Senate Hearing This Friday

[Dave]

Senator Marty has scheduled a Senate hearing to introduce SF 3378 repealing the policy provision for operation of OHV’s north of Highway 2. We need as many people as possible to attend this Senate hearing! It is CRITICAL that we have a strong presence at this hearing! Come early as we expect a large turn out! You’ll want a seat in the hearing room!

FRIDAY, March 24, 2006

9:00 AM

Committee: Environment and Natural Resources Committee

Room 107 Capitol

Chair: Sen. John Marty

Agenda: S.F. 3378-Marty: Repealing a policy provision relating to off-highway vehicle use.

Other bills will be added.

S.F. No. 3378, as introduced - 84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) Posted on Mar 17, 2006

1.1 A bill for an act

1.2 relating to natural resources; repealing a policy provision relating to the operation

1.3 of off-highway vehicles in state forests north of U.S. Highway 2 that was inserted

1.4 into a finance bill during special session;repealing Laws 2005, First Special

1.5 Session chapter 1, article 2, section 152.

1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 Section 1. REPEALER.

1.8 Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 2, section 152, is repealed.

[Macgyver55]

A move to cut the portion of state gasoline taxes devoted to off-road trails and obstacle courses got bogged down in a Senate committee Friday.

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, contended that up to $2 million in gasoline taxes collected from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and four-wheel-drive-truck owners should be redirected to highway accounts because few of the recreationists use the facilities paid for with those funds.

"Do Minnesotans who are dodging potholes and sitting in traffic congestion really want nearly $900,000 of gas tax money diverted to pay for 4-by-4-truck playgrounds that erode land and damage our forests?" Marty asked.

The answer from Chairman Marty's own Environment and Natural Resources Committee was a resounding yes. The panel, dominated by northern DFLers and exurban Republicans, defeated his bill, SF3462, on a lopsided voice vote, probably killing it for this session.

At stake, in addition to $870,000 a year for 4-by-4 courses, is an increase in ATV trail annual funds from $800,000 to $1.4 million recommended by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. By Marty's calculations -- based on figures that only 6 percent of 4-by-4 owners use publicly funded obstacle courses and that 15 percent of ATV riding is done on public trails -- both diversions from highway accounts should total no more than $260,000 a year.

Some critics complained that Marty's move could lead to similar assaults on gasoline tax accounts for snowmobilers and boaters. Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, said the bill is based on "an extremely flawed theory."

He added: "I have two ATVs in my garage that I can't ride in my city, because it's against the law. We're waiting for trails to ride on. We don't use trails because they're not available."

[Dave]

Thanks for the update, Mac!

[knoppers]

every time I see or here the word MARTY, I get all worked up, which is good for us users. we all need to take note of this cancer.

[Dave]

If you would like to view this Senate hearing's video, click on the link below. Once the link opens, scroll down to March 24, Environment and Natural Resources committee. It is pretty interesting to watch.

Both Senator Marty's gas tax bill and Hwy 2 bill were voted down in his committee.

There are some great comments from Senator Jungbauer blasting Marty about the gas tax bill. Jungbauer was expressing the opinion of many in the room. Make sure you thank him by phone or email.

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/archive/2006/committee/index.shtml#header

[MedicDan]

Quote:

---

The panel, dominated by northern DFLers and exurban Republicans, defeated his bill, SF3462, on a lopsided voice vote, probably killing it for this session.

---

here is what the exact bill he proposed is:

S.F. No. 3462, as introduced - 84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) Posted on Mar 21, 2006

1.1 A bill for an act

1.2 relating to natural resources; modifying the allocation of state gas tax receipts

1.3 for all-terrain vehicle and off-road vehicle use;amending Minnesota Statutes

1.4 2004, section 296A.18, subdivisions 4, 6.

1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 296A.18, subdivision 4, is amended to

1.7 read:

1.8 Subd. 4. All-terrain vehicle. Approximately 0.15 0.038 of one percent of all

1.9 gasoline received in or produced or brought into this state, except gasoline used for

1.10 aviation purposes, is being used for the operation of all-terrain vehicles on state and local

1.11 lands, excluding lands within state and local road rights-of-way in this state, and of the

1.12 total revenue derived from the imposition of the gasoline fuel tax, 0.15 0.038 of one

1.13 percent is the amount of tax on fuel used in all-terrain vehicles operated on state and local

1.14 lands, excluding lands within state and local road rights-of-way in this state.

1.15 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 296A.18, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

1.16 Subd. 6. Off-road vehicle. Approximately 0.164 0.01 of one percent of all gasoline

1.17 received or produced in or brought into this state, except gasoline used for aviation

1.18 purposes, is being used for the off-road operation of off-road vehicles, as defined in section

1.19 84.797, in this state that are registered under section 84.798, and of the total revenue

1.20 derived from the imposition of the gasoline fuel tax for uses other than aviation purposes,

1.21 0.164 0.01 of one percent is the amount of tax on fuel used for off-road operation of

1.22 off-road vehicles in this state that are registered under section 84.798.