And yet we find another move in the works to stir the controversial pot about deer in PA...

Be sure to read page two of this article...

http://www.mcall.com/sports/outdoors/all-bergcolumn0501.5815629may01,0,7998878.column  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2007-05-02 08:12:37 --

Boop responds.....

http://www.mcall.com/sports/outdoors/all-gamecomm0502.5828442may02,0,2930716.story

Rohr defends Boop and attacks other commisssioners and PGC AGAIN ----

Quote :

Rohrer Calls PA Game Commission Board President Ousting 'Gag Order' Against Opposing Views House Republican Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) harshly criticized Tuesday's Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Board of Commissioners decision to replace current Board President Tom Boop with Commissioner Roxanne Pallone, pending the outcome of a "trial" at its scheduled June quarterly meeting.   "The attempted removal of President Boop unfortunately confirms the fears of thousands of hunters across this Commonwealth regarding the condescending nature and arrogance that characterizes the management philosophy of a majority of the Board of Commissioners including Commissioners Roxanne Pallone and Russell Schleiden," said Rohrer. "This unprecedented attempt by the bard to exact retribution against a fellow Game Commission executive who has the courage to publicly express an opposing view is not only unacceptable, but totally out of line.    "In reality, this unethical gag order executed against Mr. Boop has little to do with any current deer management policy in effect. It has everything to do with the unprofessional behavior and negative attitudes of at least these two commissioners who are willing to disregard the advice of their own legal counsel in order to prohibit anyone from questioning or disagreeing with the policies they support or to publicly question their authority," Rohrer added.   The announcement of Boop's attempted removal came exactly two weeks after Rohrerrecommended the temporary suspension of doe harvests for the upcoming 2007-08 deer hunting season in order to provide time for the PGC to collect quantifiable survey data and to protect against the state's deer population falling to potentially unrecoverable levels during the Game Commission's April quarterly meeting—a deer management strategy that Boop has also openly advocated for despite strong opposition from both Pallone and Schleiden.    "The over-sensitivity displayed by these particular board members to the questioning of the accuracy of data regarding the Pennsylvania total deer population estimates or the accuracy of deer harvest numbers by Commissioner Boop and other board members further underscores to me the legitimacy of questioning certain aspects of current policy until quantifiable data is produced," said Rohrer.   To provide further background of his criticism of the overall lack of professionalism consistently displayed by both Pallone and Schleiden, Rohrer referred back to the overall reception that his April 17 testimony received.   "I was appalled at the condescending nature of the questions posed by both Commissioners Roxanne Pallone and Russell Schleiden after I made my recommendation for a temporary suspension of doe harvests during the concurrent firearm season, with the exception of special regulation areas, Red Tag harvests and allowing junior license holders to harvest doe on Saturdays with the goal of providing the PGC the time to collect and analyze more complete research prior to establishing season limits," said Rohrer. "As a State Representative, fielding questions of this nature is nothing new to me.   Again, what was completely out of line was the arrogant attitude and condescending tone displayed by certain commissioners, particularly Ms. Pallone, when she questioned others who presented opinions on commission policy which she did not share."   Rohrer also noted that Tuesday's vote to remove Boop at the June quarterly meeting was taken despite the protests of legal counsel.   PGC counsel advised the board that according to Robert's Rules of Order, to remove Boop without first presenting specific written charges was denying him of his constitutional right to due process:   "Let me be extremely clear, I do not feel this lack of professionalism or level of disregard for differing opinions applies to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at large," said Rohrer. "There are many hard working individuals, such as Board President Boop, who have made it their life's work to protect and manage our wildlife resources and their habitats, as well providing our sportsmen with ample opportunities to hunt and trap.   "However, this unacceptable disregard for differing opinions and lack of professionalism that led to this act of retribution through the attempted removal of Board President Boop is heavily entrenched among a select few who appear to place a personal agenda and special interests above their broader obligation to serve the people.   It is this attitude that must change and it must change soon, not only for the good of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, but for our wildlife, sportsmen, farmers and all other citizens of this great Commonwealth who are or will be negatively impacted by their arrogance," he added.   Reviewing all legislation regulating hunters, anglers and boaters, balancing the interests of residents and the importance of wildlife to the state, and determining fees and costs for licensing are just some of the major issues considered by Rohrer and other members of the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee.   "As elected officials, we have sworn an oath and fully understand that we must act in the best interests of our constituents and the Commonwealth as a whole," said Rohrer   "While Pennsylvania Game Commissioners are appointed and not elected, this does not give them a free ride in circumventing their statutory responsibility to the people of Pennsylvania. They must always keep in mind that they answer to a similar constituency of Pennsylvanians, which includes not only foresters and environmental interests, but farmers, hunters, and the Legislature. Arbitrarily removing President Boop in order to silence his dissenting views is nothing short of tyranny and for the overall best interests of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and all other stakeholders it must not stand."    Rep. Samuel Rohrer 128th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives (610) 775-5130 (717) 787-8550 www.SamRohrer.com

