The Daily Sentinel: Wolves are once again being used as a scapegoat by state Sen. Dylan Roberts (D-District 8). This time he is trying to get a sneaky bill passed in the Colorado General Assembly, that if passed, would hide important information about game damage compensation payments. It would be a handout to property owners without full public oversight.

While proponents of this bill including state Sen. Marc Catlin (R-District 5), and Rep. Julie McCluskie (D-District 13), have been trying to frame this as a “wolf issue,” this bill would actually hide important information about all claims that property owners make when damage is done to their property by any covered wildlife. This includes damage done by elk, bears, and even bighorn sheep. This bill would encourage corruption, fraud, and handouts to bad actors without the proper oversight and disclosure that the public has a right to.

The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) works to allow the public hold government accountable. When payments are being made to property owners for wildlife damage, the public has a right to know who is getting paid. If property owners, and more importantly businesses, like ranching and farming, are too scared to have their names published then they shouldn’t get a taxpayer funded check.

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