Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All of this talk of hiring an attny. is fine and dandy BUT it hasn't completely passed yet in it's present form. This being the case, our best "assault" would be to hire an experienced lobbyist in Austin. For one, you need someone that knows the ropes adn to whom to talk to and where to go; lobbyist do. Once they recieve the bill in question, they will know who to go to and possibly get it squashed or more likely, get an exemption ss(c) written in at the last moment. Lobbyist can be in their face/in person every day where as a lawyer would pretty much wait until it has passed and try and work it backwards. A good lobbyist can make or break and organization. If I wasn't working, I'd be in Austin looking for a good one but I'm stuck. Personally, I suggest this route 1st and formost. I for one would be willing to throw some dimes in the pot. I deal with politicians all the time and most of what many folks are saying on here about vote pressures are true BUT one has to know how to apply that pressure. Unfortunately, lobbyist do the best job here since we are not a multi-million dollar org. If it passes, then I'm in for a lawyer...somebody make a pot.
Jason
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Sound good to me. As I said below I will donate at least $100 -200 if somebody can coordinate this. If the lobbyist doesn't work and we need a lawyer I would donate to that when the time comes. As I said below I think it is reasonable for everyone to donate at least what you would normally pay for the license you get to hunt with. Somebody just needs to take the helm.

Ken Magnusun would be an outstanding lobbyist. If you ask me, he already is. Remember, he is the one who saved our as*** on the animals that were protected for 10 years, unfoundedly. Anyway, I have sent an e-mail to my attorney to see if he may be interested in this, especially if it passes. He is familiar with reptile related cases. This of course would be a different magnitute however. He is Randy Koecher of the Brown & Sims Law firm here in Houston. I have asked him to research the posts on this forum. GOD knows there is enough information on it where he can make his decision. Will post later.

Wayne

I know he is involved, and I know that when he latches onto something like this he will not let go for anything..

We need somebody down there, doing some face to face talking with these people. They cannot sit there and imply that data or studies have been conducted forever. Smoke and mirrors only work for so long, we need somebody down there pressuring them to look up this implied data. Notice that they are taking position contrary to something close to 49 other states. I hope every one on that committee gets elected out, this is ridiculous.

"Notice that they are taking position contrary to something close to 49 other states"

I think this may be one of several salient points. Somebody really should start an outline. If this law is passed, the Texas legislature will be preventing individuals from lawfully exercising their personal liberties and freedoms in public areas that have been open to the hunting of nongame species for the last (fill in the blank) years. It is not a safety measure. IT IS A DRACONION MEASURE. The very same personal liberty and freedom is alive and well in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah (and take the time to research and complete the list).

R

If this guy has the qualifications and has time to do it until they're tired of seeing him. Lets get him on the payroll and start. Have you contacted him? I think several of us have money for him to play...
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I will contribute $200 now to get this thing started more later if someone will set it up. Clark

I agree with Jason and knew you had an ace up your sleeve, your pics are too good! I too, will be willing to ante up for a good lobbyist. If my joy is taken, I will throw what I would have spent in the field into it.
Todd Hughes