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Posted (edited)

I hope not to turn this into political banter but there are a few things we should be paying attention to. Recently, states attempted a land grab and sued the federal government for control over BLM lands. Luckily, the Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit but it serves notice to everyone to pay attention and not let special interest try to take away what is all of ours to enjoy. Locally, with all federal grants placed on hold, things like the spring alewife survey is at risk. Based on correspondence coming from the White House this week, there is an interest in gutting environmental protections. Stay in tune and stay involved. 
 

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/01/13/u-s-supreme-court-will-not-hear-utahs-lawsuit-to-control-18-5-million-acres-of-public-land/

Edited by Gill-T
Posted

That is a tricky problem and politics are involved. Today the federal government has to protect publicly owned spaces from states interests, but tomorrow the states may have to protect the publicly owned lands from the federal government which might have bad intentions. Dependent on the political situation today's friends may be tomorrow's enemies. That sounds like a loose loose to me

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

 

Assembly Bill A888   Prohibiting the state's participation in artificial pheasant propagation is in the Commitee Assembly NOW.  If you hunt pheasants in NYS contact your state senator. 

Don't let them get away with this.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

JPK , GillT, thanks for the heads up, especially on A888! I sent some emails, hoping to call later. Rosenthal from the upper west side ? Anyone know the backstory on this? Where is the motivation for Hells Kitchen to care about the states pheasant program?

Posted

The antis downstate don’t know why we fund a put and take sport. 

Posted

I don't get it.  Utah wants to make and keep all that land public.  Fed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is leasing it out for mining as well as some for recreation.  Current admin wants to open all fed lands to development.  ie mining, drilling, lumbering, etc.  Why would sportsmen root for the feds?  They already sliced up Fed Parks & Recreation dept as well as taken chunks out of the EPA.

 

Lamprey control & preyfish survey aren't the only items that are federally funded. USGS websites lists over 8,000 projects/programs concerning the great lakes.  Not to mention the USF&WS entities such as Tunison Lab, Alleghany & Saratoga hatcheries.  Lot of sportsmen on this site are concerned with fish diseases, lake trout and are rooting for the bloater.  Another dept under scrutiny is NOAA.  (All the Sharpie pens in the world won't warn us of gale winds or flooding)     BTW: who controls the lake's water level?   

 

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Posted

My understanding is that the fear of states taking control of BLM land is they could sell it off to private. 

 

 

Posted

I can understand the fear of gov't actions, however that article says Utah wants to preserve the public lands as public.  It also says BLM is leasing some of that land for mining, grazing & recreation.  Researching "mining in Utah" shows USGS has record of over 6,000 mines there being leased by feds.  USGS says over 2,000 are outcropping or pit mines. (uranium, copper & silver)  The fee is $165 for a 20 acre mine plot.  Utah (mining) says resource removal (mining & oil) is a $6.5 Billion dollar industry.  

 

My gosh, did we miss our calling!  Sounds like we should have traded in our fishing rods for shovels. I'm afraid to look at the oil numbers and where they'll go with the "drill, baby, drill" philosophy. 

Posted

I really don't know much about this 

 

 

BUT 

 

Every dime that the gov spends on any and everything should be scrutinized . 

 

We the taxpayers have thought a lot of the  hard earned money we send in is  going to places that are of American interest and my inclination is that a good amount is going  into people's pockets . Think about the amount of tax dollars spent every year and it's never enough and in the past no one was accountable for it . 

  • Like 1
Posted

Gill-T:  I think we may be saying the same thing.

