Business is business. Why should the motel 6 in town be zoned commercial? Yet the farmer who build a lodge which sleeps 20 plus people is zoned Ag along with all the property that's conducting high price recreational hunting? In many cases pen raised not native birds are placed for profit. That's not farming for food. Atleast not in whole.
We are dealing with a legislature who likes to twist the words that discribe our new dedicated funding here in Minnesota. IMO, and I don't like to say this but saying that conducting such business as "Farming for food" or I grow native poultry and consumers harvest them right on my farm. Is much the same twisting of words that is in the link below.
Senate takes on definitions of 'enhance, restore, and protect'
http://www.twinstatesoutdoors.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=6734
By Joe Albert, Associate Editor, MN Outdoor News
Thursday, March 11, 2010 8:44 AM CST
St. Paul - What's in the definition of a word?
A lot, according to those who supported Senate measures to repeal legislation last year that defined the words "protect," "restore," and "enhance."
Lawmakers last year approved new definitions of the words, which are at the crux of the mission of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council - to make recommendations for spending money raised by the Legacy Amendment that restore, protect, or enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat.
The new definitions are far different than those used by the council in making its funding recommendations, and, officials say, inconsistent with how professionals who put conservation on the ground view the terms.
Garry Leaf, executive director of Sportsmen for Change, said it's a hot topic among sportsmen.
"It's got a lot of energy behind it," he said. "People are starting to understand that changing words around is as important as stealing the money outright."
The definitions that passed last session and are now in statute are as follows:
� Enhance: to improve in value, quality, and desirability in order to increase the ecological value of land or water.
� Protect: to protect or preserve ecological systems to maintain active and healthy ecosystems and prevent future degradation including, but not limited to, purchase in fee or easement.
� Restore: renewing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems through active human intervention to achieve high-quality ecosystems.
The L-SOHC definitions, in contrast, refer specifically to habitat, fish, game, and wildlife.
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee has approved two bills - one authored by Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, another by Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids - that repeal the definitions the Legislature approved last year. The next stop is the Senate floor.
Chaudhary's bill also repeals a "legislative guide" for spending Legacy Amendment proceeds that lawmakers mandated last year. There are no companion bills in the House.
Chaudhary said proponents of the definitions are unable to explain why they're necessary.
"There has been no showing that our conservation projects are somehow deficient enough for the Legislature to meddle into them with unproven definitions and unwarranted micro-management," he said.
Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, said new definitions are needed because she believes that under the L-SOHC definitions, for example, protection is the same as acquisition.
"That means nothing like a fish barrier (would meet the standard for protection)," she said. "Is that what people intended when they voted for the amendment?"
Dave Schad, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director, said the agency is primarily concerned about the effect the definitions will have on projects funded through the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
He doesn't believe definitions are necessary, and that they could limit work that's done commonly to manage habitat.
"We already do our habitat work in an ecological context," he said. "Trying to force us to go even further isn't practical. It isn't realistic, and it is really going to hamper our ability to get work done out there."
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In most cases, we all do know what is being conducted or what words discribing something mean. You know what really being conducted on a commercoal hunting operation. Just like our legislature knows what the words "protect," "restore," and "enhance." means and what they were directed at.
Onpoint
