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Old 04-07-2021, 11:06 AM   #1
Alaskan Sea-Duction
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City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Washington State Boat Taxes Could Double

From Recreational Boating Association of Washington.

Dear RBAW Members and Supporters,

On Monday afternoon, we learned that the State Senate Transportation Committee would be proposing to double the Watercraft Excise Tax paid by boaters, as one revenue source among many to pay for a new transportation revenue package.

While we understand the need for the state to invest in transportation infrastructure, it is extremely unfair to double the Watercraft Excise Tax. We boaters are already the only users of the state’s roadways, waterways, and air space to pay a percentage-based excise tax to the state. Cars don’t pay that to the state anymore, and neither do motor homes, planes, or helicopters. Doubling a tax on the one group paying a percentage tax to the state that no one else is, is completely wrong.

Northwest Marine Trade Association CEO George Harris and I strongly objected to this proposal at a Senate Transportation hearing this morning – where we only had 30 seconds to testify. Click below to view our testimony:

Bob Wise, RBAW President Testimony

https://vimeo.com/533781549

George Harris, NMTA President Testimony

https://vimeo.com/533778684

RBAW and the NMTA are teaming up on an Action Alert to all boaters this evening. The legislative session ends on April 25 which is in just 19 days, so we need you to act now and use your voice to object. We urge you to contact your lawmakers right away and tell them that you do not support this tax increase - to do this you can click on the link below to access the VoterVoice system. It will prompt you to enter your name and address and will send your Senator and State Representatives a message that you do not support this tax increase.


If you have questions please contact Andrea Pierantozzi, RBAW VP Administration or Doug Levy, RBAW Lobbyist.

Thank you, and please act now.

Bob Wise

RBAW President
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