Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director Carl G. Roe announced his support for legislation regarding alternative funding for the state's wildlife management agency.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Camille "Bud" George, would allow the commission to receive two percent of the taxes collected from the state privilege tax on every producer who serves natural gas.

"Since its creation in 1895, hunters and trappers have footed the bill for the wildlife management achievements of the game commission through their license dollars," Roe said. "However, without a license fee increase since 1999, revenues for the agency have been outpaced by the costs of meeting the needs, demands and expectations of both the wildlife and general public we serve.”

The legislation was adopted by the House with a 20-6 vote and sent to the House Rules Committee for further consideration, according to a press release on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Web site.

“Rep. George has long been a leader in the environmental recovery efforts, and we appreciate his leadership on this proposal,” Roe said. “We also note that Rep. Levdansky, who worked with Rep. George on this amendment, has been a champion for several sessions of the need to secure alternative sources of funding the game commission, rather than continue to ask hunters and trappers to shoulder the entire financial burden that the agency has to manage all wild birds and mammals and their habitats for current and future generations.”