No Special Protection For Fish, Game Panel

Lawmakers rejected a bill Friday that would have protected members of the state Fish and Game Commission from being removed by the governor, unless he had good cause.

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, led the move to kill the bill, dismissing arguments that it would just prevent “arbitrary and capricious” firings of commissioners.

“If arbitrary and capricious were a consideration, then our body politic would be a monarchy,” Crow said.

When Gov. Phil Batt first took office, he asked members of the commission for their resignations, setting off a firestorm of protest. He rescinded the request, and later enlarged the commission.

After that experience, Batt said that perhaps the commission shouldn’t serve at the governor’s pleasure. , DataTimes