 

HB2:  I agree but instead of watching dimes, they should be watching dollars.  We've all heard about the 900 dollar hammers and 1200 dollar toilet seats.  It's companies screwing the gov't, not the salaries of new employees.  It was stated in the buyout letter that those affected could earn a lot more in the private sector than they could working for the gov't.  What about the 400 million dollar commitment to buy Teslas?  How about the Air Force 1 flight to the super bowl?  AF1 doesn't fly alone rather it is accompanied by a "decoy" plane plus 2 fighters and the entire Gulf defense system placed on alert to monitor it.  (His team got clobbered and he left by half time anyways, making that a pretty expensive photo-shoot.)  Why not charter 737s rather than use C-17s for immigrants?  C-17 is one of the most expensive planes in the world to operate.  How much is DOJ going to spend defending against all the lawsuits?  Congress could do the same thing for pennies and without the lawsuits and wasted money.  I hope I get my tax refund...I really want to go fishing this year. 

 

Even if successful, Fed taxes will never go down. Proposed tax cuts keep the same level we're at now.  States will have to pick up the tab for shortfalls to FEMA, Medicaid, parks, school aid, etc plus unemployment., so you know where state & local taxes will go. (UP)

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

The highest avg incomes are a 10 mile radius around Washington DC . We are getting robbed blind . Everyday we here of more crazy stuff our tax dollars go to . Who would even entertain the idea of giving money to some of these projects and why ? We all know why . 

 

It's taking a billionaire to finally let this stuff see the light of day . 

 

This is what an overwhelming majority of Americans voted for . I say go for it . And let the chips fall where they may . Even Louis Farrakhan ( and I'm not a fan )  said the country is broke and we are living on credit cards . 

Posted

According to fiscaldata.treasury.gov the total 2024 compensation for non-military gov't employees was three hundred billion dollars.  The total gov't budget was 6.5 trillion dollars.  If successful in reducing the salary by 10%, that's just a "drop in the bucket" of the total budget. i.e 0.45% (zero point four five) Of course cutting 10% of employees doesn't mean cutting 10% of salaries. 

 

Frivolous spending needs to stop.  Projects/programs should be evaluated on the "most bang for the buck" and not on who "screams the loudest" which it looks, to me, like where we're heading.  

 

THINK SPRING! 

Posted

Back to original post, the question is whether the state or the fed should control that land.  Additionally, who is more responsive and responsible for the state' needs?  Others have stated that every tax expenditure/project should be scrutinized. 

 

So here's one to think about.  Search "states dependent on federal support"  and "state tax rates."  You'll find that NYS rates #28 on the list of states most dependent on Fed support.  New Yorkers contribute almost $4 in Fed income tax for every $1 in Fed support NY receives. (It would probably contribute more if we didn't have as many tax cheats.) NY state tax rate progresses from 4% to 11%, which we think is obscene.  (4% for $8.5K income to 11% for 25M in income) State taxes support expenditures/projects within that state.

 

So why or why is it that NY fed taxpayers pay for Fed expenditures/projects in other states whose state income taxes are much less or in those states that have no income taxes?  They don't sufficiently support their own state needs? Utah has a 4.5% flat state income tax.  Why do NY taxpayers have to support management of Utah lands?  I say let Utah have control of that land AND they pay for it, not NY'rs.  Let them raise their state income tax to support it and keep any profits they can make off of it. (i.e mining or drilling leases, etc)  Not manu NY'rs are going to use that land for any great length of time.

 

Texas is more dependent on Fed $ than NY and has no state income tax.  What did Texas give NY other than busloads of illegal immigrants for which NY'rs have to pay to support and now round up? 

 

Don't get me wrong, I'll gladly chip in for projects that cross multiple state lines and/or can benefit everyone, however NY'rs paying for a bridge that only Alabamans will use is ridiculous! (Their state income tax is only 2%)  Let the states pay for their own corruption. If you don't like the laws, then move. If you don't like state taxes, then move.  If you don't like the weather, then move. Federal pork barrel spending is where the real money is, not in salaries. 

 

Think Spring!

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

I have a relative that is a big shot and works for the Federal gov and she is close to retirement . My wife and I went down for the inauguration and stayed with her . I get to talk to her whenever I see her and look forward to it as she is what most would call and insider along with her life long friend who stays with her . Interesting conversation to say the least . 

