| Title: | Fishing Notes- Archived |
| Notice: | See note 555.1 for a keyword directory of this conference |
| Moderator: | DONMAC::MACINTYRE |
| Created: | Fri Feb 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Sep 20 1991 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1660 |
| Total number of notes: | 20970 |
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Note 747.0 The sportsman's ripoff 3 replies
WAHOO::LEVESQUE "Black as night, Faster than a shadow..." 45 lines 23-AUG-1989 13:44
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Time to editorialize about one of the subjects near and dear to my heart:
fishing.
Actually, there is a political tie in, so pay attention.
Each year, every sportsman pays taxes on the equipment he buys. There is a
built-in tax, called the Wallop/Breaux tax, on every fishing pole, gun,
fish-finder, even every gallon of gas bought at the marina.
Last year, sportsmen paid $180 million dollars in Wallop/Breaux taxes. The
intent is that these tax revenues be distributed to each state for the
improvement of sport fisheries etc. In general, the money gained should
benefit those who paid it. It is a classic, perhaps the definitive example
of a pay per use tax.
Now some folks in Washington have gotten large eyes at the sight of $180
million dollars. They think that the money can be better used to help
reduce the deficit. So dear old Ronnie Reagan proposed a $100 million dollar
cap on the amount of W/B funds spent each year REGARDLESS of how much is
taken in. The balance of $80 million would be "diverted" ie stolen to causes
nearer and dearer to the hearts of non-sportsmen.
This ripoff of 45% of our tax dollars is an outrage. WE gave them the money.
WE deserve the money to be spent on what it was collected for.
Now Ronnie wrote this little tidbit into his last executive budget. As it
turns out, due to the complex web of deceit and unaccountability, a single
11 person committee has the power to allow this nonsense to become law WITHOUT
DOING A SINGLE THING! Now dear George has stated publicly that he is opposed
to a cap on Wallop/Breault. Yet he has not yet filed a formal amendment to
stop this ripoff!!
The idea is that the congressmen who are on this committee will be able to
let this pass (through inaction) and be able to place all of the blame on
Reagan. Now Reagan deserves blame for coming up with the idea, but we need to
pressure the dorks on this committee into preventing this miscarriage of
justice from occurring. We also need to pressure Georgie boy into "doing the
right thing."
For those of you who are not into hunting and fishing and think that this is
ok, I've got news for you. Next thing they'll be doing is raiding YOUR
favorite fund for their own political gain. So if you do nothing now, you'll
be losing soon enough.
The Doctah
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1228.1 | More B.B.S. | THOTH::DEVEREAUX | Wed Aug 23 1989 19:40 | 11 | |
Just another of the many ripoffs blessed by the all too powerful
Government. Just what magnificent IMPROVEMENTS have come about due
to this staggering taxation. I haven't heard of any dramatic
improvements in stopping the pollution coming out of Boston. From
the things I have seen especially here in Taxachussets, Do they
ever spend the money on what they are supposed too? Doctah, One of
the things that really hit home was passing a law or bill through
INACTION! That is what many elected officials seem to do best. I better
not get started I'll be here all day!
The Outlaw
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| 1228.2 | UPOA1::WIERSUM | The Back Deck Wizard | Thu Aug 24 1989 11:24 | 10 | |
Hey DOCTAH,
Perhaps if you get any interesting replies to your SOAPBOX you could
bring them to this file and v/v.
Good Bitch
TBDW
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| 1228.3 | so who do we bitch to? | LEVERS::SWEET | Capt. Codfish...GW Fishing Team | Thu Aug 24 1989 11:32 | 6 |
Doc,
You forgot to include some info in your note, like who is on
this committie??
Capt. Codfish
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| 1228.4 | STEAMED | TOLKIN::KCROWLEY | Thu Aug 24 1989 13:28 | 6 | |
Doc
This realy ticks me off there is so much out there that needs
to be done for our fishing & hunting spots. If we keep going at
the rate we are pretty soon there won't be a decent spot to hunt
or fish!!!!
Kev
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| 1228.5 | oppose the ripoff | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Black as night, Faster than a shadow... | Thu Aug 24 1989 14:17 | 35 |
The article I read didn't say who exactly is on the eleven member appropriations committee, but urged us to write to our congress-people to get pressure placed on the members. Also, a letter written to the President to get him to realize that we sportsmen are serious, and he cannot continue to overlook that which his former boss did. He has already stated his opposition to this sort of thing. Now all we have to do is to get him to put his money where his mouth is. re: what does this taxation do The funds generated by this tax are distributed to each state. No state gets less than 1% of the total revenues, nor more than 5%. There is a formula that they use to figure out who gets what. In any case, when our states start a program to enhance fishing, they pay 25% and these funds pay 75%- so the potential loss that we might each feel is enormous. Examples of uses: Fish ladders, kelp beds near Santa Barbara and other SoCal spots, man made reefs in the south and mid- atlantic. The list goes on. How much? The tax is 10% on every fishing pole, reel, lure, etc and 3% on electronics and other more costly items. There is also a tax on gas, but I don't know how much. So write to the pres and write or call your congressman stating your opposition to the diversion of Wallop/Breault funds for any purpose other than their intended use (as is currently written into the executive budget.) The Doctah We'd better be proactive on this one. Once they take it away, we'll never get it back. | |||||
| 1228.6 | What Happen To All That Money??? | SALEM::MERCURIO_J | $set hook/fish_on | Fri Aug 25 1989 13:32 | 9 |
If anyone is interested in what NH does with it's share, give Richard
Tichko at F/G a call. He's had Legislative Bills passed requesting
W/B funds for the installation of new ramps and refurbishment of
old ones...
Jim
PS. 603-271-2501 to get Richard...
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