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| Izaak Walton League of America |
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| Man on the Hill |
As one of your State Division lobbyists...Tom Holm is the other one......I am asked frequently on
what issues do we lobby on and why do we pick certain bills to work on over others.
The answer is easy...we pick those we seem to be able to influence the most and those issues that
fit the Izaak Walton resolutions and the Members Pledge. We also work issues where we can get
the most results by working within other groups such as the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC). We
pick and choose the issues from other groups carefully as some groups are against shooting sports
and against ownership of guns and some are against hunting and yet we can work with them on
clean water, clean air, protection of our water supplies and habitat protection. During these issues
I work on habitat as being an issue for hunting areas and promotion of hunting and fishing.
We do not have money for influencing legislation and thus I cannot buy my way into the legislative
action. The legislators seem to understand this and persistence pays off by asking for visits and
being visible in the lobby. Attending committee meetings and adding a few hand out papers on the
subject involved helps also....It is important to be knowledgeable about what is going on with each
bill we are working on and IEC helps a lot. Other lobbyists help also especially from the Iowa
Conservation Alliance as well as IEC.
We also add our influence and my background in medicine and chemistry and effects of toxics on
human health also are important to my understanding of pollutants etc....I am still a member of the
medical societies however I NEVER interfere with their lobby activities. Occasionally, while
lobbying on a conservation bill a legislator will ask my advice about these issues and I do respond
but not for the Ikes and I make that clear.
The Ikes have been working hard on several bills that we are following:
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING BILL
We plan on a major program effort to see that the Sustainable Funding bill passes. This bill was
past last year and MUST pass this year; so in order for a referendum of the people to allow a
constitutional amendment that allows 3/8 of a cent on a sales tax . . . IF one should occur in the
future.
This is an important bill for agriculture, soil and wetlands protection, habitat, recreational trails,
and parks. This is a good bill and we will have a big day Tuesday the 17th. It has already passed the
Senate, but there will be a debate on this in the House . . . and some problems with it.
INCREASED LICENSE FEES
The bill on increased license fees for hunting and fishing is up in the air. Although there has been
some bad publicity, this is a necessary increase despite the Governor’s decision not to carry this on.
There are many issues — restoration of flooded habitat and fish hatcheries is a particular need —
and if something is not done we will lose some of our DNR personell in the fields and will not meet
as many habitat needs and provide programs for the out of doors.
Most groups agree with some increase if not 33% but some increase and no increase of out of
state hunters. Increasing out-of-state licenses is one idea.
DOVE BILL / CHANNEL CAT BILL
The Dove bill is on a “back burner” while we concentrate our energies on the Sustainable
Funding bill. The Channel Cat bill likewise is on temporary hold.
CLEAN WATER BILLS
We are working hard on some clean water legislation along with the DNR. We need fl ood
protection, wetland programs and soil protection bills to complement the clean water legislation.
We are trying to protect our state’s aquifers also. The Ikes played a role in the legislative water
plans of 1985 and 1997 and 2008–09. We expect to be active this year also.
GUN CONTROL
We are trying also to protect our constitutional right to carry arms . . . some legislation is trying
to get a uniform program to standardize carry bills all over the state and not have 99 county
sheriffs each deciding the issue locally. This has been a problem in the past and I hope we will get
this handled this year.
CRAPPIE AND BLUE GILL LIMITS
Crappie and Blue Gill laws and HF 254 allows limits in larger lakes and exempts lakes of 10 acres
or less. Crappie-thons need more supervision to avoid thinning out the lake populations of crappie
and bluegill!
DEER HUNTING LICENSES
Deer bills and license fees of various types are out for all to see again with the usual allowances
for handicapped hunters, veterans and out-of-state owners. Each bill requires careful consideration
as some bills do not exactly mean what you might think. We need to protect IOWA hunters and
archers and also allow for the 6,000 out-of-state hunters and still have reciprocity with other
states. Hard problems!
