Contact your State Assemblyman TODAY!

Yesterday, anti-hunting SB 1221 failed on first vote in the state Senate by one vote.  After being placed on call for a second vote, it unfortunately passed 22 to 15.   SB 1221, which bans hunting bears and bobcats with dogs, will now be sent to the state Assembly for its consideration.

Unfortunately, state Senators Bill Emmerson (R-37) and Tony Strickland (R-19), who have solid Second Amendment and pro-hunting records, provided the deciding votes to pass anti-hunting SB 1221.

If you are represented by state Senator Emmerson or Strickland, please call AND e-mail to ask why he supported an animal rights/anti-hunting agenda by voting for SB 1221.  Senator Emmerson is running for reelection this year in his state Senate district and needs to hear from you.  He can be reached by phone at (916) 651-4037 and by e-mail at Senator.Emmerson@senate.ca.gov.  Senator Strickland is running for U.S. Congress in District 26 and also needs to hear from his constituents.  He can be reached by phone at (916) 651-4019 and by e-mail here.

AB 2549, a firearm regulation bill, was not brought up in the state Assembly yesterday but could come up for a vote this Friday, May 25.  Continue to contact your state Assemblyman TODAY and urge him or her to OPPOSE AB 2549.  Contact information for state Assemblymen can be found here.

Description of the bills:

Anti-gun Assembly Bill 2549, introduced by state Assemblyman Isadore Hall (D-52), ignores many of the fundamental legal issues that have been created by the firearms polices and regulations of the California Department of Justice. One specific section of AB 2549 will allow only law enforcement officers to request to retain one of their personally owned and regulated firearms should they leave their issuing agency.  The remainder of their personally owned and regulated firearms would then be confiscated or surrendered for disposal. These highly regulated firearms can only be owned by law enforcement officers if they have first received a letter from their issuing agency, and even then they can only keep one firearm subject to the approval of the agency head.

 Additional info:

Anti-hunting Senate Bill 1221, introduced by state Senator Ted Lieu (D-28), would ban hunting bears and bobcats with dogs. Many dog breeds with select characteristics for hunting can be traced back for thousands of years. Seventeen states allow bear hunting with dogs. The use of hounds for hunting has never been shown to have an adverse impact on wildlife numbers, as biologists and wildlife experts direct regulations and bag limits just as they do with other hunting seasons.

SB1221 (the hound hunting bill) passed the Senate with a 22 to 15 vote in favor of stopping hound hunting.  One Republican voted with the Dems…Tony Stickland from Semi Valley.  Would you broadcast this to all the Tea Party  Folks throughout CA?  He is running for Congress this time around.  Who needs Republicans who vote like Dems.

Let the Senator know you do not approve of  his vote:
Capitol Office

State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4019
Fax: (916) 324-7544

Four Dems voted against passage of SB1221 (yeah)  They are:

Evans
Capitol Office:
State Capitol,
1303 10^th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-651-4002
Fax: 916-323-6958

Rubio
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 2066
Sacramento,  CA  95814
Phone: (916) 651-4016
Fax: (916) 327-5989

Wolk
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 5114
Sacramento,  CA  95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4005
Fax:  (916) 323-2304
E-mail: senator.wolk@ senate.ca.gov

Wright.
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Fax: (916) 445-3712
We need to call them and thank them for their vote.

The bill now goes to the Assembly.  We will need help to defeat it.

This alert is posted to http://nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/05/california-anti-hunting-bill-passes-in-the-senate

Otero County Commission Chairman Ronny Rardin is standing up to the federal government and preserving county citizens’ rights to manage the portion of Lincoln National Forest within the boundaries of Otero County.

