Supporter wounds Sunday hunting bill during its introduction at state House
Assurances of swift passage of a bill that would permit Sunday hunting were quashed Tuesday by one of the bill’s biggest supporters.
In April, when the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists welcomed Harold Daub as its new executive director, the former leader of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting promised to use his leadership skills to put the federation “on the front lines in Harrisburg so our members can be in the woods, on the water or at the range.” But at a legislative meeting to inform House members about a Senate bill that would permit hunting on some Sundays, Mr. Daub surprised supporters with remarks taken as undiplomatic that effectively set back the cause of Sunday hunting.
As one of several stakeholders speaking to the Game and Fisheries Committee, the Dauphin County man challenged lawmakers whose agricultural constituents followed the lead of the state Farm Bureau in opposition to Senate Bill 147.
“Is the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau going to bully you, as legislators, into playing their game of running out the clock?” Mr. Daub asked.
Perceived as bullying itself, the comment drew push-back from members of both parties irked by the accusation they were kowtowing to an interest group.
Rep. David Maloney, RBerks County, said “bashing” the Farm Bureau was “problematic.” Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, requested a “more civil tone.” Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga, said of the bullying charge, “there’s enough blame to go around.”
The Senate passed SB 147 in June following 10 years of debate by inviting opponents to help draft the bill, satisfying some of their concerns. The bill would limit Sunday hunting to three days per year and create a new primary offense, “hunting trespass,” enforceable by police and the Game Commission and punishable by high fines and the possible loss of the trespasser’s hunting privileges.
The bill was expected to slide through the House with minimal debate. Mr. Daub made his comments Tuesday during an informational meeting as the bill was being introduced, and most of his 20-minute statement was firm but polite. After some lawmakers bristled at the bullying remark, he back-stepped, claiming his comment reflected his personal treatment by the bureau.
But it was too late. Rep. Barbara Gleim, R-Cumberland, said she “took a little bit of offense” at the Farm Bureau being “thrown under the bus.” Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, described himself as a “yes” vote going into the meeting, but said it would be difficult to vote that way after being accused of caving in to bullying.
Mr. Daub also had sarcastic words for Joe Neville, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association, who testified his members want one day outdoors without risk of being injured by a hunter.
“If Keystone Trails Association hikers are so afraid of hunters, why are hikes scheduled every day of the week, included during popular hunting seasons?” asked Mr. Daub.
Mr. Daub said via email that he was unavailable for interview.
Rep. Keith Gillespie, RYork, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, said he had intended to put the bill up for a vote Sept. 24. But following Tuesday’s raucous exchange, supporters were now in “damage-control mode.”
“It was one stakeholder in particular bashing another,” he said.
Mr. Gillespie said several lawmakers who had assured him they’d support the bill told him following Mr. Daub’s remarks they could no longer back Sunday hunting.
“I’m not going to put up the vote if it’s going to fail. It would be the end of the story,” Mr. Gillespie said. “After all the emotion that has taken place … we need time for the dust to settle.”
As committee chair, Mr. Gillespie said he would authorize a vote at an appropriate time, but most of his suburban and rural constituents oppose Sunday hunting, and his vote remains uncommitted.
Justin Walsh, R-Westmoreland, a member of the Game and Fisheries Committee, said that following the stakeholder meeting SB 147 did not appear to have the votes to get out of committee.
“Hopefully the bill doesn’t get killed with this,” he said. “I don’t see a problem with the way the Senate bill is [written] … but obviously we realize how important farming is and our farmers.”