The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists (PFSC), Pennsylvania’s largest and oldest statewide grassroots sportsmen’s organization, is opposed to this legislative raid on the Game Fund.
Senate Fiscal Code Bill (HB 1300) Transfers $150 Million from Game Fund to State-Controlled Clean Streams Fund.
The Senate returned to session on August 30th for what we all thought would be some routine work on finalizing the fiscal code for this coming year’s budget. However, thanks to the alertness of PFSC and our Director of Government Affairs having boots on the ground in the Capitol, we found out the Senate Republicans had inserted last-minute amended language on a proposed amendment to House Bill 1300 (which is being used as the vehicle to move the fiscal code bills) that would transfer $150,000,000 from the Game Fund to the Clean Streams Fund.
PFSC was the first organization to catch this and alert the PGC and other legislative entities and organizations about the amendment.
Yes, you read that correctly! They intend to transfer $150 MILLION from the Game Fund (your hunting and trapping dollars) into a new Clean Streams Fund. (See the distribution summary below.)
While we can all agree that the Clean Streams Fund is a worthy cause, why should it be funded only by hunters and trappers? Especially when the state is sitting on a $13 Billion surplus.
The amended bill passed the Republican-controlled Senate 29-18 and will have to go back to the Democrat-controlled House for concurrence. (HB 1300 had already passed the House.) The House is scheduled to return to session on September 26, so we have a short window of time to get this appropriation amendment removed from the House’s version.
PFSC’s Director of Government Affairs, Mike Kriner, is working feverishly with House and Senate leadership to have this transfer from the Game Fund rescinded. As stated above, we understand the importance of clean streams, but we don’t believe the costs should be funded by sportsmen/women. We are also very concerned that allowing such a transfer will jeopardize Pittman Robertson’s funding for the state. (Approximately $30 – 40 Million/year.)
We have reached out to the US Fish & Wildlife Service for their legal opinion and preliminary feedback says this raid on the Game fund WILL jeopardize PR Funding. We were able to stop the last legislative attempt to transfer oil & gas revenues from the Game Fund in 2003 due to the threat of loss of the PR Funds.
Allowing this transfer of monies from the Game Fund to the State treasury would set a very bad precedence, and it violates the trust of the hunters and trappers in the Commonwealth. The Game Fund monies are derived from the state’s share of Pittman-Robertson funds (the excise tax on hunting and shooting), oil, gas and timber sales on Game Lands and hunters’ and trappers’ license and permit sales. No General Fund or tax dollars. The Game Fund is to be used for the benefit of the Commonwealth’s wildlife, wildlife habitats and the administration of the agency responsible for them, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC).
If these raids are allowed to take place, the Commission’s ability to carry out its mission will be gravely affected.
Please contact your legislators now! We are working feverishly directly with the House and Senate leadership, trying to work things out internally, but your legislators need to hear from their constituents that we DO NOT Support this attempt of the legislature to raid the Game Fund.
When you contact your House of Representative member, ask them to oppose this transfer of Game Funds to the state’s Clean Streams Fund in the fiscal code bill (HB 1300). Having clean streams is an important cause, but all Commonwealth citizens should share in the costs. The burden should not be placed on the backs of hunters and trappers. And we cannot risk losing federal Pittman-Robertson funding.
Amendment Summary:
Clean Streams
Transfer $150 million from Game Fund to Clean Streams Fund
Distributes money in the Clean Stream Funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year as follows:
• 80% to the State Conversation Commission to implement the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program.
• 8% to the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to implement the Pennsylvania Clean Water Procurement Program.
• 8% to the Nutrient Management Fund.
• 4% to the Department of Environmental Protection for grants and reimbursements to municipalities and counties under the Storm Water Management Act.
Prior to the above distributions occurring, the Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection shall expend no less than 75% of the money appropriated from COVID Relief – ARPA – Transfer to Clean Streams Fund.
More on Pittman-Robertson Funding:
