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The great mushroom fee hike hoax

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Illinois

Looks like some people got all upset over nothing:

Mushroom hunters can breathe easier. Despite the rumors, the state of Illinois isn’t charging fees and regulating the hobby this spring.

The Natural Resources Department tried to assure hunters Wednesday they do not have to get a state license and pay a $16.75 fee to hunt mushrooms.

Department spokeswoman Gayle Simpson said the agency received dozens of calls last week complaining about the purported change. She said the department discovered someone had taken a press release from the Internet and used it to craft a fake announcement of the new license and fee.

The hoax urged hunters to visit vendors that sell hunting and fishing licenses to get a mushroom license and said the proceeds would benefit biological and archaeological research in Illinois, Simpson said.

She said the agency doesn’t know when the hoax was sent or by whom, but e-mails and faxes have spread it “like wildfire'’ through central and southern Illinois and the agency is investigating.

Not trying to blame the victim here, but when you hike as many fees as the governor has, this stuff becomes believable.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 3:49 pm

Comments

Given the Governor’s long list of laughable revenue schemes, can’t say I blame those poor mushroom hunters for being a little paranoid!

But hey, if the Chicago Tribune editorial board is willing to endorse the “Mushroom Fee” - I’d bet even money Rod will dump the doubling of gaming positions as his primary funding vehicle for education…and replace it with the mushroom tax. I can see the press release headline now:

“Blagojevich to General Assembly: Fungus to Fund Education First!”

Comment by Tom DeLay's Mom Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 3:59 pm
Love it! Screw the Lottery and the Tax-Swap…Fungus Education First!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 4:01 pm
Great, so now the Governor’s looking to impose fees on Illinois legislators?

Leave those poor mushrooms alone, Rod! It’s bad enough that they don’t get the chance to read legislation before they vote on it.

Comment by Lincoln would be ashamed Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 5:21 pm
Last post beat me to it. How about “Mushrooms To Tax Themselves”?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 5:58 pm
Come on guys, I don’t think Rod’s taken mushrooms since law school in southern California…though anyone who’s actually read one of his state budgets might disagree!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 4, 05 @ 7:22 pm