POLITICAL WIRE: F&W Commission expresses opposition to SB 5127
NEW March 15, 2009 / 6:00 p.m

OLYMPIA, Wash. - As the Washington legislature continues to slip dangerously close to approving SB 5127 and its disembowelment of a key component of Referendum 45, the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission is standing up for what it believes in: itself.

Late last week, the commission released its official Commission Position on SB 5127, a clearly-worded two-page position that spells out the dangers in placing the state's fish & wildlife management deeper under the umbrella of politics.

CLICK HERE to hear the commission's March 13 conference call. Forward to the 9:25 mark of the call for the start of the debate on SB 5127..

-JS

POLITICAL WIRE: Gregoire on "Protecting and Refoming WA Fisheries"
NEW Oct. 23, 2008 / 2:00 p.m.

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Not sure how I missed this last week, but Washington governor Chris Gregoire released her platform on "Protecting and Reforming Washington Fisheries" on Oct. 14, providing a strong four-page counterpoint to Dino Rossi's "Official Position on Fishing in Washington State".

In her four-page "Protecting and Reforming" document, Gregoire highlights "numerous initiatives" she created during her governorship to improve fisheries management in Washington. She also briefly highlights her second-term fisheries-management strategies, and points out the "sharp contrast" between her fisheries platform and that of her Republican opponent.

You can read the entire document HERE. Stay tuned to this site as we compare the two gubernatorial candidates through our "fish eye lens", and continue to work toward on-air interviews with both Gregoire and Rossi.

-JS

THE POLITICAL WIRE: Rossi continues to push sportfishing platform
Oct. 1, 2008

BELLEVUE, Wash. - Washington gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi made an impression on me four years ago when he joined the Wild Country crew on the eve of the 2004 election to talk fish politics. Even though he lost that election to current Evergreen State governor Chris Gregoire (in the closest race in state history), Rossi was obviously well educated on the issues surrounding salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

Heading down the home stretch of Campaign 2008, it seems appropriate to re-visit the fishing platforms of both candidates for the governor's office.

We'll start with Rossi (pictured at left during a day on the Cowlitz River with guide Lee Barkie of Lee's Guide Service).

The Rossi Campaign has published his "Official Position on Fishing in Washington State", which explains his positions on hatchery funding and reform, selective harvest of salmon, derelict fishing gear and Canadian/Alaskan interception of Washington-bound fish.

Read the Rossi position HERE, and tune in to Northwest Wild Country on Oct. 25 as we address several issues critical to sportsmen during an exclusive LIVE interview with Rossi.

-JS