 

Anyway  ,she said that when she started in her area there were 32 employees . There are now close to 350 . I asked her what all these people do . She said a lot of nothing and mostly ,they give away money . I'm not giving details here . 

 

But that's a big part of the problem IMO. Running a business with employees for a very long time, making payroll is tough sometimes . In her area alone that's 300 + more paychecks with benefits and all costs associated with it . At let's say 150k a year (probably more ) and according to my math that's 45 with an M , million. And that just one dept . Then there is retirement when they retire and they probably make as much when they retire as when they work. Multiply that by every single part of the Federal gov and that more than just a drop in the bucket . 

 

Many Fed employees almost demanded that they be able to work from home when told to report to the office . Nice work if you can get it . 

 

The people , whoever they are , who decide who , how many , and at what pay rate they hire these people most likely and I don't know,  never ran a business . A lot of these hires are ( and I kind of know this ) friends , family or campaign workers of winning candidates , and more than likely as we have seen woefully qualified . 

 

It took two succesfull business people that lived with profit and loss to finally look into and attempt to cut the blatent fat . Thank God for a news outlet that shows us everyday examples of this or we would never know .  

Edited by HB2
  • Like 1
Posted

Sounds like you're making the case that her entire dept should be the first to go and that she hired a lot of people at the high end of the scale.  I hope she makes it to retirement.

 

Treasury dept says highest paying gov't jobs are medical, lawyers & auditors.  Also, that total payroll (excluding military) is 300 billion. (Which is a drop in the bucket compared to federal budget). The buyout letter stated that those affected could get better paying jobs in private sector.  Kind of makes you want to do some research into federal salaries.  This is what PEW research says (excluding military & WH):

PEWresearch.thumb.jpg.1c4cc550df1effd55e0694386bff4cfd.jpg

I doubt very much that the new federal hires (who are probationary hires) are making the big bucks.  It doesn't work like the private sector.  One starts low and moves up with longevity.  State projects, pork barrels and overruns are where the big bucks are.  

 

As to hiring "friends and relatives", we all know who does/has done that.

 

Which news outlet are you referring to?  Maybe we should all subscribe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted (edited)
  On 2/17/2025 at 1:05 AM, LongLine said:

Sounds like you're making the case that her entire dept should be the first to go and that she hired a lot of people at the high end of the scale.  I hope she makes it to retirement.

 

Treasury dept says highest paying gov't jobs are medical, lawyers & auditors.  Also, that total payroll (excluding military) is 300 billion. (Which is a drop in the bucket compared to federal budget). The buyout letter stated that those affected could get better paying jobs in private sector.  Kind of makes you want to do some research into federal salaries.  This is what PEW research says (excluding military & WH):

PEWresearch.thumb.jpg.1c4cc550df1effd55e0694386bff4cfd.jpg

I doubt very much that the new federal hires (who are probationary hires) are making the big bucks.  It doesn't work like the private sector.  One starts low and moves up with longevity.  State projects, pork barrels and overruns are where the big bucks are.  

 

As to hiring "friends and relatives", we all know who does/has done that.

 

Which news outlet are you referring to?  Maybe we should all subscribe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expand  

 XXX

Edited by spoonfed-1
Posted (edited)

The way we have been doing things the last let's say 30 years isn't working . Or at least it is making the country go broke . The Gov is excessively bloated .A lot of people are getting rich making bad deals that don't help American citizens .  Can't keep coming to the taxpayers or borrowing to fund this stuff. 

 

When Gov decides to invest in projects , it needs to get a return on investment in some way . Take our Lake Ontario fishery . The money it puts out to build and maintain the hatchery , it's staff and to monitor and maintain the lake need to generate enough tax revenue to sustain it , which I think it does . 

We have a football stadium we funded ( and I have me thoughts on that ) will it do the same ? 

