Legislators Should Back Fee Increase

Last spring, Idaho’s critters took a back seat to old grudges, personality conflicts and politics. Key legislators torpedoed an emergency proposal to pump $7 million into the strapped Idaho Department of Fish and Game because the firing of controversial director Steve Mealey angered them.

Much has changed since then. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has appointed four respected sportsmen to the Fish and Game Commission to form a majority. However, the financial crisis remains the same. Since 1996, the department has jeopardized programs for Idaho’s renowned fish and game populations by cutting $9 million in spending and personnel. There’s little fat left.

Now, the commission has approved a general fee increase of $4.4 million to address the department’s needs - the first such increase in 17 years. Coupled with a $6 increase in deer and elk tags last year, the proposed hike still won’t cover all the deferred needs. But it’s a good start.

Unfortunately, a good plan to save an important resource doesn’t always ensure the Legislature’s endorsement. The proposal still will be a tough sell in the House of Representatives. We urge North Idaho lawmakers to take this issue seriously and support it.

The Fish and Game Commission has earned a right to be heard.

First, it had the guts in March to dump Mealey in the face of political threats after he’d embarrassed his department - and angered both sportsmen groups and environmentalists. The nadir of Mealey’s tenure occurred in July 1997, when he feigned mooning a shoreline statue during a Lake Pend Oreille cruise.

Secondly, Kempthorne’s four appointments to the seven-member commission this spring are consensus builders and sportsmen. They should inspire public support for the license and fee hikes needed to strengthen the department and its wildlife management services.

Finally, the new board has steered away from unnecessary controversy by nixing such issues as future indexing of sportsmen’s fees to keep up with uncontrollable costs. It removed another sticking point by promising to spend $500,000 from a 1990 fishing license increase for fisheries, as intended, rather than continue diverting it to cover other program shortfalls.

The new commission seems to be on the right track, although it has dragged its heels in appointing Mealey’s successor. It embraced the general fee hike reluctantly. All that’s needed now is for the Legislature to put away its petty grievances and approve the increase so wildlife managers can do their jobs properly.