House approves promoting voter registration for hunters and anglers
Andrew Koenig
JEFFERSON CITY — The House has given first-round approval to a bill that would supply voter registration forms to people seeking hunting and fishing licenses.
Sponsor Rep. Andrew Koenig, R-Winchester, said this will encourage more people to vote.
But Democrats said the bill would more likely encourage Republican men to vote.
Rep. Michael Frame, D-Eureka, cited research that showed that hunters and anglers overwhelmingly voted Republican. Although he couldn’t remember the study or poll, a Braun Research poll showed sportsmen overwhelmingly favored Republican John McCain over Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential election.
And Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, said information from the state departments of conservation, natural resources and revenue showed that about 80 percent of the people with hunting and fishing licenses are men.
“It seems to me that’s heavily skewed,” Talboy said.
Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield, suggested encouraging people at senior citizen centers or grocery stores.
“In the future, we’ll talk about that,” Koenig said
The body approved the bill on a voice vote. It needs one more round of voting to go to the Senate.
they don’t want more republican men to vote, but who complains about urban voter registration programs? who does that help?
Federal “motor voter” law requires voter registration not only in motor vehicle registration offices, but also in welfare offices. Seems only fair to provide the same thing to hunters and anglers.
maybe hunters vote overwhelmingly for the republican candidates because the republicans consistently protect their consititutional rights
Larry has a good point. Either setup legislative programs that reach out to the blue and red relatively equally, or win a proposal is made to make registration easier for one political group (ie Hunters) then that same bill should reach to a group who tends to vote for the other party.
Did you all miss that ACORN (everyones favorite) had to sue the Department of Social Services to implement the motor voter law? And from what I understand this is not at all the same. People at DSS or the revenue office can fill the card out there. I think for these individuals they will have a voter registration card mailed to them, at cost to the Missouri taxpayers. Finally, in response to common sense, I believe it is Democrats who are often leading the charge to protect wildlife preserves where many hunters find their prey. Maybe I am lacking common sense, but wouldn’t it be hard to fish or hunt in a WalMart parking lot?
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! Nice one, common sense! LOL
Btw…That Rep. Koenig is a hottie! I’d share a bass-boat with him! Mmmmmmmm
No need to spend tax dollars to encourage these people to register, because the gun lobby unfortunately already exists and is unfortunately already huge.
how silly of the dems, give them the registration and let them vote. Good grief.