 

I don't think my sister in laws dept will be cut anytime soon . It's pretty important . And her job isn't hiring ,and she would fire most of these clowns  this morning . 

 

Also in 1979 we were ranked #1 in the world in education . Then the Dept of Education( which should have been named Dept of indoctrination and social engineering) was formed . We spend more on education than any country and are ranked # 40 now . And somehow , that's nobody's fault . 

 

 

Also hiring should be done on merit . Not by the other crap that has been going on . Ask the air traffic controllers for one . 

 

Charts ,graphs , statistics  etc ,etc ,by highly educated  people that think they know better are why we are in this F...n mess . Absolutely no common sense . 

 

Hopefully after the Fed audit ,which was long overdue , things will get better . 

Edited by HB2
Posted
  On 2/15/2025 at 2:55 AM, Gill-T said:

My understanding is that the fear of states taking control of BLM land is they could sell it off to private. 

 

 

Expand  

Absolutely 

Posted

The carp project is at Brandon Road in Illinois.  Illinois was promised $226 million by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Biden Admin. Last reported (yesterday) halted because federal funds have not been released.


Federal gov't and State gov't are two different entities.  Although there is some overlapping or "in conjunction with", some confuse which is doing what project and credit/blame one when the other is doing it.

 

We Love Lake Ontario. It's world class fishery has a good payback. But does the Fed or the State deserve the most credit for the fishery we have today?  Undoubtably both deserve credit. 

 

Feds brought in the first Pacific Salmon stocking after success was shown in Michigan. Unfortunately they've failed with Atlantic Salmon stocking since 1850.  Feds reintroduced the Lake Trout which has been somewhat successful, however it doesn't seem to have really caught on with fishermen. Grand prizes in tournaments are always for the largest Salmon; very few fish the SR for Lakers; and I don't know of any charter boat websites that show significant numbers of lakers. (Although probably some.)  Feds do Lamprey control throughout the Great Lakes, which IMO is a very good program even though there seems to be some yearly variation.  Feds are bringing back the Bloater for which I hope is very successful.  Feds monitor water quality. (Though I don't understand how they delisted the Rochester Embayment as an area of concern.)  Feds research and publish the Prey fish assessment, for which I'm grateful for.  Feds study & try to cure fish diseases, which IMO fully deserves support.  Feds control the lake level.  (Good luck trying to get out of Braddock's come late August.)   Feds have Border Patrol. (Love their boats with 4 -350hp Mercury's on them!) Feds introduced the Asian Carp to the Mississippi and are now blocking funding to keep them out of the Great Lakes in Illinois. 

 

State maintains hatchery facility as well as collects eggs, nurtures and stocks the Salmon for which the Fishery is famous for (Browns and Steelhead included).  State catches and prosecutes polluters. State sets pollution rules. State builds and maintains public launches as well as fishing access sites. State monitors fishing success and promotes fishing activities.  State tries to balance predator-prey ratios. (with Fed data) State setup Pen Rearing to increase stocking survival and returns.  State establishes the regulations and catches abusers. State sets up reports on state of the fisheries to fishermen.  State is responsive to stakeholders desires (more so). State has been dredging many places along the lake.  State has rebuilt many shoreline areas and installed many high-water protections. State tried to prevent invasives by restricting freighter ballast water exchange, but Washington said "NO!." (What's the payback on Fleas and Quaggas?) 

 

Both gov'ts deserve credit, but as to what I've listed (and I'm sure there's more) I'd rate today's Fishery 65-35 in favor of the State.


BTW: Kathleen Sgmma (President of Western Energy Alliance and poster girl for 'drill, baby drill") has just been nominated as Director of BLM.  How long before they have many more oil wells on public land in Utah?  
 

Posted

What if the 2 billionaires (one a convicted criminal) decide to fire all the people who keep the carp out of the great lakes? After all those stinky fish are just a waste of money. And yes they can by simply stopping to subsidize the program.

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