“On Sept. 17, 2011, Otero County took one acre of land that the United States national forest manages,” Rardin proclaimed at the Republican Party meeting in Otero County. “They don’t own that land. I can prove it. You own it. It belongs to New Mexico.”   READ MORE

LISTEN:  Interview on We the People Radio 5/20/12

Click here to view a list of documents provided by Commissioner Rardin

SISKIYOU COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DAILY REPORT

******** UPDATE May 22, 2012*********

The three day search for missing Etna resident Spencer Palmer came to a happy end this afternoon. Mr. Palmer was located by a search team from the Fort Jones Fire Department. Mr. Palmer was found on the west side of Salmon Trail, not far from the Etna Summit near the Pacific Coast Trail.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team received extraordinary assistance from Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Posse, Fort Jones Fire Department, Etna Ambulance, California Highway Patrol H-14 (helicopter), California Oregon Regional Search and Rescue (CORSAR), Jackson County SAR, Josephine County SAR, Klamath County SAR, Lake County SAR, Tehama County SAR, CARDA K9 (canine search dogs), California Army National Guard, and Cal-EMA during the over three day search effort.  All of these agencies came out Monday and Tuesday to take part in the exhaustive search effort.

By mid-morning Tuesday signs of Mr. Palmer were located, including tracks in the snow. CHP H-14 spotted a distress signal in the snow and further signs of activity. SAR teams were deployed in the area and found a smoldering fire and shelter. Mr. Palmer was located on Tuesday afternoon about two miles from where the smoldering fire, shelter and the distress signal were found. He was airlifted out of the area by CHP H-14. As a precaution he was examined by Etna Ambulance EMT’s and released on-scene. This was a very lengthy search and would not have been so successful without the help and donations from the Scott Valley Community. The level of interagency support, cooperation and outstanding contributions made by the local community were instrumental in the highly-successful search effort.  Special thanks are also due to Scott Valley Feed, Eastlick Plumbing, Siskiyou Sheriff’s Chaplains’ Keith Bradley and Michael Close, Etna Police Department, Weed Airport for providing fueling capabilities for the aircraft, the Dunwoody Family for providing the Helicopter landing zones, and Ray’s Food Place provided water and other beverages for rescuers.

Local citizens were also very generous and helped considerably.

According to Sheriff Jon Lopey, “We are very relieved that Mr. Palmer was rescued and happy for him and his family that he was found in such good condition.  This was a remarkable effort by all assisting agencies. We are grateful for support shown by all who came out to help.  At one point, Major General David Baldwin, Adjutant General of the California Army National Guard personally contacted us to ensure we had sufficient support and his organization provided a Blackhawk Helicopter and crew for the rescue effort, which worked with the CHP helicopter in a coordinated effort to located Mr. Palmer.  Sheriff Michael Winters, Jackson County, Oregon also personally visited the command post to render his support.

Again, we would like to thank all law enforcement, fire, SAR, CHP, Army National Guard, Sheriff’s Posse, SAR Deputies (Siskiyou County & leads from represented agencies), the multi-agency cadre of volunteers from Oregon and California and the local community for assisting us with a successful search effort.  The adverse weather conditions and rugged terrain definitely provided a serious challenge to the rescuers and rescued party and it was critical that we located Mr. Palmer when we did due to the amount of time he was exposed to hunger, fatigue, and inclement weather during his ordeal.”

 PNP comment: Let’s join with Glenn Beck and hold Lemonade Stands and Bake Sales on June 13 without a Permit! — Editor Liz Bowen

Watch:

http://www.glennbeck.com/2012/05/18/glenn-invites-o%E2%80%99reilly-to-participate-in-national-bake-sale/

Glenn talked to Bill O’Reilly on Fox News last night about the idea behind the June 13th National Bake Sale where Lemonade stands and bake sales will be encouraged, not raided for permits. It’s a massive statement against over regulation- how did O’Reilly like the idea? Watch the clip above to find out!

PNP comment:  County Supervisor Jim Cook claims he instigated “coordination” process. But it was Frank Tallerico and others of the now present, Siskiyou County Water Users Assoc., who brought “coordination” to the board’s attention. But it wasn’t until 2011, that the board actually tried to do it and even then, they didn’t follow the attorney Fred Kelly Grant’s advice — failing to demand “coordination” with the Forest Service. Jim Cook has yet to get the board of supervisors to do “coordination” correctly. Frank is a founding member of the Siskiyou Co. Water Users Assoc. — Editor Liz Bowen

Comments to the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors

 March 18, 2008

My Name is Frank Tallerico, Jr.  and I thank you for this opportunity to come before you this morning under the agenda item of Public Input.

