MN snowmobilers ATTENTION

[R J]

I just learned this last night at our clubs meeting. I think it's been in the state associations paper as well.

A group called MRR (Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation) had hired 3 lobysists and drafted a bill that will wipe clean the unrefunded gas tax that snowmobile clubs and organizations get. Actually it's not just snowmobile stuff it's ATV, boating, public accesses and so on. This group before has never managed to get a proposal any further but now it's going to the floor or has passed through some committees. NOT GOOD!!!

If you boat, ATV, Snowmobile in MN and of course live here, we need you to contact your legislators and inform them you do not support this bill and would like it if they didn't support it as well.

Here is the link to go to for finding who your represenitive is. http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

The legislation that has been introduced into the senate is SF3087 and the wording for it is ELIMINATE UNREFUNDED GAS TAX FOR SNOWMOBILING
Please do this, elimination of the unrefunded gas tax that clubs and organizations get would cut $5,000,000.00 away from snowmobiling right off the top. Which of course means less trails, closures, less grooming, and so on etc.

 

[Jeff C]

RJ:

I happened to be switching channels and I saw this on the public channel that deals with the legislature.

I could not believe what I was hearing!

John Marty (D) Roseville was leading the effort to get this through!

Need to get on this everyone!

 

[R J]

I about choked when I heard it at the meeting last night. Everything was cooking right along until we were discussing our MNUSA stuff in the club.

This is a HUGE TOPIC that will ripple though all of snowmobiling, boating, atving etc. Other states are going to be watching this closely as I'm sure all the special interest groups.

This needs to stay near the top of the page and everyone, once I get the link posted in the morning needs to have all their family members take part in this. A personal e-mail or phone call is the most effective way. Form letters do not get looked at by anyone.

For anyone that has already done this or taken action. THANK YOU!

 

[Jeff C]

RJ:

Here is a link you can use to find your lawmaker

http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

Please write them an email telling them to strip this measure out of the bill with an ammendment

 

[Snowizard]

Background info on the MRR legislation.

I have had a thread on the Minnesota section for a couple weeks now. Some people have alreday written their rep's.
Guess I assumed most had seen it by now. Glad you posted here.

Check here for more detail:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65261

Also there has been quite a bit more response on the Hardcore Sledder, MN forum . I have the same thread running there too. (I have a different name on there, but my writing style will give me away.

Here:
http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=319619

MNUSA is having a legislator reception coming up on March 19th. A lot of HCS forum people are going. Also I heard the SnoBarons (Haydays fame) are going to be well represented.

Best Western Kelly Inn
I-94 & Marion street , St.Paul
4pm till 7 pm
March 19th.

 

[BIG JOHN]

meeting

I'm going for my club....Sno-Ghosts....anyone want to meet me there??-BJ

 

[Goin For Snow]

A couple of weeks ago i posted a copy of the reply i got back.

No way it will pass.

 

[R J]

If I'm not out in Togwotee at that time I will be going. It's the 19th of March at the Kelly Inn Capitol on I94 and Marion in DWTN ST.Paul. 4pm to 7pm

I have edited the original post with the how to find your "people" and also the senate legislation number for this. SF3087.

Here it is again anyways.

http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

 

[R J]

A couple of weeks ago i posted a copy of the reply i got back.

No way it will pass.

Lets hope not but everyone that lives in MN and reads this lets assume the worst and do our best to get this thing squashed.

 

[Snowizard]

We can't back off pressure on this...

Quote:
"Originally Posted by Goin' For Snow
A couple of weeks ago i posted a copy of the reply i got back.
No way it will pass. "

Lets hope not but everyone that lives in MN and reads this lets assume the worst and do our best to get this thing squashed.

You will recall the nature of the state legislators to slip a bill into some other completely unrelated law at the last minutes of the yearly session, hoping no one will notice until it's too late.

He!!, look what just happened with the per-gallon gas tax. They caught everybody off guard with that one, and the legislators are real proud of themselves for ramming that through.

People of the MRR "ilk" are very persistant, and sneaky. We have to keep legislators aware of the economic consequences to the state as a whole if SF3087 passes.
AND... they will be back every year, trying again and again.

Here's a wild thought, I'm wondering if Joe Souchery, Garage Logic would take this on ?
Remember the studded track debate? That was quite a topic on his show for a while.

 

[Jeff C]

I wrote my guy (Matt Dean) and here is what he replied with, this morning......

Thanks Jeff. I was not aware of this legislation. I will check to see where it is (tax or DNR) and attempt to block this grab. We have many DFL members who realize the importance of maintaining these trails, so I think there will be bipartisan support for keeping it as it is.


Writing does get attention........


Wizard, is that the main file # that this legislation is wrapped in?

SF3087

 

[R J]

The SF3087 is what info I have. What it means or where it is I'm not sure.

Thanks Jeff for doing your part.

I wonder if the Blue Ribbon has heard about this. They are usually on a national level but any support our side can get the better, and this don't even involve sending any money or anything like that!

 

[flatlander_99]

I wrote my guy (Matt Dean) and here is what he replied with, this morning......

Thanks Jeff. I was not aware of this legislation. I will check to see where it is (tax or DNR) and attempt to block this grab. We have many DFL members who realize the importance of maintaining these trails, so I think there will be bipartisan support for keeping it as it is.


Writing does get attention........


Wizard, is that the main file # that this legislation is wrapped in?

SF3087

geeze, he is on top of things! so what did you write to him in the first place?

 

[BTI]

my attempt

I wrote in too. Mine wrote back he agreed with me, and was not in favor of this. Still waiting for the other one.

 

[xrated]

It's not just sleds MRR is after. These guys are right up there with Sierra Club. If you can stomach it, google them and look around the site. What they want to do with waterways is insane.

I will be drafting a letter tonight.

 

[Jeff C]

geeze, he is on top of things! so what did you write to him in the first place?

Flatlander:

Here is what I wrote him in my email last night after seeing this thread:

I am hearing that there is a measure that will strip recreational vehicle tax from where it was intended. We need this money to groom snowmobile trails, maintain OHV trails. This is a bad, anti tourism maneuver, and moreover it is unfair. Please work to get this reversed.


That was all I wrote.....

 

[switchback]

Thanks for the heads up! Contacted 'em all.

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

emails sent in my area 56308

 

[NorthMNSledder]

I sent an E-mail!!

I sent an E-mail to Rob Eastlund, Rep for Isanti. I will post the reply I get.

Thanks guys for a heads up on this!!

 

[Goin For Snow]

My reply was from Larry Hosch saying no way.