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HSB 645 - DNR will sell land to fund REAP

ElkHunter

ElkHunter

Life Member
Among numerous proposals, the bill requires the DNR to sell property to generate $20 million for REAP
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES —— SALE OF REAL PROPERTY. During the fiscal period beginning on the effective date of this division of this Act, and ending June 30, 2013, the department of natural resources shall identify and sell real property under the control of the department, the sale of which is not otherwise prohibited by federal law, that is not utilized for state parks and forests in sufficient acreage that shall generate at least twenty million dollars. The funds generated are to be deposited into the REAP Account. Fish & game lands would be protected constitutionally and any sale of land would have to go to the Trust Fund. HSG subcom-Cownie, Kaufmann, Lensing, Mascher, Vander Linden.

IWiLL DAY AT THE CAPITOL. Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Iowa's Water & Land Legacyand theIowa REAP Allianceare excited to announce our now annualLobby Day on the Hill at the Iowa State Capitol on February 22, 2012. Supporters will be meeting at the State Capitol at 9:00 A.M. on February 22nd to ask your legislators to support fully funding REAP at $20 million for FY 2013 and avoiding any special interest earmarks or cuts in the program.
For more information about REAP, you can visit: www.REAPALLIANCE.org or www.IOWASWATERANDLANDLEGACY.ORG
If you want to learn about REAP projects in YOUR county, you can visit our"County-by-County" information map here.
 
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Cooter said:
What does this mean? Selling public hunting ground to support REAP?

What is the IBAs stand on this?
Click to expand...

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/REAP

When I first read this bill I thought it was oxymoronic in that why would the DNR sell the very things that REAP was created to protect? AND to put it back in the general fund?

What I don’t know, and I suppose I could dig a little deeper, REAP is funded through gambling proceeds to the tune of 15 million (5 million short of the funding level) every year. Is this all of the proceeds from gambling or are some of the gambling proceeds used to fund other state departments?

I do wonder if this bill would let the DNR divest itself of some properties it was losing money on, like Honey Creek for instance.

On a side note, when I play blackjack at an Iowa casino and split 10s and 5s against a 6 or hop the 5-3 when I’m rolling the bones I’m actually contributing to the REAP Fund. I'd think Turkey River would want to do the same.
 
Gambling revenues go to several different funds I believe. There would be a more direct way of contributing to REAP Bonker. I can't believe this bill can have legs. Maybe one of the sponsors want the DNR to sell some cropground in their district? Who knows.
 
i would assume, they would sell crop grounds, and not ground that is already being used for hunting/wildlife/recreation. but, even it that were the case, would that open the door for them to sell off hunting land in the future? the only way the DNR should sell off crop ground, is if every penny of that sale, went to purchase hunting ground.

which will never happen
 
If the DNR is looking for money, I think they should just do select cuts of timber and TSI work and sell it in some of the public areas... some areas are so over grown with large trees, its no good for hunting anyway because there's no underbrush
 
Please contact these individuals and let them know they will not be allowed to do this travesty. The only land that could not be sold are State Parks and Forests.That leaves the Wildlife Managements areas as the big target.

Talking points are listed below.





Cownie (R-West Des Moines) Legislative Email: [email protected]
Capitol Phone: 515.281.3221

Vander Linden (R-Oskaloosa),
Legislative Email: [email protected]
Capitol Phone: 515.281.3221

Kaufman (R-Tipton)
Legislative Email: [email protected]


Lensing (D-Iowa City)
Legislative Email: [email protected]

Mascher (D-Iowa City).
Legislative Email: [email protected]



Action Alert


The Iowa House of Representatives is trying to steal your Public Land & Hunting and Fishing License money AGAIN!!​
Hidden within this Government Efficiency proposal is language to identify and sell public wildlife areas – to then use that money from the sale of OUR property to fund REAP!! ​