We find it appalling that we have come to this, Dam Removal on the Klamath River.

In order to protect Siskiyou County and its people, we urge this Board to implement a Siskiyou County Coordinating Council to begin actively working with federal and state agencies to provide notice in advance of public notice and in advance of implementation, with the opportunity to review, provide input and make recommendations, so that planning and activities can be consistent with Siskiyou County with Siskiyou County’s Land Use Plan as far as practicable.   It is imperative that these agencies come to Siskiyou’s table instead of just doing what only they think is best for the land, the fish and, I guess, for the people of Siskiyou County.

It is your responsibility to protect the citizens of this county, its culture, the right to own property and the Aboriginal Lands of the Shasta Nation, who were here thousands of years before any of us.  We need to not allow these interlopers to dictate to us what is best for Siskiyou County.  We would also urge this Board, at the very next regularly scheduled board meeting on April 1, as going on record as opposing dam removal on the Klamath River.   By prompt and vigorous action on your part, this travesty can be derailed.  Time is of the essence to halt the processes now going on with the Klamath River Settlement Agreement.

Should this Board wait too long, say as early as April 14^th; it will be too late to have any meaningful position in any later negotiations.  As you well know, one county, Humboldt is on record to remove the dams.  Let us not follow their lead.  Let us take charge and protect Siskiyou County’s way life and be an example to our Klamath County Oregon neighbors.

Obviously there is very long list of negative impacts on Siskiyou County, the river the loss of property, regional governance and many more.  The negatives come out of the Settlement Agreement.  Should the Settlement Agreement be adopted, the Klamath River Coordinating  Council will be formed and have control of all activities for region, including ALL and emphasize, all of Siskiyou County’s waters, both surface and sub-terranean will come under the jurisdiction of this newly created regional government.  We must move rapidly if Siskiyou County is going to be a player in the largest dam removal project in the world other than war time.  I again urge the Board to just say “NO” to dam removal on the Klamath River!

Klamath Basin water supplies look tight again, Bureau of Reclamation says | OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/klamath_basin_water_supplies_l.html

May 22, 2012

By Scott Learn, The Oregonian The Oregonian

Water supplies for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Basin project are projected to fall about 17.5 percent short this summer and fall, the bureau announced today.

The basin, home to one of Oregon’s fiercest water disputes, got a lot of snow in March and early April. But warmer than normal conditions recently caused an early melt off, reducing water available later in the season.

The bureau’s latest drought plan projects a 70,000 acre-foot shortage on 400,000 acre-feet of estimated demand for water from Upper Klamath Lake.

Farmers could address the drought by pumping more well water or fallowing lands — the Klamath Water and Power Agency runs both programs.

But groundwater pumping has drawn down wells significantly in recent years. And, at this point, not enough land has been identified for fallowing to avoid having to curtail water deliveries to farmers later this year, the bureau said.

The deadline for applying to the land fallowing program is June 1, and the bureau is encouraging farmers to apply.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

This information and much more that you need to know about the ESA,
the Klamath River Basin, and private property rights can be found at The
Klamath Bucket Brigade’s web site – http://klamathbucketbrigade.org/index.html –
please visit today.

PNP comment: Mountain lions are so prolific, they certainly should not be on the Endangered Species or Protection list. — Editor Liz Bowen

California Department of Fish and Game officers remove the bagged body of a mountain lion, found in the courtyard of an office building on Second Street in the downtown urban core of Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Discovered shortly before 6 a.m. by a maintenance worker, animal officers and police tried several less-than-lethal methods to subdue the cat, but it continued to try to move out of the area and was shot and killed by police, according to Capt. Daniel Sforza of DFG.

