Will voters be allowed to decide the fate of Michigan wolves?

[Editor's Note: Yesterday, Aug. 13, 2014, the Michigan Senate voted in favor of the "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act," which, if approved by the Michigan House, which reconvenes on Aug. 27, will nullify the November ballot proposals that are to allow voters to decide whether Michigan needs another wolf hunt. An earlier version of the following article appeared on wolfwatcher.org in June 2014. The following is an updated version, reprinted here with permission.]

By Nancy Warren, National Wolfwatcher Coalition Great Lakes Regional Director

The Michigan Constitution affords individuals the opportunity to challenge new laws by gathering signatures through the veto referendum process.  It is also possible for citizens to initiate legislation through a petition process.

Public Act 520 designates wolf as game animal

In December 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law Public Act 520, which designated the wolf as a game animal. A coalition of organizations, including the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, supported the effort to challenge this law.

Volunteers collected more than 253,000 signatures from across the state in less than 70 days. The signatures were certified -- suspending the implementation of PA 520 until voters could decide in the November 2014 election.

Public Act 21 and Natural Resources Commission

However, legislators, with the support of hunting organizations, circumvented the initiative by passing a new law, Public Act 21, signed on May 8, 2013. Public Act 21 rendered the referendum for Public Act 520 meaningless and granted the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) the authority to designate any species (except mourning doves) as a game animal. Previously, only legislators could designate species as game.  The NRC, a politically appointed body, with no scientific background, acted quickly. They designated the wolf a game animal and established the 2013 hunting season.

An investigation by Mlive.com revealed that false or incomplete data was used to justify the need for a wolf hunt.*

Petitions gathered for second referendum

The National Wolfwatcher Coalition joined forces with many other organizations to challenge Public Act 21. Keep Michigan Wolves Protected submitted nearly 230,000 signatures.

We were not able to stop the 2013 wolf hunt. In October 2013, while signatures were still being gathered on the 2nd referendum, Michigan’s first wolf hunt in almost 50 years began. 22 wolves were killed in this first hunt.

But of the nearly 230,000 signatures, a sufficient number of signatures were certified to also place a second referendum on the November 2014 ballot. This referendum would restore voters' ability to weigh in on not just wolves, but almost any protected animal the NRC may wish to add to the list of game species to be hunted and trapped for sport.

BOTH LAWS NEED TO BE REJECTED BY VOTERS OR THE OTHER BECOMES EFFECTIVE.

"Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act" challenges citizen right to vote on wildlife issues

BUT, a ballot committee funded by hunting organizations with deep pockets collected signatures advocating for a citizen-initiated law called the "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act." The law is not science-based and it has nothing to do with conservation.

Rather, it is a mirror image of Public Act 21 except it also includes an unnecessary appropriation of $1 million dollars related to Asian Carp control. Because the Act includes an appropriation, it cannot be challenged through a petition initiative. The purpose of the appropriation is to prevent a challenge through the veto referendum process.

This initiative recycles language from the second law (Public Act 21) allowing the NRC to designate game species, thus allowing the wolf hunt to continue. This group is handing the initiative to the legislature for quick passage rather than letting it go to the ballot for a citizen vote.

It also allows for free licenses for active military personnel (they currently pay $1).

The signatures for this law were certified in July 2014, sending the act directly to legislators for passage. The Governor's signature is not required for this act to become law.

Senate approves "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act"

Now that the Michigan Senate has voted "yes" for this law, it goes to the Michigan House of Representatives for a vote. The House will reconvene on Aug. 27.

This is another a blatant attempt to silence the voice of voters.

If the House does not approve the "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act," it will go to the voters to decide, along with the first two November ballot proposals.

Michigan residents should contact their State Representative. Tell him or her that the nation is watching. Let the people decide on the "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act."

It is important that citizens be afforded the right to vote on wildlife issues.

Click here to find your Michigan State Representative, or, if you know your District, find your Representative by clicking on the District number here.

