Report from CITES - Victory for SCI
Note: SCI DC Director of Government Affairs, Rick Parsons, is in Bangkok, Thailand at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and has filed this report:

LIONS: Capping off more than a week of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Kenya withdrew its lion proposal last night. This avoided a vote, which was sure to end in defeat for Kenya. Kenya had proposed to move the lion from Appendix II of CITES to Appendix I, increasing the level of protection and likely ending lion trophy hunting. By withdrawing the proposal, Kenya has taken the issue completely off the table for this meeting of CITES since once a proposal is withdrawn it cannot be revived during the meeting.

ELEPHANTS: Kenya attempted to impose a 20-year moratorium on any ivory sales, but was defeated. Namibia attempted to get permission to sell ivory handicrafts and to obtain an additional annual quota of 2,000 kilograms of ivory, but it was also defeated. The only victories in the elephant discussion were that both Namibia and South Africa were given permission for commercial sales of elephant leather. None of this debate affects elephant sport hunting.

President Bush to Close Archery Tax Loophole
President Bush is set to sign a large corporate tax relief bill this week. One of the provisions in this bill will eliminate an archery tax loophole that allowed companies that imported arrows overseas to avoid paying the 12.4% excise tax paid by archery manufacturers who produce arrow components in the United States. The revenues recovered are funds that go directly to the state wildlife agencies in the form of Federal Aid that is used for wildlife, shooting and hunting projects. Jay McAninch from the Archery Trade Association said this legislation "levels the playing field among arrow manufacturers and helps our youth programs". The tax bill also removes the 11% tax on youth bows used in school programs and corrects a mistake in the application of the tax on broadheads from 12.4% to 11%.

Michigan Promotes Hunting
A bill introduced in Michigan will make it part of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) mission to promote hunting. House Bill 6272 was introduced on September 30 by Rep. Susan Tabor, R-Delta Township, and would direct the Michigan DNR and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to promote and preserve the state's hunting heritage.

Antis Move Bear Bills to a Friendlier Committee in NJ
Antis in New Jersey have succeeded in moving two anti-bear hunting bills from the NJ Assembly - Natural Resources Committee to the more friendly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. Assembly Bill 2452, which would ban bear hunting until Rutgers can finish a 'hunting alternative' study, and Assembly Bill 2634, which will prohibit bear hunting for at least 5 years while state studies on the effects of hunting go forward, are now in danger of passing to the main Assembly, and eventually, to the state Democratic leadership, who have publicly opposed the bear hunt.

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