By GREG RISLING
Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, May. 22, 2012 – 12:13 pm

Last Modified: Tuesday, May. 22, 2012 – 4:28 pm

LOS ANGELES — Police shot and killed a mountain lion that somehow made its way through an urban landscape before it was found early Tuesday in a downtown Santa Monica office building courtyard near an outdoor mall and a bluff-top park that offers tourists views of the ocean and the city’s famed pier.

Authorities made multiple attempts to try and subdue the young male cat, including use of a tranquilizer and a pepper ball, before killing it, said Capt. Daniel Sforza of the state Fish and Game Department.

The mountain lion was found about 6 a.m. by a janitor in the courtyard near a popular open-air mall, the Third Street Promenade, and just a couple of blocks from the beach. The street that has a preschool, a church and other businesses was cordoned off as a precaution.

“It’s not a risk we can take with public safety,” said police Lt. Robert Almada.

It wasn’t immediately known how the cat ended up in the middle of the city. The National Park Service has been monitoring mountain lions with GPS radio-collars and cameras more than two miles away in the Santa Monica Mountains.

A typical home range for mountain lions is around 200 square miles for adult males, said the agency that has been conducting a study since 2002 in the Santa Monica Mountains to determine how urbanization is affecting the large cats.

Jeff Sikich, a biologist working on the long-term study for the National Park Service, said a mountain lion had never been seen in the area where the cougar was found.

There are currently about 10 mountain lions in the Santa Monica range but the lion killed in the city was not among those previously known, he said.

Sikich said that by age 1 1-2 lions disperse from their mothers and try to establish their own territories, which are so large that one adult male could claim the entire Santa Monica range.

Young lions, however, are trapped within the range because it is bordered by freeways to the north and east, the ocean to the south and an agricultural plain to the west. Dispersing young males that encounter urban areas usually turn around, and those found dead have either been hit by cars or killed by an adult male defending its territory, Sikich said

“Large carnivores need a lot of space,” he said.

Sforza said a necropsy will be performed to see if the mountain lion had rabies or any other diseases.

“It’s very unusual,” Sforza said of finding the mountain lion. “It’s just really hard to speculate.”

Lorraine Miller, 89, said she was driving to her novels class, part of a college emeritus program for seniors, when she learned the mountain lion was in the building’s courtyard where she was supposed to go.

“It seemed at first it was some kind of tall tale,” said Miller, who has lived in Santa Monica for more than 40 years. “Then after a while you see all of this action. It was overwhelming.”

Mountain lions are one of the most widespread carnivores in the world with a historical range from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Hundreds of mountain lion sightings are reported every year in California, but attacks on humans are rare. Between 1890 and 2007, there have only been 16 attacks in the state, according to Fish and Game statistics.

Miller said she believes killing the mountain lion was the right, but unfortunate, option.

“In my opinion they were taking care of the public,” Miller said. “Frankly you can’t object to being taken care of.”

Read more here:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/22/4508887/mountain-lion-killed-in-downtown.html#storylink=cpy

Contact Assembly Committee on Appropriations Today

Take action and urge the Assembly Committee on Appropriations to support AB 1516 when it is heard on May 25.  AB 1516 (Alejo, D-Watsonville) brings much needed reform to licensing and permitting regulations that impact farmers and ranchers operating pickups and pickup-trailer combinations.

Under current law, if an agricultural pickup-trailer combination exceeds the 26,000 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) threshold, the owner of the vehicle must obtain a commercial vehicle license and permit.  Since most new pickups are manufactured with a higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), someone who purchases a new pickup would have to apply for a commercial license and permit in order to drive the vehicle.

This bill:

• Increases the GCWR of an agricultural pickup-trailer combination from 26,000 to 28,500 pounds.

• Provides an exemption for pickups with a flatbed configuration from commercial permitting.

• Ensures that newer pickups with a GVWR of up to 14,000 pounds remain exempt from commercial permitting.

Take Action today to urge the Assembly Committee on Appropriations to vote “yes” on AB 1516 as it reforms and streamlines the licensing and permitting standards that heavily burden farmers and ranchers.