​

Talking points when calling your Iowa House Representative!​
This legislation is in the Iowa House this week – concentrate on Iowa House members​
· Go to www.legis.iowa.gov to find your Iowa House member – click on “legislators” – then “House members”
· Call the House switchboard: (515) 281-3221 – try to speak with your representative – at least leave a message.
· Remember the order of effective communication with your legislator, 1-Personal contact, 2-Personal letter, 3-Phone call, 4-Email. Try to do them all!
· In 1996, 88% of Iowans voted to constitutionally protect the Iowa Fish and Game Trust Fund, and make sure that the fund was used only for promoting, managing, researching and regulating hunting and fishing in Iowa. In hunting and fishing stakeholder public meetings across the state a year ago, one of the top concerns of stakeholders was the small number of public areas available for hunting and fishing. In REAP assemblies across the state this year; one of the top recommendations was more acquisition of public lands. Iowa has less than 1% of all its acres under state management, and Iowa ranks 49th in the nation in the number of acres of all public lands. (Please see the attached map that illustrates the percentage of public natural recreational areas and waters in Iowa.)
· The only public lands managed by the DNR that could be sold off without repaying or losing federal funding or breaking federal and state law are those lands bought solely with REAP funds, i.e. mainly state park lands and state forest lands. For the very few wildlife lands bought solely with REAP, this would result in lands bought with REAP funds being sold to fund REAP. One of the major purposes of REAP is to aid cities, counties and the state in acquiring natural recreational areas.
· FYI--The DNR pays local property taxes on lands funded by REAP and Wildlife Habitat fees—the only government agency that pays property taxes. This year over $750,000 went back to local communities in property taxes.
· State Parks and State Forests are exempted in this legislation, so that leaves Wildlife Management Areas as the targets. Most Wildlife Management Areas have been purchased with federal funds that can only be used for that purpose. If lands purchased with those funds are taken out of the public domain, then all the funds used to buy those lands must be repaid. It also puts future federal funding for Iowa from those federal agencies in jeopardy.
· Every year the state of Iowa signs an agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, agreeing that all moneys collected for fishing, hunting and fur harvesting licenses will only be used for fish and wildlife protection, wildlife habitat improvement and wildlife and fishing recreational purposes. This agreement then allows the state of Iowa to receive the federal excise tax funds derived from hunting and fishing equipment. If public lands were sold off and the money then deposited outside the Fish and Game Trust Fund, that would be considered a diversion of federal funds, and those funds (over $9M per year) would be discontinued.
 
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How much REAP money goes to private landowners for "improvements"?


I don't think we should be selling public land to fund private projects.
 
Obviously I'm against selling off any of our public lands but can someone tell me why this is even being proposed? Emails are being written and this one looks like it may require a phone call too.
 
This is the response I got from one of my reps.

Thank you for your email communication. I always appreciate hearing from constituents and other concerned citizens regarding issues under consideration here at the Capitol. I am in complete agreement with your position on HSB 645. I am not on the subcommittee reviewing this proposal, and I do not serve on the House Committee on State Government to which it has been assigned, but I have checked around and spoken to those who are involved. I am told that there should be an amendment coming to alter the proposed legislation, but I am personally unsure if it will address our concerns. I will continue to monitor the progress of this proposal, and will certainly keep your comments in mind should the opportunity for discussion arise. Please feel free to contact me with any future questions or concerns.

Representative Jim Lykam





Again, does anyone know why this is even being proposed?
 
Talked to my Rep. last night and he wasn't on the committee so he didn't know much about it until I called. He did some checking and got back to me. He won't support it if it gets that far. The point is, even if your Rep. isn't on the committee, they need to hear from you.
 
Here is the email I sent to the Legislators. I'll hopefully get some decent responses.

Legislators,
Pertaining to HSB 645, I believe Division IV/ Section 14 should be removed from the bill. It has come to my attention that if this section is allowed to pass the only land that could not be sold are State Parks and Forests. That would leave wildlife management areas vulnerable to be sold. Iowa is a great state with one of its draws being some of the best hunting in the country. If we start selling off public areas it is going to have a negative affect on Iowans and non-residents. I also believe it would be detrimental to Iowa’s economy.
 
Here is the e-mail I received from my representative: [email protected]


Tim,
Thank you for your emails regarding hsb645, hf2329/sf2254. Hsb645, as you said, relates to many different subjects which is in violation of our Constitution. Since, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, I cannot in good conscience vote for hsb645. I agree with you regarding the nonresident disabled veteran hunting licenses. Thanks again! Kim
 
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