Sportsman's Alert

March 25, 2010

Governor uses veto pen to benefit wildlife, hunting, fishing 

With the encouragement of sportsmen like you, Gov. Bill Richardson has vetoed the Legislature’s attempt to raid the Game Protection Fund.

On Wednesday, Richardson used his line-item veto authority to cut a $750,000 appropriation to the state Division of Parks that would have come from the Game Protection Fund – which is composed entirely of sportsmen’s license fees and taxes. The transfer was aimed at helping out the financially strapped Parks Division by providing money for Pecos Canyon State Park and other facilities. While hunters and anglers benefit from our state parks, this appropriation could have jeopardized millions of dollars in federal funds by taking authority over sportsmen’s dollars away from the State Game Commission. It also would have precipitated the need to raise hunting and fishing license fees earlier than expected.

In his veto message to the Legislature regarding House Bill 2, Richardson said he supports Pecos Canyon State Park, but added: “Raiding the Game Protection Fund, however, is not an acceptable means of funding it. Such a raid would unacceptably hasten the day on which our anglers and hunters face potential fee increases. It could also raise issues about our compliance with federal law prohibiting the diversion of angler and hunter fees, which diversion, if found, could jeopardize the millions of dollars the state receives annually” from federal sources.

Earlier, Richardson vetoed an effort to take back funds for construction of the Mesilla Valley Shotgun Sports facility in Las Cruces, allowing sportsmen to continue work on that city’s new trap and skeet range. Local sportsmen had already raised significant matching funds and the Legislature's proposed withdrawal of state funds would have stalled the project indefinitely.

Richardson also vetoed House Bill 116, which had a worthy goal of providing free licenses to military personnel on leave. But due to problems with the way the bill was structured, it would have caused the loss of millions of dollars in federal matching funds for law enforcement and habitat protection to the Department of Game and Fish.

Take a moment now to thank the governor for standing up for New Mexico’s sportsmen and protecting the Game Protection Fund.Tell him that we, as fellow hunters and anglers, appreciate his longstanding commitment to New Mexico’s hunting, fishing and outdoor way of life. Click here to send him an e-mail.

Thank you,

Jeremy Vesbach, Executive Director

 About the New Mexico Wildlife Federation

Founded in 1914 by sportsman and conservation pioneer Aldo Leopold, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation is New Mexico's first and most effective conservation advocate. We are dedicated to protecting New Mexico's wildlife, habitat and outdoor way of life. We spearheaded permanent protection of our hunting and fishing rights in the Valle Vidal, and stopped cold the previous sell-off of your public lands. We believe that the best way to get things done is to build consensus with common goals.

Our key priorities are: Opportunity Habitat Youth