2/6/09
MRR Action Alerts!
Sign petition to end gas tax diversions to motorized recreation
While Minnesota families, communities, charities and state government go broke, motorized recreation is flush with significantly increased public funding. While gas tax diversions to motorized recreation appear to violate Minnesota's Constitution, $188 million in public revenue was diverted to motorized recreation since 1994. And that amount will increase to $20 million annually in 2009. While programs are being cut and people are out of work, motorized recreation's buget has significantly increased.
Every time you buy gas in Minnesota ~3% of the tax you pay goes to "dedicated accounts" for snowmobiles, ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles, four-wheel drive trucks and motorboats. Last year's increase in the state gas tax increased diversions to motorized recreation to $20 million each year. MRR wants to end gas tax diversions to motorized recreation and the many unwanted environmental effects of these machines.
Gas tax promotion of motorized recreation is damaging and polluting our environment. Off-road vehicles generate a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gasses when our state and society are challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gas tax funded off-road vehilces and clubs with their bulldozers damage forests, streams and wetlands, trespass on private property and abuse public funds without oversight or accountability.
MRR legislation ends these diversions, restores these funds to Minnesota's roads and bridges and protects our environment.
With a $5.2 billion deficit, if Minnesota legislators have time to discuss $56,000 in cuts to postage stamps, they should have time to discuss $20 million in cuts to motorized recreation. In fact, Minnesota's legislators have moral and legal responsibility to do so.
Help MRR educate legislators about the need to end gas tax diversions to motorized recreation.
Follow the money trail, learn more and support MRR's legislation below. 
Contents
- MINNESOTA'S $5.2 BILLION DEFICIT
- MOTORIZED RECREATION GAS TAX FACTS
- UNWANTED EFFECTS OF MOTORIZED RECREATION
- GAS TAX DIVERSIONS TO MOTORIZED RECREATION VIOLATES MINNESOTA'S CONSTITUTION
- MRR LEGISLATION REPEALS GAS TAX DIVERSIONS TO MOTORIZED RECREATION
- CONTACT LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT MRR LEGISLATION
ENDING $20 MILLION IN ANNUAL GAS TAX DIVERSIONSTO MOTORIZED RECREATION
MINNESOTA'S $4.8 BILLION DEFICIT
MOTORIZED RECREATION GAS TAX FACTS
UNWANTED EFFECTS OF MOTORIZED RECREATION
GAS TAX DIVERSIONS TO MOTORIZED RECREATION VIOLATES MINNESOTA'S CONSTITUTION
Sec. 5. HIGHWAY USER TAX DISTRIBUTION FUND. There is hereby created a highway user tax distribution fund to be used solely for highway purposes as specified in this article. The fund consists of the proceeds of any taxes authorized by sections 9 and 10 of this article. The net proceeds of the taxes shall be apportioned: 62 percent to the trunk highway fund; 29 percent to the county state-aid highway fund; nine percent to the municipal state-aid street fund.
MRR LEGISLATION REPEALS GAS TAX DIVERSIONS TO
MOTORIZED RECREATION
ENDORSE THIS CHECK TO
PETITION LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR PAWLENTY TO
END GAS TAX DIVERSIONS TO MOTORIZED RECREATION
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS. SUPPORT MRR LEGISLATION.
Contact your legislators. Tell them one simple thing: end gas tax diversions to motorized recreation.
Send legislators and friends a link to this page: www.MnResponsibleRec.org/2009legislation.htm.
Volunteer!
LEARN MORE AND SUPPORT MRR !
