Isn't it funny how years ago Gov. Gardner made a deal whereby if he got to choose the WDFW director, the dept would have "steady, reliable funding" from the general fund. That funding philosophy still exists today even though the director is now voted by the commission(people). Really paid off didn't it? The money is there-it's all (and always will be) political and politics will always dictate what the dept. gets and doesn't get.

I've argued and bitched about adequate funding for years to no effect. There are SO-O-O-O-O many options to raise dollars for hatcheries and broodstock programs. Steelhead tags, $1.00 tax each time you buy fishing gear, lotteries, raffles....it's all been proposed to the commission, gov., legislature but that doesn't seem to be what they want.

There is a hidden agenda when OUR commission, dept, gov. and legislature has no ingenuity or desire to pursue innovative funding options-it's not hard!

Maybe it all comes back to sportfishers inability to unite as one voice statewide to get what we want?