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State Rep. Marty Causer will no longer head the House Game and Fisheries Committee in the new Legislative session that starts tomorrow. House Speaker-Designate Mike Turzai made the announcement regarding committee chairs just a few moments ago, and Causer will now head the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. State Rep. Keith Gillespie of York County will now head the Game and Fisheries Committee. State Rep. Matt Baker will head up the Health Committee. “Agriculture is our state’s top industry, and that’s because our farms and agribusinesses are operated by some of the hardest-working people in the Commonwealth,” said Causer. “I look forward to working together to ensure the industry continues to thrive in every way, from the smallest family farm to the largest processing operations.” Causer grew up on a dairy farm in McKean County and represents a region rich in crop and livestock farming, as well as timbering and maple syrup production. Pennsylvania is the largest prod...

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) has introduced legislation to ensure greater transparency in land acquisitions made by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). “As a sportsman, I certainly appreciate the value of our game lands, but I also recognize the financial impact a high volume of public lands can have on the tax base of a county or community,” Causer said. “In our area, the Game Commission is acquiring thousands of acres of land, taking it off the tax rolls, and that can place a heavy burden on local governments and taxpayers.” House Bill 2229 would require public notice of at least 90 days for all proposed land acquisitions, including written notice to county and local officials where the land is located, and to members of the General Assembly whose districts encompass the proposed acquisition area. The notice must include the amount of land to be acquired, the location of the land, the purchase price and proposed source of funding for the purchase, a...

HARRISBURG – The House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), heard testimony Wednesday about deer management and a half dozen pieces of legislation related to deer management and hunting policies in the Commonwealth. “As legislators, we hear from our hunters quite often about how they aren’t seeing many – or any deer – in areas they have hunted for generations,” Causer said. “They are understandably frustrated, and have been for a very long time. They deserve answers and solutions. “We held this hearing today to gather information about a half dozen proposals that have been put forth by lawmakers to address some of the concerns raised by our sportsman community,” he added. The hearing featured testimony from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. A recurring issue raised by members during questioning of Calvin DuBrock, director of the Pennsylvania ...

The House Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday on legislation that State Rep. Matt Gabler says would improve the management of the state’s elk hunting license program. The bill would create an additional special elk license to raffle locally by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. This would help the alliance raise money for its elk habitat and conservation programs. The bill would also reauthorize the Elk License Auction program that expired this year and require the game commission to conduct its annual elk license lottery drawing at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. State Rep. Marty Causer is chairman of the committee. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – The House Game and Fisheries Committee today approved legislation designed to bring consistency, transparency and accountability to the process of designating endangered species and wild trout streams in the Commonwealth, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), chairman of the committee. The Endangered Species Coordination Act would require the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to submit proposed designations to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). IRRC already reviews regulations from every other state agency, including endangered species designations made by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and most stream designations made by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). “Our ultimate goal with this legislation is to bring about the kind of consistency and transparency needed to better facilitate the co-existence of a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” Causer said....

HARRISBURG – The state House today approved Rep. Martin Causer’s (R-Turtlepoint) bill that clarifies the authority of wildlife and waterways conservation officers to use discretion when enforcing the state’s game, fish and boat laws. House Bill 1584 specifically states the officers may issue written or verbal warnings in lieu of making arrests or issuing citations. “As a former police officer, I know how important it is to exercise discretion in law enforcement,” Causer said. “While conservation officers already have the authority to exercise such discretion, it is not specifically spelled out in law and is likely not being used as much as it could be or should be.” As chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, Causer also noted passage of Senate Bill 648, which protects the rights of property owners who allow hunting on their property. The bill ensures those landowners are not subject to prosecution for violations committed by hunters on their land. The bills ...

HARRISBURG – The House Game and Fisheries Committee today approved four bills, including one sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) that clarifies the authority of conservation officers. House Bill 1584 outlines the authority of wildlife and waterways conservation officers to issue written or verbal warnings in lieu of making arrests or issuing citations. “While this authority is available to conservation officers currently, it is not specifically spelled out in law and therefore may not be being used as much as it could be or should be,” said Causer, who serves as chairman of the committee. “As a former police officer, I know how important it is to exercise discretion in law enforcement.” The committee also approved Senate Bill 648, sponsored by Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams/Cumberland/ Franklin/York), which protects the rights of property owners who allow hunting on their property. The bill ensures those landowners are not subject to prosecution for violations co...