Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got off the phone with Carl Isett's office and they told me quote:

"We are not going anywhere with that bill. That bill is dead."

Sounds like we may have won.

Now we need us this opportunity to correct misunderstandings and establish better relations with TPWD.

Troy has been working at this for years. I say we all follow his lead. He certainly has my 100% support.

......and hope that this thing is really dead. Now the hard work starts. We can see from this that we need three things and need them quick - 1) some sort of centralized lobby in Austin to prevent this from happening again, 2) better relations/relationships with TPWD as a whole and individual members of LE, and 3) better relationships with landowners & businesses to shake this "nut-case/fringe element" image we have with them. We need to look at this as a positive opportunity to improve our image and our hobby.

I think that one of the things the community has to do is to explicitly disavow the "nut-case/fringe" elements. Make sure that its policy to treat TPWD employees with respect, and to make sure that when they tell us about bad encounters say "he doesn't represent us".

Troy

Agreed. And the on-line bashing of TPWD & it's LE branch on the forums needs to stop. If anyone thinks that they're not reading the forum you're wrong.

I would hate to drop the fight and then have it slip past us.

Troy

we need more confirmation. Don't quit yet. If it's not dead we'll kill it. If it is dead we'll beat a dead horse.

why don't you call and see what she tells you. to me she was very short and seemed very familiar with the bill. I was very nice and asked her to please repeat that because I could not believe what I heard.

if so, post the number and I'll give it a try.

The numbers for Rep Isett
Austin office: (512) 463-0676 Phone (512) 708-8427 Fax
Lubbock office (806) 763-2366 Phone (806) 749-5225 Fax

I just called the Austin office and spoke with Dawn. She was unaware of any change in Rep Isett's position on this bill. However, she quickly added that thing have been "crazy" there today. She said she was going to have Matt Creel (the point man on this bill) give me a return call.

If he doesn't call back soon (likely) I'll follow up with another call and/or email. It is important that the know that we support conservation and responsible wildlife management, just not this bill.

will try and see if I can get through

I just sent the following email to Matt at Isett's office.
----------------

Matt,

I am writing in order to confirm Rep. Isett’s position on HB 2414. I understand that he authored this bill but has recently had second thoughts and plans to oppose it. Is this true? If so, I want to express my deepest respect and gratitude for his open-minded consideration of the unintended consequences of the substitute version of this bill.

I would also like to add that I fully support the original language of the bill.

Sincerely,

Daryl Eby
Amateur Reptile Enthusiast
432-371-2861
HC 65, Box 132-U
Alpine, TX 79852

Not only do we need confirmation from Isett's office, we need it from another source.

I would call, but I can't call long distance from work, and my wife has the cell phone.

Troy

I have to wonder if that statement was an intentional misdirection..

I just have this lack of trust for the office of Isett right now...

Lance