NO Lead Bill Introduced AGAIN!

[HitMan]

We need to take action again as House Bill No. 5575 has been reintroduced to Congress. House Bill No. 5575 is a Bill to eliminate lead in fishing tackle. It was introduced in the Fall of 2004 and expired as the year ended. It was again introduced on January 24, 2006. Here is the link to it:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/billintroduced/House/htm/2006-hIB-5575.htm

[GLF]

Proposal would outlaw most lead tackle.

Viable, affordable alternatives needed, fishing experts say.

LANSING -- Concern about lead poisoning among water birds led New Hampshire to ban the sale and use of certain types of lead fishing tackle. New York and Maine have banned the sale of lead sinkers weighing a half ounce or less.

Now the issue has surfaced in Michigan with the introduction of a bill that proposes a multi-step plan to phase out most lead tackle, including sinkers weighing one ounce or less, jigs, and other tackle items containing lead. Rep. Chris Kolb, D-Ann Arbor, the bill's sponsor, said the measure would protect water birds from ingestion of jigs and sinkers, adding that several economical and effective alternatives to lead tackle are available.

Ray Rustem, the Department of Natural Resources natural heritage unit supervisor, said the ban's impact on the wildlife population would be insignificant considering the economic costs. "For the benefit to be derived from this ... it's not worth the economic impact on the angler," said Rustem.

He also claims that far more loons are killed by commercial fish nets than by lead sinkers. Alternatives to lead tackle include steel, bismuth, ceramic, tungsten, tin and recycled glass, according to the Michigan DNR.

Some alleged experts insist lead poisoning is a serious concern that must be addressed and measures need to be taken now to educate anglers about the harm posed to water birds. "You have to take steps where you can and work towards it," said Joanne Williams of Shepherd, state coordinator of the Michigan Loon Preservation Association/Michigan Loon Watch, a division of the Michigan Audubon Society. "Education is the biggest thing we have to address. "In the long run it will be beneficial to wildlife and to Michigan," Williams said.

Sam Washington, executive director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs, said the bill is an "OK idea" but he believes that lead tackle has minimal impact on the environment. Attempts to ban leaded tackle don't safeguard the species that they're trying to protect, Washington said.

[spoonfed]

That Chris Kolb has probably never touched a fishing rod, or even a gun he eats his tofu and humps his trees, and them stupid beatniks from ann arbor eat up everything he says. Them stupid azzholes have more led in the paint inside there old houses, than is on the bottom of any lake. Maybe they should stick to smokin dope on the diag, and protesting the war! A**HOLES!