Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,

I have spoke to a lobbyist. I have reviewed the situation with him and he will do some checking tomorrow to see what he thinks he can do for us. I can also create an email address on my road runner account and a PayPal account for this fund. I need a list of people who are willing to contribute to this fund and what amounts they can do. Please send me a direct email with your full contact info and your anticipated contribution amount.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX
915-595-8831
OHI2007@elp.rr.com

Count me in...lets make his info/creds public here on the forums. If the guy makes it his sole purpose in life for the next couple of weeks, I say we start dropping dinero...
-----
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Iam in, will email you with contact info. Clark

Can you give us the name of the firm or individual?

All,

Do we really want to post his name on the open forum? I will be happy to give you his name and contact info if you call or email me. What is your idea, JP, about posting stuff on the forum exactly? I didn't ask him for any credentials. What should we do about checking him out? I talked to a construction lobbyist in Houston and he told me about this guy. He said he is a good ole boy lobbyist and he works in Austin. He seemed real nice and knowledgable but we definitely need to check him out before we drop dime. He also said he wanted to check into this because he wanted to be sure he could do us some good before we start paying him. Let's hear the ideas about how to handle this.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX
915-595-8831
OHI2007@elp.rr.com

I will send you an email through this forum. I am only asking because when I tried to search online at lobbysearch.com using the keyword "hunting" I got nil results. They all seem geared towards bigger political issues.

I did some research on my guy. He has done some big time stuff. He worked for Swisher Sweet on the tobbaco tax. This is why we need other options like cheaper! That's not to say he is going to charge us like a big company. I told him that we were about 100 to 200 strong. I have asked for people on this forum to list themselves and their Reps but I only got one name. It would be total BS if I get this lobbyist on board and people bail. I need a list of people who are opposed to this bill and what they would donate for a lobbyist. How many people do we have in this fight. I want to see some names. A long list of names.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

Does anyone know anything about Texas wildlife Association .org?
I have it on good authority that they have strong lobbyists. Would they be willing to help us? I have been on their web site (texas-wildlife.org) but I don't know their culture. THey are lobbying against other bills.

The Texas Wildlife Association is primarily a hunters group. David Brimager is the head of that bunch. I'm an "official scorer" for their Awards Program, and have been in touch with him a time or two in that capacity. Let me do some checking to and see what I can do. At the very least, I could shoot him an email . . .

Troy

Troy, if you talk to David, tell him some people from the TAMUK wildlife society are also against this. I never thought about them before but will shoot him an email ASAP. I am also talking to a wildlife policy class at TAMUK tomorrow about 2414. Hopefully I can get some on board to call and write their reps at home.
-----
South Texas Herps

Troy do you think this hunters assoc. would be responsive to having herpers as allies? Ultimatly I think we want to be treated more like they are but they may be enticed by the thought of a few hundred additional herpers potentially joining their association.

Brimager is an executive Vice President, but I shot him a detailed email just moments ago. Couched the argument using statements pulled from the TWA's mission statement about education and protecting hunter's rights - we do buy hunting licenses, after all.

Troy

Mike,
Put me down for a c-note.

Will email you my contact info for the list...

Thanks for heading this up- I'm in Austin too, so let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.

//Todd