* See "Michigan's wolf hunt: How half truths, falsehoods and one farmer distorted reasons for historic hunt," by John Barnes.

Photo inset: Nancy Warren of National Wolfwatcher Coalition. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Editor's Notes:
If you are in the 110th District contact Rep. Scott Dianda at ScottDianda@house.mi.gov or call toll-free (888) 663-4031.

If you are in the 109th District contact Rep. John Kivela at johnkivela@house.mi.gov or call toll-free (888) 429-1377.

If you are in the 108th District contact Rep. Ed McBroom at edmcbroom@house.mi.gov or call toll-free (855) 347-8108 [855 DIST108]

Out of state residents should contact: Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, JaseBolger@house.mi.gov, and Minority Leader Tim Greimel, TimGreimel@house.mi.gov.   

Guest article: Why all the howling?

By Nancy Warren, Executive Director and Great Lakes Regional Director, National Wolfwatcher Coalition

Photo of wolf courtesy wolfwatcher.org. Reprinted with permission.

The wolf is neither saint nor villain. It is simply an animal that inhabits Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and fills a valuable niche in the ecosystem. Should wolves be a hunted game species? Should Michigan residents have a voice in wildlife decisions? Will Michigan voters be allowed to decide?

Based on last winter’s population survey, there are an estimated 658 wolves spread across the U.P. There has not been one credible human threat by wolves in Michigan. In 2013, only 13 individual livestock animals were verified to have been killed by wolves, and each of these producers was reimbursed the fair market value of their losses. Of the approximately 900 working farms in the U.P., only  10 experienced a confirmed livestock loss to wolves.

Since federal delisting of wolves in January 2012, livestock and pet owners in Michigan are permitted to kill any wolf in the act of attacking their animals. Further, when there is a confirmed wolf attack, the Department of Natural Resources issues a permit to landowners allowing them to kill any wolf on their property. In 2013, 11 wolves were killed in control actions by government officials and private citizens.

In December 2012, Public Act 520 was signed into law adding the wolf to Michigan’s list of game species. The Michigan  Constitution affords citizens the right to challenge newly-enacted laws through the veto referendum process, so a coalition of Michigan wolf advocates exercised their right to do just that and gathered more than 250,000 signatures of registered voters calling for a referendum on the issue in the November 2014 general election.

Upper Peninsula wolf. (Photo courtesy Nancy Warren, National Wolfwatcher Coalition)

But in an appalling response to this strong citizen opposition to designating the wolf a game species, the Legislature quickly passed, and Gov. Rick Snyder signed, Public Act 21 of 2013, authorizing the state’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to designate almost any species as game. The NRC, which is a politically-appointed body with strong ties to those who support the hunting of wolves for recreation, quickly designated the wolf as game and authorized a wolf hunting season for November 2013. Decisions of the NRC cannot be challenged by the public. P.A. 21 is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of Michigan  residents and it takes away the rights of citizens to challenge game designation decisions.

But citizens responded by conducting a second referendum petition challenging P.A. 21, which is currently underway.*

The purpose of these two referendums is clear: one challenges whether wolves should be a game species, and the other challenges the authority of the NRC to designate new species as game and restores the right of citizens to challenge wildlife laws enacted through legislation.

Neither referendum affects any species, designated as game, other than the wolf. And let me be clear: These two referendums do not impact anyone’s right to hunt deer, bear, waterfowl or any other species currently hunted or trapped, and they have no impact on any hunting, trapping or fishing regulations currently in place. They are referendums to overturn those two newly-enacted laws. Period.

The referendums also have no bearing on the state’s existing ability to manage problem wolves. Absent a wolf hunting season, producers will still be reimbursed for any livestock losses verified to have been killed by wolves. Producers and dog owners will still be able to kill, without a permit, any wolf that is in the act of attacking their livestock or pet. And livestock producers and dog owners will still be issued permits to kill any wolf on their property following a confirmed loss by wolves.

