Something is Terribly Wrong

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]
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Something is Terribly Wrong ©

By Jim Slinsky
08/02/08

You may not be aware that the PA Senate recently confirmed a new PGC Commissioner, Mr. Ron Weaner to fill the position previously held by Commissioner Steve Mohr. Mr. Mohr retired from the Commission and went on to become the President of the Unified Sportsmen of PA (USP). This in itself says volumes about our Commissioner state of affairs. I haven’t met Mr. Weaner, but I did see his resume. Claiming he is connected at the hip to the PGC (the agency) would not be a stretch. Mr. Weaner is a farmer and we all know how much farmers love deer. Something is terribly wrong with our system.

In the months preceding the confirmation of Ron Weaner, Dr. Charles Bolgiano from the USP spent considerable days in Harrisburg speaking with Senator Joe Scarnati and Senator Charles McIlhinney. USP wanted HB1214 passed before any new Commissioners were appointed. Our license buying hunters want to have input into any new PGC Commissioner appointments. It seems no matter how extensive the interview process by the Governor’s Council has become, we get PGC Commissioners that can’t wait to kill more deer. Something is terribly wrong with our system.

In the course of doing my national radio show, it has become obvious there are Commissioner problems in other states. The deep involvement of governors and the fact that special interest dollars concentrate in the Senate of every state, dooms the selection process to smoked-filled backroom politics. Objectivity by our new Commissioners has become as difficult to find as a deer on State Game Lands. The fact that sportsmen provide 100% of the financing for the agencies has little impact in the selection process. Something is terribly wrong with our system.

Nevada operates under a different framework, which certainly deserves some consideration in PA. Nevada has nine game commissioners, but five of them are allegedly from the hardcore hunting community. The other four represent farming, ranching, the public and lastly, a so-called conservationist. In theory, an anti-hunting, kill-the-deer agenda can not gain traction in Nevada because five commissioners represent the hunting community. While their design is well-intentioned, in reality, Nevada’s system has been corrupted for the last twenty years. It seems those five Commissioners representing hunters must still pass Governor and Senate approval. Those so-called hardcore hunters have not represented the hunting community, but have actually evolved into representing the pro-predator, environmental agenda. Something is terribly wrong with their system.

Right now, PA has one commissioner that has consistently fought for sportsmen’s rights, Mr. Tom Boop. Occasionally, he is joined by Commissioners’ Jay Delaney or Dave Schreffler when it is time to vote. Consequently, kill-the-deer season and bag limit votes by our Commissioners pass by a 7 to 1 or 6 to 2 margin. Our sporting community is just flat-out outgunned. Something is terribly wrong with our system.

In the coming months Commissioners’ Russ Schleiden and Roxane Palone will be retiring. One man I know of so far has enthusiastically stepped forward to fill Ms. Palone’s seat, is Mr. Randy Santucci from the Pittsburgh area. Randy is a hunter. He wants to make a difference. He is extremely knowledgeable and wants to represent sportsmen’s interests. Randy is engaged in something quite unique to make his mark on PA’s hunting history. He is bringing the National Scholastic Sportsmen’s Program to PA. This organization is bringing hunting and fishing into our public schools on a national level. Mr. Santucci is spearheading the program in PA working directly with the Founder, Mr. Cliff Flournoy. This is an unprecedented effort way out in front of the Commissioner want-to-be pack. Randy Santucci’s Commissioner appointment will be something very right about our system.

The bottom line is a structure change is needed in the manner in which we select Commissioners. The Council can reduce the applicants to the most competent, but our sporting class deserves an opportunity to review all the candidates. It is unacceptable that the Council’s picks must endure an interview by DCNR’s Secretary Mike DeBerardinis. DCNR has no authority to manage wildlife and our PGC Commissioners manage wildlife.

As for that Senatorial maneuver by Senator Scarnati and Senator McIlhinney of ignoring the pleas of the USP, the largest, fastest growing sportsmen’s advocacy group in the state, I have a hunch it did not go unnoticed by USP. Although, our Senators’ total disregard for sportsmen’s rights conclusively proves my point.

There is something terribly wrong with our system.

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com.

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