BrionLutz
02-07-2003, 10:04 AM
I received the following from Majority leader Knopp on the bill to raise the fishing and hunting license fees to fund the ODFW.
Kind of non-committal but at least he got the message.
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Dear Brion,
Thank you for your comments in regards to HB 2260. I will keep your concerns in mind.
Sincerely,
Representative Tim Knopp
House Majority Leader
District 54
-----Original Message-----
From: Brion Lutz [mailto:BrionLutz@attbi.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:10 AM
To: REP Knopp
Subject: Support for House Bill 2260
Dear Representative Knopp,
As one of the close to 500 Oregon sportsman who time out from our jobs and businesses to lobby for increasing the fees we pay for our Oregon hunting and fishing licenses to keep Oregon's salmon fishing industry going, I wanted to urge you to support HR 2260.
In your interview with KATU, you noted that:
"I don't think, in this Legislature, any tax or fee increase is a slam dunk," said House Majority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend. "It's a pretty high bar (the department) has to get over."
I would agree and suggest that bar has been met or exceeded.
1. 99% of all those who pay the hunting and fishing fees support the fee increase.
It would seem it is the legislature's responsibility to do what the paying public is requesting.
The entire affected constituency (not a single dissenting voice was heard from a triple overflow public in attendance) has spoken out in favor of paying the fees.
Many industry and organizations not directly affected by the fee increase spoke in it's favor since it benefited them, their families and businesses. We had lumber, farming and service industry members supporting us.
2. 100% of Oregon benefits from the contribution of the willing 10%.
In these tough economic times, we cannot afford to not support this initiative.
As the evidence and testimony presented at the hearing noted, the economic benefits for the entire state for salmon fishing are huge.
I'm sure you are aware of the economic benefits to Bend from fishing on the Deschutes.
Many of the business people affected noted that it brings in a lot of out of state business and revenue to Oregon. Personally, I have friends from Utah fly out 3-4 times a year to fish in Oregon spending money for licenses, airport taxes, retail, lodging, all of which helps keep jobs for Oregonians. As an example, they have stayed at the Phoenix Inn and Riverhouse in Bend.
I hope you agree that the bar for passage of HR2260 has been met.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Brion Lutz
BrionLutz@CompuServe.com
Kind of non-committal but at least he got the message.
*******************************
Dear Brion,
Thank you for your comments in regards to HB 2260. I will keep your concerns in mind.
Sincerely,
Representative Tim Knopp
House Majority Leader
District 54
-----Original Message-----
From: Brion Lutz [mailto:BrionLutz@attbi.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:10 AM
To: REP Knopp
Subject: Support for House Bill 2260
Dear Representative Knopp,
As one of the close to 500 Oregon sportsman who time out from our jobs and businesses to lobby for increasing the fees we pay for our Oregon hunting and fishing licenses to keep Oregon's salmon fishing industry going, I wanted to urge you to support HR 2260.
In your interview with KATU, you noted that:
"I don't think, in this Legislature, any tax or fee increase is a slam dunk," said House Majority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend. "It's a pretty high bar (the department) has to get over."
I would agree and suggest that bar has been met or exceeded.
1. 99% of all those who pay the hunting and fishing fees support the fee increase.
It would seem it is the legislature's responsibility to do what the paying public is requesting.
The entire affected constituency (not a single dissenting voice was heard from a triple overflow public in attendance) has spoken out in favor of paying the fees.
Many industry and organizations not directly affected by the fee increase spoke in it's favor since it benefited them, their families and businesses. We had lumber, farming and service industry members supporting us.
2. 100% of Oregon benefits from the contribution of the willing 10%.
In these tough economic times, we cannot afford to not support this initiative.
As the evidence and testimony presented at the hearing noted, the economic benefits for the entire state for salmon fishing are huge.
I'm sure you are aware of the economic benefits to Bend from fishing on the Deschutes.
Many of the business people affected noted that it brings in a lot of out of state business and revenue to Oregon. Personally, I have friends from Utah fly out 3-4 times a year to fish in Oregon spending money for licenses, airport taxes, retail, lodging, all of which helps keep jobs for Oregonians. As an example, they have stayed at the Phoenix Inn and Riverhouse in Bend.
I hope you agree that the bar for passage of HR2260 has been met.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Brion Lutz
BrionLutz@CompuServe.com