There is a lot of misinformation and fear-mongering being propagated by groups trying to counteract these two referendums. Get the facts about wolves and the truth about the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign at www.keepwolvesprotected.com.

Inset photo: Nancy Warren. (File photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

* Editor's Note: See our Aug. 25, 2013, article, "Wolf advocates kick off second petition drive, seek referendum on Michigan wolf hunt law," with video clips of Nancy Warren's testimonies concerning the facts about the wolf issue in Michigan.

Letter: Support petition drive for referendum on PA 21 and wolf hunt

Photo of wolf courtesy wolfwatcher.org. Reprinted with permission.

Please support the petition drive to help repeal Public Act 21.

It’s not just about the wolves. Passage of PA 21 means that Michigan voters can no longer appeal the naming of any animal as a game species, a right we’d held since 1908. How did we get to this point?

In December 2012, the Michigan legislature enacted PA 520 designating the wolf as a game animal and authorized the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to establish a wolf hunt. More than 255,000 signatures were collected from citizens opposed to the hunt and were submitted in March of this year, earning PA 520 a place on the November 2014 ballot. This also meant there could be no wolf hunt before the votes were in.

Senator Tom Casperson introduced SB 288 in April, crafting a bill that would allow the Natural Resources Commission, in addition to the legislature, to add animals to the list of game species. As a politically appointed, regulatory body, NRC’s decisions cannot be subjected to a referendum. Governor Snyder signed SB 288, now known as PA 21, into law on May 8, enabling the NRC to reinstate the hunt, which they have done.

The citizens of Michigan have a constitutional right to challenge any recently passed legislation, with the exception of instances where the attached appropriations are vital to the functioning of our state government. The escalating use of appropriations to subvert the ability of citizens to utilize this important system of checks and balances, with notable examples being the Emergency Financial Manager and Right-to-Work laws, is a huge concern.

With the introduction of SB288/PA 21, Casperson found yet another way to undermine democracy. He said he did it to protect Michigan citizens from special interest groups like the Humane Society and to ensure that the people of the Upper Peninsula are heard. He neglected to mention that groups like Safari International lobbied for a wolf hunt, and that he has effectively silenced the voices of the more than 255,000 Michigan residents who signed the petition to subject PA 520 to referendum.

Our choices now are to lie down and take it, or dust ourselves off and fight for our right to vote on wildlife management issues. Repealing PA 21 and PA 520 will restore that right.  What we cannot do is repeal the current wolf hunt so speedily established by the NRC.  There will be wolves killed in Michigan this fall. Whether or not you think wolves should be "harvested," this is an outrage. And with their new found authority, we can expect the NRC to add the sandhill crane and possibly lynx to the list of game species to be hunted.

During First Friday events in Calumet on Sept. 6, 2013, Diane Miller, left, collects signatures on the petition for a referendum on PA 21 -- the second petition drive to allow Michigan voters to decide whether a wolf should be a game species. Signing the petition on Fifth Street in Calumet are, from left, Nancy Sprague, Bill Sewell and Oren Tikkanen. See below to learn how you can sign the petition. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

The repeal of PA 520 will be on the November 2014 ballot and the petition drive to repeal PA 21 is underway. To learn more about the current campaign, go to http://keepwolvesprotected.com/. If you wish to help by gathering signatures, click on  Gather Signatures so you can obtain petition sheets. It is not necessary to write a letter of endorsement. If you are in the Marquette area and wish to sign the petition, please email me at brinkleycourt@yahoo.com. You just need to be a Michigan voter to sign it.

Catherine Parker
Marquette, Michigan

Editor's Notes:

Several people in the local area are collecting signatures for the petition on PA 21. You may contact Diane Miller in the Houghton / Hancock area by calling her at 906-370-1069 and she will arrange to help you sign the petition. She will also be at the Parade of Nations on Sept. 14 collecting signatures from Michigan voters.

