The motion prevailed.
Senator McBroom’s statement is as follows:
I rise to support this legislation. A few years ago we put this in place, and to just briefly speak to members about why this isn’t canned hunting. The facts of the matter are, we stock numerous species around this state that citizens then enjoy and utilize for outdoor recreation, and we’ve been doing this for decades. The trout in the Great Lakes, you’re all paying for them. The whole country is paying for those, and we stock millions of them. The state of Michigan is paying for the stocking of walleye, some in the Great Lakes, some in inland lakes. We’re doing many different species that then people go out and enjoy for hunting, and they aren’t canned hunts.
In this situation, we’re purchasing these birds, the pheasants, that are then taken to state land where citizens who’ve purchased the right to hunt come and hunt on that state land and the program is extensively promoted to beginners who’ve never hunted before and to children who are getting out for their first time hunting with a mentor. These are exceptional programs that get people outside and enjoying the great outdoors and state land in Michigan, as well as understanding the process of conservation of species and the value of hunting in the conservation of those species. The state even plants big species like moose and wolves and other things around this state over the years that then sometimes end up having a season and sometimes don’t as we try to manage those species according to Proposal G in the sound science way.
These aren’t canned hunts, but I will say a word even then. If they were canned hunts, so what? We eat beef, we eat chicken, we eat many other animals that are raised on farms and then are processed for us for food. How are those any different? The manner in which an animal is raised then processed and harvested in particular is not what’s at question and shouldn’t be at question. This program—back to this program specifically—is a very valuable asset to this state, as it promotes first-time hunting experiences in a small way for people to decide whether or not they want to do larger-scale hunting in the future. I’m very proud of the part I played in getting this program into place and grateful to the sponsor of this bill for extending the sunset on it. Please vote “yes.”
Senator Polehanki’s statement is as follows:
Mr. President, I’d like to point out, through you to the Senator from the 38th District, we don’t all eat meat. I myself have not eaten meat for over 25 years, and just want to correct the record.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 860, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” (MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section 40503.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: