wapitibob
WKR
Always good to know where your money goes.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56998010-90/wildlife-money-wolf-bgf.html.csp
Audit: Contracts for anti-wolf groups didn’t safeguard tax dollars
State wildlife agency gives anti-wolf advocate $300,000 a year.
By Brian Maffly
| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Oct 15 2013 10:17 am • Last Updated Oct 15 2013 10:16 pm
Utah wildlife officials failed to safeguard taxpayer dollars while contracting with private anti-wolf organizations that work to sway federal policy, according to a legislative audit released Tuesday.
The influential hunting group Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and its spinoff Big Game Forever (BGF) have been awarded $800,000 during the past four years to help strip the gray wolf of federal protections.
..It remains unclear how BGF director Ryan Benson spent the $300,000 awarded last year, although nearly two-thirds went to his private business in the form of "consulting fees," according to the new audit.
Some $40,000 was spent on Washington, D.C., lobbyist Tim Rupli; $30,000 on video production, $16,000 on "software" and $11,000 on trade shows.
Particularly troubling to Legislative Auditor General John Schaff was the Department of Natural Resource’s insistence that BGF be paid the full contract amounts each year before completing any work, and that Benson "commingled" the state money with funds from outside sources....
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56998010-90/wildlife-money-wolf-bgf.html.csp
Audit: Contracts for anti-wolf groups didn’t safeguard tax dollars
State wildlife agency gives anti-wolf advocate $300,000 a year.
By Brian Maffly
| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Oct 15 2013 10:17 am • Last Updated Oct 15 2013 10:16 pm
Utah wildlife officials failed to safeguard taxpayer dollars while contracting with private anti-wolf organizations that work to sway federal policy, according to a legislative audit released Tuesday.
The influential hunting group Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and its spinoff Big Game Forever (BGF) have been awarded $800,000 during the past four years to help strip the gray wolf of federal protections.
..It remains unclear how BGF director Ryan Benson spent the $300,000 awarded last year, although nearly two-thirds went to his private business in the form of "consulting fees," according to the new audit.
Some $40,000 was spent on Washington, D.C., lobbyist Tim Rupli; $30,000 on video production, $16,000 on "software" and $11,000 on trade shows.
Particularly troubling to Legislative Auditor General John Schaff was the Department of Natural Resource’s insistence that BGF be paid the full contract amounts each year before completing any work, and that Benson "commingled" the state money with funds from outside sources....