It should come as no surprise that some of those legisaltors that appear (TO ME) to be hell bend on destroying the PGC and possibly the future of hunting in Pa would add their comments to this action of the board...

Here's what Rep. Staback had to say ----

Quote :

Staback blasts Game commissioners for votes to oust board president   HARRISBURG, May 3 – State Rep. Ed Staback, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, today sent letters to the four members of the state Game Commission's Board of Commissioners who recently voted to oust Commissioner Tom Boop from the presidency of the board.    The board's unprecedented move was in response to public statements made by Boop at the commission's most recent public meeting in which he expressed his opposition to some board policies, specifically, decisions relating to deer management.   In the letters, Staback wrote to the board members that their actions were "an ugly display of punitive power" and set "an unacceptable precedent" for the board and the way it deals with dissent.   Staback asked, "If the Commissioners treat one of their own this way, what chance does a hunter, or for that matter, does anyone have to get the board to adapt its policies when they are in error or just in need of improvement?"   The board's legal counsel warned against taking the vote to remove Boop from his position, protesting the move as one that denied Boop due process guaranteed by law and in violation of his rights under procedural law and the constitution. The board voted anyway.   "When told that they couldn't do what they were doing, the board did it anyway, over the protests of their own lawyers who knew an injustice was occurring," Staback added. "I believe the four members who voted to oust Commissioner Boop in this way, Commissioners Palone, Hill, Isabella and Schleiden, each individually exhibited behavior unbecoming of a public official."

Andy Snyder, York Dispatch:

The Game Commission should not, and does not, care what a politician in Harrisburg or a hotel owner in Potter County thinks about the harvest numbers. But now that this is turning into a political battle, the Commission will be forced to care or it may become another piece of Pennsylvania's history. If you thought the debate surrounding this state's deer population was heated last year, think again. Politicians are getting involved and the battle is just getting started.

When the Commission increased the amount of doe tags it will issue, hunters took notice. And when hunters get hot, politicians take action. Unfortunately, their actions will help nobody but themselves.

This debate is just getting started. It will get much worse before it ever gets better.

These are sad sad days and undoubtedly rough times lie ahead.

The times are what we allow them to be.
Each of us has the power to change things. Just look what the USP did!

All representatives email addresses:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=H

Bob Frye's commentary on the meeting and I believe Frye was actually at the meeting, unlike some writers who are expressing opinions on what happened and why:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_506123.html

And Tom Venesky's commentary:

http://www.timesleader.com/sports/20070506_06Venesky.html  

--Last edited by DennyF on 2007-05-06 11:42:30 --

Penn, it was not a matter of "opinions." If that were so, this voting against a commissioner would be a regular event. Anyone who follows PGC happenings knows that for years there have been difference of opinions expressed publicly by commissioners.
It was Boops methods to subvert and to take on a responsibility of committing to decisions that weren't his alone, to make.
He misrepresented his position, plain and simple.