OHIO OUTDOORS Sportsmen urged to attend rally

COLUMBUS -- Ohio sportsmen are being called to attend a rally at 1 p.m. May 18 in the Statehouse Rotunda.
The "Orange Hat Rally" is being organized by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance as a show of support against any redirection of state funds that are collected from sportsmen.
A similar rally earlier this year sponsored by the USSA is credited with encouraging members of the Ohio House of Representatives to amend the state budget to prevent a diversion of wildlife conservation funds to pay for other government programs.
At that time members of the House voted 96 to 1 in favor of a budget amendment, proposed by Rep. Tony Core, R-Rushsylvania, that forbids tapping the Wildlife Fund for Central Support and other direct or indirect charges.
Central Support refers to administrative fees that The Ohio Department of Natural Resources charges to each of its divisions. The General Revenue Fund covers these costs for most other divisions within the department.
What amendment does
The amendment ensures that the Wildlife Fund, which is to be used for conservation programs and is funded by sportsmen's license fees, will not be used as a source for $3.6 million in Central Support fees over the next two years.
"Our representatives listened to calls from sportsmen and took notice when they made personal visits to the Statehouse today to protect wildlife conservation," said Tony Celebrezze, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance director of state services.
The House amendment also provides $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund for the DNR. The Legislature would need to appropriate $1.8 million to fully fund Central Support.
"Sportsmen must now persuade their state senators to retain the House language that protects the Wildlife Fund and ask that Central Support be fully funded," said Celebrezze. "Find your Senator by calling (800) 282-0253 and leave a message expressing your support for the amendment that protects conservation funding."
For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its Web site, www.ussportsmen.org.