Editorial

Permit sensibility

State agencies routinely seek public comment regarding policy changes and other decisions. Sometimes these requests barely get noticed. Not so with the Missouri Conservation Commission's plan to raise hunting and fishing permit fees and to do away with free permits from some property owners. More than 17,000 comments were received by the commission during a 30-day comment period. Most of them were opposed.

As a result, the commission has decided not to impose the new fees. Permit fees for nonresidents, however, have been increased, some more than 250 percent.

The commission had proposed the new fees in September at just about the time major national economic problems surfaced and gasoline prices peaked at record highs. In light of the economic situation, commission members agreed this wasn't the time to ask Missourians to pay more for hunting and fishing privileges.

While the economic trends contributed to the decision, this is an example of how the views of the public can sway important decisions. This is democracy in action.

Comments