RE: New Washington Tax Targets ONLY RV Owners

[NCSunshine]

 
Got this from my cyber sam newsletter.  Thought all members from Washington state might be interested in what was going on.  Just thought I would pass it along.
 
 
 Urgent
 
 New Washington Tax Targets Only RV Owners
 
 Your Action Is Needed Immediately
 
 The Washington State Legislature is now considering a new tax aimed specifically at RVs that would cost RV owners hundreds of dollars a year, every year. A new tax of one half of one percent will be placed on the assessed value of your RV every year, unless this bill is stopped now.
 
 Under House Bill 1142, these tax receipts would be dedicated to the Washington Department of Parks and Recreation for capital expenses and improvement. While finding funding for the Parks Department in a difficult budgetary environment is a noble goal, taxing only RV owners who are not any more likely to use the parks than car owners, hikers or bikers is unfair andwrong.
 
 The bill is sponsored by Representatives McIntire, Armstrong, Dunshee, Cooper, O Brien, Kenney, Linville, Kagi and Chase. The House Fisheries, Ecology and Parks Committee is now considering the bill. Members of that committee are Representatives Cooper, Berkey, Sump, Hinkle, Buck, Hatfield, O Brien, Pearson and Upthegrove. These representatives along with all other House representatives need to hear the RV community s position on this bill.
 
 Your help is needed to kill this bill now. If you live in Washington state, please contact your elected state representatives to voice your opposition to the legislation. Call 1-800-562-6000 or visit http://dfind.leg.wa.gov/dfinder.cfm for help in identifying your representatives and sending them a message. In your phone call or email message, please tell them that:
 As a constituent and RV owner, you are strongly opposed to House Bill 1142.
 This new tax unfairly and wrongly targets only RV owners, who are no more likely than car owners, tent campers, hikers, or bikers to use the parks that this tax is designed to benefit.
 The new tax would represent a financial burden to you in troubled economic times.
 A fairer approach would be to institute user fees at the parks so that funding would be raised from those people actually using the parks.
 Washington voters voted just two years ago to repeal the annual motor vehicle excise tax. Bringing back the tax in another form that applies only to RV owners defies the public s view of such taxes.
 Include your name and address to prove you are a constituent.
 Thank you for your help in this very important matter!
 

[AustinBoston]

 NCSunshine
This was discussed a little a few weeks ago in this thread: http://www.popuptimes.com/members/tm.asp?m=10414&p=6&tmode=1
 
 Doesn t hurt to bring it up again, but in my opinion, the proposed Washington State tax is dirt cheap compared to what some states charge.
 
 Austin

[garym053]

 NCSunshine
This proposed tax seems very unfair! (but what do I know, I drive an SUV!) I have always been in favor of the parks use fees. I know these aren t popular with a lot of people but it DOES succeed in making the people who use it and cause much of the expense to pay their share!
 When I m in Arizonia, I never have a problem with the Red Rocks Pass system and in New Hampshire, I renew my White Mountains pass as soon as it expires each year. In all, I m probably paying more than the proposed tax, but at least the one paying is the one using!

[NCSunshine]

 AustinBoston

This was discussed a little a few weeks ago in this thread: http://www.popuptimes.com/members/tm.asp?m=10414&p=6&tmode=1
 
 Doesn t hurt to bring it up again, but in my opinion, the proposed Washington State tax is dirt cheap compared to what some states charge.
 
 Austin

 That s the way it goes, always a day late[]  Just goes to show that kids can make you lose your mind[]

[byrdr1]

 NCSunshine
As Julie has pointed here in NC we pay for use of parks.
 If you go for the day to swim you pay, if you camp you pay, if you put boat in water you pay. If you do none of these you dont pay.
 
 But we also have one of large gasoline taxes around and they are talking about raising that again. So if you drive a larger SUV you pay in aded taxes because you use more gas.
 I can drive one county up and be in VA and the gas is 15-20 cents cheaper a gallon..I heard today that gas in Martinsville, VA was 1.409 a gallon this weekend around here it is 1.619 a gallon for regular. I bought gas in Greensboro, NC friday night for 1.539 gal.
 So I just dont know who/how they figure gas cost around NC.
 randy

[AustinBoston]

 NCSunshine
Please remember that currently, big RV s in Washington state pay NO TAX AT ALL.  The RV that would pay $320/year under the proposed rule would pay $2000-3000/year here in Mass. and still pay park entrance fees.
 
 What s unfair is that as big as they are, they pay nothing right now.
 
 Austin