TOPIC:

View this email in your browser HB 5093 is sitting in the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee, and it isn't moving without outside pressure.  The Representatives wavering to vote for HB 5093 need to hear from Michigan Anglers to find the courage to do the right thing.  We've put together an action alert with everything your members need to weigh in — phone numbers, emails, even a script for the call — and now we need it in front of as many anglers as possible.

Here's the ask: share the action alert below with your organizations membership this week. Post it to your Facebook page, send it out in your next email blast, bring it up at your next meeting — whatever gets it in front of your members fastest. Every call and email to the Committee adds pressure, and right now that pressure is what gets this bill a vote. 

Forward the message below exactly as it is, or copy it into your own organizations’ format if that works better for your members. 

Here is the message to send to your membership and the contact info for our legislators:

HB 5093 NEEDS A VOTE — NOW
Ronald Reagan once asked, "If not us, who? And if not now, when?"
Michigan Anglers, that question is ours to answer.

HB 5093 to improve fishing in Michigan is stuck in Committee, and every week it sits there is a week our fisheries lose ground.  This bill will fund addition walleye, trout and muskie stocking for inland waters and allow Great Lakes trollers to run more rods. 

Based on the feedback we received from anglers and representatives on the original language of our bill, we have worked closely with legislators to reduce the scope and cost of this fishing license restructure.   The $5 youth license has been removed.  The increase for senior licenses has been removed. The $2 base license increase has been removed.  Our bill still drives improved fishing across both inland waters and our Great Lakes with the $5 hatchery stamp that is only required to fish for species raised in our hatcheries like salmon, trout, walleyes, muskie and sturgeon.  The revenue for the hatchery stamp will be used to produce more fish for stocking, more cormorant controls and more rods when trolling the Great Lakes. We will all catch more fish!

Our bill has strong bi-partisan support but it needs to be voted on in the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee to proceed. 

THE ASK IS SIMPLE: Call Committee Chair David Martin and every member of the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee. Tell them to call a vote on HB 5093 and vote yes on it.
Not sure what to say? Keep it short:

"My name is [your name], I'm a Michigan angler from [your town], and I'm asking Representative [name] to call a vote for HB 5093 in Committee and vote yes"
 
Here's what's at stake if HB 5093 doesn't pass out of Committee:

• A 50% cut to fish stocking, statewide
• No walleye or muskie stocking
• Net pen programs shut down
• License machines pulled from stores
• Fisheries biologist positions cut
• Zero funding for cormorant control

That's not a worst-case scenario. That's what happens without HB 5093.

CALL OR EMAIL TODAY — HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM COMMITTEE

CHAIR David Martin (R-68): (517) 373-0826 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MAJORITY VICE CHAIR Alicia St. Germaine (R-62): (517) 373-0555 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

MINORITY VICE CHAIR Mike McFall (D-14): (517) 373-0140 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MEMBERS
Noah Arbit (D-20): (517) 373-3816 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Karl Bohnak (R-109): (517) 373-0498 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Parker Fairbairn (R-107): (517) 373-2629 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Morgan Foreman (D-33): (517) 373-0820 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Mike Hoadley (R-99): (517) 373-1789 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Gina Johnsen (R-78): (517) 373-1796 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Tonya Myers Phillips (D-7): (517) 373-2276 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Pat Outman (R-91): (517) 373-3436 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Dave Prestin (R-108): (517) 373-0156 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Helena Scott (D-: (517) 373-3815 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Curt VanderWall (R-102): (517) 373-1747 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Regina Weiss (D-5): (517) 373-0844 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Stephen Wooden (D-81): (517) 373-1790 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Jennifer Wortz (R-35): (517) 373-1788 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Make the call. Send the email. Show them where you stand on Fisheries in OUR Great Lake State — and make them show you where they stand.
The time for Action and Accountability is NOW.