Sportsmen Rally For North Country’s Economy and Against More Addie Taxes

Assemblywoman Russell’s votes target of outrage for hiking costs
for licenses and fees on sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts

Hundreds of sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts from across New York, including members of the North Country ATV Association, yesterday gathered in Albany for the first-ever “Sportsmen & Outdoor Recreation Awareness Day.”

The attendees met with legislators to highlight the impact heritage sports have on the state’s economy and were particularly up in arms over anti-sportsmen votes cast last year by Assembly Democrats including Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-Theresa).

Last year, Russell voted for state Budget Bill A.159-B which contained 41 separate license and fee hikes for sportsmen including increases for fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation.

Russell was later caught trying to cover her tracks on her anti-sportsmen’s voting record by distributing a taxpayer-funded mailer urging her constituents to obtain their hunting licenses before fee increase took effect – failing to mention that Russell herself voted for that very increase.

“Democrats and Republicans stood together in solidarity to support sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts but Assemblywoman Russell didn’t bother to stand up for heritage sports maybe when she took direct aim at the North Country’s economy by hiking 41 separate fees and licenses for hunting and fishing,” said Kathleen Hennessey, Spokeswoman for the New York Republican Assembly Campaign Committee (RACC).