Dr. Roy Overton,
Iowa Division State Lobbyist
what issues do we lobby on and why do we pick certain bills to work on over others.
The answer is easy...we pick those we seem to be able to influence the most and those issues that
fit the Izaak Walton resolutions and the Members Pledge. We also work issues where we can get
the most results by working within other groups such as the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC). We
pick and choose the issues from other groups carefully as some groups are against shooting sports
and against ownership of guns and some are against hunting and yet we can work with them on
clean water, clean air, protection of our water supplies and habitat protection. During these issues
I work on habitat as being an issue for hunting areas and promotion of hunting and fishing.
We do not have money for influencing legislation and thus I cannot buy my way into the legislative
action. The legislators seem to understand this and persistence pays off by asking for visits and
being visible in the lobby. Attending committee meetings and adding a few hand out papers on the
subject involved helps also....It is important to be knowledgeable about what is going on with each
bill we are working on and IEC helps a lot. Other lobbyists help also especially from the Iowa
Conservation Alliance as well as IEC.
We also add our influence and my background in medicine and chemistry and effects of toxics on
human health also are important to my understanding of pollutants etc....I am still a member of the
medical societies however I NEVER interfere with their lobby activities. Occasionally, while
lobbying on a conservation bill a legislator will ask my advice about these issues and I do respond
but not for the Ikes and I make that clear.
The Ikes have been working hard on several bills that we are following:
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING BILL
We plan on a major program effort to see that the Sustainable Funding bill passes. This bill was
past last year and MUST pass this year; so in order for a referendum of the people to allow a
constitutional amendment that allows 3/8 of a cent on a sales tax . . . IF one should occur in the
future.
This is an important bill for agriculture, soil and wetlands protection, habitat, recreational trails,
and parks. This is a good bill and we will have a big day Tuesday the 17th. It has already passed the
Senate, but there will be a debate on this in the House . . . and some problems with it.
INCREASED LICENSE FEES
The bill on increased license fees for hunting and fishing is up in the air. Although there has been
some bad publicity, this is a necessary increase despite the Governor’s decision not to carry this on.
There are many issues — restoration of flooded habitat and fish hatcheries is a particular need —
and if something is not done we will lose some of our DNR personell in the fields and will not meet
as many habitat needs and provide programs for the out of doors.
Most groups agree with some increase if not 33% but some increase and no increase of out of
state hunters. Increasing out-of-state licenses is one idea.
DOVE BILL / CHANNEL CAT BILL
The Dove bill is on a “back burner” while we concentrate our energies on the Sustainable
Funding bill. The Channel Cat bill likewise is on temporary hold.
CLEAN WATER BILLS
We are working hard on some clean water legislation along with the DNR. We need fl ood
protection, wetland programs and soil protection bills to complement the clean water legislation.
We are trying to protect our state’s aquifers also. The Ikes played a role in the legislative water
plans of 1985 and 1997 and 2008–09. We expect to be active this year also.
GUN CONTROL
We are trying also to protect our constitutional right to carry arms . . . some legislation is trying
to get a uniform program to standardize carry bills all over the state and not have 99 county
sheriffs each deciding the issue locally. This has been a problem in the past and I hope we will get
this handled this year.
CRAPPIE AND BLUE GILL LIMITS
Crappie and Blue Gill laws and HF 254 allows limits in larger lakes and exempts lakes of 10 acres
or less. Crappie-thons need more supervision to avoid thinning out the lake populations of crappie
and bluegill!
DEER HUNTING LICENSES
Deer bills and license fees of various types are out for all to see again with the usual allowances
for handicapped hunters, veterans and out-of-state owners. Each bill requires careful consideration
as some bills do not exactly mean what you might think. We need to protect IOWA hunters and
archers and also allow for the 6,000 out-of-state hunters and still have reciprocity with other
states. Hard problems!
Dr. Roy Overton,
Iowa Division State Lobbyist
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