Lawmakers look to increase fees for outdoor activi

FROM KSTP WEB SITE

Minnesotans could soon be paying more to do outdoor activities like boating, trail riding, hunting and fishing.

Even with a $2 billion state surplus, lawmakers want to increase fees in the environment and natural resources bill.

If Gov. Pawlenty signs the bill, outdoor enthusiasts will have to pay more for licenses and other state fees.

The higher fees have some Minnesotans threatening to leave.

“It just seems like the sportsmen get the brunt of it, I’m retired now and I’m actually thinking about leaving the state because I’m sick of paying so much money,” Dave from Monticello told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

The environment and natural resources will be presented before a committee before making it’s way to the governor’s desk.

Thought I would post this and see what everyone thinks about it.

I’ll tell you what I think about it. I don’t think I can wait for the next election cycle. I think we do a recall vote on each and everyone of these legislators who think we need more taxes. It’d be one thing if the taxes they imposed on sportsmen actually went to the DNR.

They still have room over in Hudson?

How big of an increase is the question. Is this just proposing another couple dollar increment, or are they just trying to raise it significantly?

I guess I wouldnt mind if the money went to where it belonged, and it was used properly once it made it there. I will give the DNR credit for one thing, there has been a significant increase in enforcement in the last couple years, that money is coming from somewhere.

Land of 10,000 taxes… yes, its getting old. We cant tax the rich nearly to the level of the poor, but we can pull a few extra dollars out of everyone yearly to help make up for it.

Ohhh why not, the oil companies are too

I thought with the Dems. trying to raise business property tax, vehicle tab tax, .10 per gallon gas tax, half cent sales tax and taxing the “upper” incomes at the highest rate in the country, they would leave us outdoorsmen alone.