what to pull.

i am here to help answer things as best i can, to translate some of the info you'll find here however i can, and help you understand what you can do to help the SAC fight for YOUR right to fish in Connecticut. i for one have had enough, and have joined a group of dedicated people who are sick of taking it from the state, and will do something about it for the benefit of us all. please let us know what you are thinking!!!

O'

I spent last Monday sending out my letters, haven't heard a reply yet but I am patient.

OLDSCHOOL:

"I am strongly considering not buying any licenses or game tags next year and instead just fishing party and charter boats. I fear many will decide to be like Robin Hood of old and just hunt the Kings game without a license. Shame on the legislature for forcing this type of behavior on Americans!

The United States of America was founded different than Europe. In Europe hunting and fishing are a rich mans sport. In America the common man has always been allowed to enjoy God’s bounty. I have no problem paying a small fee to hunt and fish when it’s used to manage the resource or buy land on which to hunt and fish. But what you are engaging in is Taxations without Representation which is just as wrong today as it was in 1775 when the “shot heard round the world” was fired by Patriots at Concord Bridge.
"

Mike,

Thanks for the response but I still don't see the logic in this.

Professional and tradesmens licenses are one thing, but people generate income from these, drivers licenses are another, which everyone has - so I can live with these taxes since they apply to everyone, but hunting and fishing are recreational licenses.

I understand the deficit and the need to tax people in CT - but tax them all equally. Besides every state experiencing this problem...let's not forget ....that every resident in every state is is dealling the same thing too.

By Taxing recreational hunting and fishing licenses, sportsmen ARE being singled out and this is just plain wrong.

Are there taxes on: hiking, biking, dog walking, snow boarding, horseback riding, bird watching, coin collecting, cooking, pottery, rock collecting, knitting, scrapbooking, sculpting, gardening, paintballing, snokeling, skateboarding, golfing, dancing, camping....and so on..........NO

Then why is my hobby taxible - yet these are not???

I don't deny the need to tax....but I am not wrong to question who you decide to tax.

Please re-think your position.
Walt Charczynski


----- Original Message -----
From: mlawlor99@juno.com
To:
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:00:13 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: The 100% sportsmen’s fee increase is an outrage!!!

Hi, Walter, thanks for your note. Yes, it's true that many painful decisions have been made over the past year to deal with the ongoing state and national budget crisis, but it is not true that sportsmens' licenses were singled out. In fact, every state license of any type, including drivers licenses, professional licenses, tradesmen licenses etc. were increased. This was done in addition to major cuts in state spending, a hiring freeze, an early retirement incentive and assorted tax increases. At the moment, the state is facing a $500 million deficit in the current fiscal year which ends on June 30, 2010, and multi billion dollar projected deficits over the next few years. Every state is experiencing the same problem as the effects of the recession over the last two years set in.

With that in mind, I think you will continue to see significant reductions in state services as more cuts are made, and there will continue to be some increases in taxes and licenses considered. I wish we were not in this position, but I think we will continue to have to make these kind of decisions until there is clear evidence that these various budget problems are behind it.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I do think there is some light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, I wanted to assure you that you and other sportsmen are not being singled out.

Mike Lawlor


Please note: message attached

OUTSTANDING WALT!

answer me this? if we are cutting and cutting and cutting, where the hell is the money going to? if we dont get anything for our dollar, then why the hell do we have to not only pay into, but pay more each year into something we dont get anything from?

ill bet the DEP would be close to fully funded, and wouldnt be an issue if the money taken from license fees went to them...its about time it does.

how bout the state finds a way to do without the damn money?