UPDATE: In addition, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected will have a table during the Parade of Nations events at the Dee Stadium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, for Michigan voters who wish to sign the petition there.

Chris Alquist, who works in the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton, also has petition sheets you  may request to sign in the library.

In the Marquette area, Jackie Winkowski of Gwinn, Great Lakes advisor for Wolfwatcher, is also collecting signatures. You may email her at jwsnowyplains@yahoo.com.

Other petition gathering events are listed on the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected Web site. Click here to find an event near you.

UPDATE: Anyone interested in signing a petition personally can request a petition form via U.S. mail by emailing katie@keepwolvesprotected.com, or call KMWP at 517-993-5201.

UPDATE: Charlotte Loonsfoot of KBIC is now collecting petition signatures in Baraga. You can call her at 906-235-4220 and she will arrange for you to sign it.

Jackie Winkowski has written a letter to the editor on this issue, published in the September 2013 Marquette Monthly. She gives more details on the reasons for the petition drive. Click here and scroll down to read her letter under City Notes.

See also our Aug. 25, 2013, article, "Wolf advocates kick off second petition drive, seek referendum on Michigan wolf hunt law."

Visit wolfwatcher.org for more information and articles on wolf protection.

Letter to Rep. John Kivela on voters' right to challenge Michigan laws

Letter from Catherine Parker

Sent April 18, 2013

Reprinted here with permission

Representative John Kivela
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Hello John,

I did a little exploring on the Michigan legislature website and found that you co-sponsored two Resolutions, one in January and another in April, that were drafted in an attempt to clarify the power of referendum when making appropriations.* It seems you do realize, then, that appropriations are being attached to bills in order to make them referendum-proof, and that this is contrary to the spirit, if not the letter, of the law.

As one of your constituents, and a voter who had high hopes for the candidate from Marquette, I was extremely disappointed to learn that you were co-sponsoring the House equivalent of SB 288, a bill that aims to undo the work of a citizen ballot initiative and eliminate the rights of voters to challenge any future designation of an animal as a game species.** A move like this is, at its heart, unlawful, and constitutes a betrayal of the trust placed in you by the voters who put you into office.

If you cannot remove your name from HB 4552, please amend your support to be contingent upon the elimination of appropriations from this bill. The problem could also be solved by separating the bill into its various components, attaching funding only to the portions where it is both necessary and ethical to do so. There should be no appropriations attached to language that would negate the efforts of Michigan voters to overturn the recently enacted wolf hunt law. 

The citizens of Michigan have a constitutional right to challenge any recently passed legislation, with the exception of instances where the attached appropriations are vital to the functioning of our state government. The escalating use of token appropriations to subvert the ability of citizens to utilize this important system of checks and balances is a matter of great concern. Notable examples are the Emergency Financial Manager and Right-to-Work laws. Do you really want to add a bill with your name on it to this list?

An organization called Voters for Fair Use of Ballot Referendum aims to put this issue on the November 2014 ballot, proposing modifications to the language of Article II, Section 9 of our State constitution that would protect critical state funding while ensuring that the people’s power to reject laws enacted by the legislature is protected.*** 

It would be wise to stay on the right side of this issue. Please do the honorable thing, and correct or reject HB 4552.

Sincerely,

Catherine Parker
Marquette, MI

Editor's Notes:

* Click here to read the January 30, 2013, House Joint Resolution E. Click here to read the April 9, 2013 Resolution Q.
** See our April 11, 2013, article, "Right to vote threatened by Michigan Senate Bill 288," for background on the recent petition for a referendum on PA 520, the wolf hunt law passed in December 2012. More than a quarter of a million voters signed this petition. Because of appropriations attached to SB 288 (and now HB 4552), the referendum would not be valid.
*** Click here to learn about Voters for Fair Use of Ballot Referendum.