Legislative News

December
> 8, 2009
>
> DeFronzo,
> New Britain Delegation Proposes Roll Back of
> DEP Fishing and Hunting Fee Increases
>
>
> State
> Senator Donald DeFronzo
> (D-6), with the support of the New Britain Legislative
> Delegation, today said
> he will propose a plan to roll back recent fishing and
> hunting license fee
> increases implemented by the state Department of
> Environmental Protection (DEP)
> on October 1, 2009. Senator DeFronzo said that DEP
> has recently doubled license fees from $20 to $40
> for fishing
> licenses and from $14 to $28 for hunting
> licenses.
>
> “While
> these fee increases are
> intended to help close the state’s budget
> deficit,” Senator DeFronzo said, “the fee
> increases are too steep and
> fall too heavily on low, moderate and fixed-income
> people who enjoy
> fishing and hunting. We can find other sources of revenue
> to cover the
> costs.”
>
> Three of
> New Britain ’s state representatives
> will co-sponsor the proposal.
>
> “Reducing
> these fees will allow
> tens of thousands of Connecticut
> residents to enjoy the state’s natural
> resources,” Representative
> Tim O’Brien (D-24) said. “This proposal is a
> far better approach
> then the original plan.”
>
> “Doubling
> fees on basic
> recreational services like fishing and hunting is just not
> fair to Ct. middle income families,”
> Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) said. “We can
> do better, and I hope
> the legislature will adopt Don’s
> plan.”
>
> It is
> estimated the DEP fee increases
> would generate about $4.3 million dollars in new revenue;
> however, Senator DeFronzo said he will propose
> adjustments to certain fines
> related to motor vehicle infractions in order to raise
> the same amount of
> revenue. He said these fines have not been adjusted since
> 1985 and will
> compensate for the revenue loss which would result when the
> DEP fishing and
> hunting fee increases are rolled
> back.
>
> Representative
> Betty Boukus
> (D-22) said she “supports the plan to roll back fees
> and hopes it can
> become effective before the start of the New Year and well
> in advance of the
> spring fishing season.”
>
> Senator
> DeFronzo
> said that in these tough economic times it is important to
> keep basic
> recreational activities as affordable as possible. He hopes
> other legislators
> will support his proposal.
>
> The 2010
> legislative session begins on
> February 3.
> http://www.senatedems.state.ct.us/pr/defronzo-091208.html
>
>
> Thank
> Sen DeFronzo & other
> supportive legislators for their interest and efforts.
>
>
> E-mail,
> and Write,
> and Phone Call YOUR State Representative and State
> Senator -
> urge them eliminate the doubling of fees and SUPPORT a reasoned increase.
>
>
>
>
>
> You
> can find your CT
> legislator at this http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp or in the Blue pages under “
> Connecticut , State
> of” then “Legislators”. Also, inform your friends who
> have an interest. Ask them to communicate.
>
>
>
>
> Use your own words, tell them how this outrageous
> doubling of fees will
> affect you and the state, use the KISS principle, and
> please…do not be
> insulting or negative towards Any Senator, Representative,
> or anyone else in
> the Capitol. Identify yourself and Town, State your
> position and why you
> Support or Oppose the doubled
> increase. Be Brief, if
> they have questions they will ask. Ask for a response to
> your communication!
>
>
>
>
>
> Review
> other info at the CCS website
> www.ctsportsmen.com