|
Beach - the problem is that there are NO guarrantees that the money would remain or even start to be used for DEM. The money would be ear marked but can easily be swallowed up at any time. Legislation GUARANTEEING protection of the funds would not happen.
The other part of the problem is that the taxes brought in, both state sales taxes and the Federal Fishing Tax already occur and should be plenty to take care of the needs of DEM. For example, if Sales Tax from fishing & boating related activites were say, oh I dunno, maybe 50 million a year? Not unconcieveable but for the sake of arguement make it half that and it's 25 mil per year. What's wrong with getting the 3 mil needed by DEM from the General Fund to support what raised 25 mil or 50 mil in the first place? Why gouge the anglers for another 2 mil when the money SHOULD be there in the first place.
The problem is that the money raised in taxes by saltwater fishing & boating, jobs created - more taxes collected, yada yada yada is more than suficent by 800-1000-2000% or more to take care of DEM's needs yet they want to squirel that money away for their own projects (like giving 10-15 mil to the Greyhoud Dog Owners - I'm not making this crap up) to benefit the few but will tax us anglers to benefit the public. That's what it bo9ils down to - everytrhing else is CRAP I tell ya....
|