HB 1151 - BAITING BILL
NDCTWS Members,
Please consider submitting individual written testimony on HB 1151
We have the right as citizens to make our opinions known. Obviously if you are not comfortable doing this because of your position in your organization, then do what you feel comfortable doing. NDCTWS will submit testimony in opposition, but you decide for yourself as an individual.
HB 1151 would prevent NDGF from banning baiting. For me, the biggest problem with the bill is the legislature interfering with the business of NDGF, whose mandate is to manage our wildlife resources. They are trained professionals who take into consideration public desires, but act on best available science and objectives that balance everybody’s interests. The questions around baiting have long been debaited (or is it debated), but one thing is clear, based on science: when animals are in closer contact, the risk of disease transmission goes up. That is a BIG deal.
Bill Jensen provided the excellent talking points/responses (Attached Here). You can also see the testimony that was submitted when the bill was in the House, where it originated. For models of written testimony, look for familiar names (just to mention a few: Clint Otto, Kevin Kading, Adam Ryba, Rachel Bush, John Bradley, Charlie Bahnson, Dave Dewald, Mike McEnroe).
You will see that a lot of the testimony submitted was In Favor of the bill. That is why those who Oppose the bill need to have a strong showing. It is important to make opposition visible. Members of the legislature can see that and probably don’t even read all the testimony, unless perhaps they are on the committee, because they are at the same time reviewing a lot of other bills.
HN 1151 received overwhelming support in the House (76 Y – 18 N). We cannot count on a veto with that kind of vote margin (nor do we know what the governor would do anyway). Now it is in the Senate Energy and Nat Resources committee, with a hearing scheduled for next Thursday, 3/16 at 9 am.
Testimony can be submitted HERE.
If you chose to do so, you only need to identify yourself by name, not the organization you work for. Most likely you do not have the authority to submit testimony for your org anyway, so you are submitting individual testimony.
Keep your testimony short, state at the outset your position:
My name is ______, I am submitting this testimony in Opposition to HB 1151.
Then add any additional points you want, but keep the following in mind:
You are not a representative of NDCTWS; you only have authority to submit on behalf of yourself as an individual
Keep it short and to the point. Don’t write a long speech, or at least don’t expect many people to read something long.
Use bullet points if you prefer. That is easy to read.
Make it personal – why do you care about this. Check out any of the previously mentioned testimony examples above.
Don’t just submit Bill’s talking points document, use it as a tool.
Be polite.
Again, be polite. Don’t make it personal about the bill’s sponsors or anybody else. This is not the internet… (ok, it kind of is, but not really).
Submit BEFORE next Thursday. Sometimes testimony does not appear right away online.
Mike McEnroe will be submitting our official NDCTWS testimony.
After it is out of committee, however it plays out, we will contact you again with a reminder to contact your local Senator as an individual citizen. Then it goes to the floor for a vote, and we will see what happens.
Stay warm!
Bob
Robert Newman, Ph.D., President, North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society
