The goodie green tax

Why hasn't anyone thought of this?
If it is a "given" that maine is a nice outdoorey playground State for the GREENS, then we should have taxes that support their needs.
Henceforth: We must ensure our legislature moves on establishing:
Pay-toilets at rest stops.
Taxes on bicycles to support bike lanes.
registration fees on "walking sticks".
tax on rental tents for hikers. ( we tax rental cottages)
A use tax on hiking boots and appropriate foot wear to support hiking trails.
Since we don't want our birds and small animals to be given in-appropriate food, all bird feeders and similar devices must be licensed and inspected. To pay for this service a small tax on bird food will be necessary.
To prevent cross-pollenization of wild and domestic flowers, all flower beds must be licensed, inspected and structures in place to reduce the effects of wind. ( this is inkeeping with our policy of preventing cross-breeding of the Atlantic Salmon )
And further more we should instruct our department of agriculture to develop a satisfactory way to tax BS.Please feel free to add taxation items that may have been overlooked.D

Tax rental tents, already there!Last time I went camping, as I paid for my site, guess what.I was assesed the Maine meals and lodging tax. Which is not to be confused with the sales tax I paid upon purchase.The gas tax to drive for the enjoyment of the outdoors.Tax on supplies, etc.Perhaps this is why most taxes donated was for alchol?

If we are going to have to pay a fee for canoes, than I actually think that the bicycle registration fee is a good idea. I don't know how Baldacci and crew missed it.
A new one would be any vehicle with more than 3 bumper stickers should pay a signage fee.

quote:Originally posted by Calvin:
We must ensure our legislature moves on establishing:
Pay-toilets at rest stops.

The state seems intent of eliminating most rest stops.

quote:Originally posted by Calvin:
tax on rental tents for hikers. ( we tax rental cottages)

If you rent a site for a tent or an RV, you pay a 7% tax already.

I strongly believe any new taxes are bad taxes.

quote:Originally posted by hap:
I was assesed the Maine meals and lodging tax. Which is not to be confused with the sales tax I paid upon purchase.

It strikes me that a tax for providing a service not provided is probably illegal....but I forget, this is Maine. No tax is illegal.

quote:Originally posted by Keenan:

A new one would be any vehicle with more than 3 bumper stickers should pay a signage fee.

Yes, and they have to pull a code enforcement permit first. LOL!!!!What about lawnmowers? I mean, we tax cars. Why shouldn't we do the same for the grass-eating machines??? I think license plates for them is a good idea, too. Especially the riding kind should have them. And think of the vanity plate opportunities for revenues!! "No A$$, No Gra$$."Then we enact a helmet law, too, so we can charge fines for failure to wear them while mowing the lawn. I mean, one could fall off and be injured.There would also be employment opportunities here, since every neighborhood would need an enforcement team to hand out the tickets and check for helmet compliance.
:D[ 03-22-2005: Message edited by: Naran ]

How did we miss a tax or registration fee on surfboards?
An emmisions test and registration on all gasoline powered equipment. Grass trimmers, wood splitters,ice augers!
Enviromental inspection of all compost heaps and self-contained devices.
electro-magnetic radiation inspection of all computer monitors!
jump-ropes and clothes-lines should be registered since they could be used as a dangerous weapon.
and we need a re-cycling program for our plastic toothpicks since they pose a threat to filling our landfills.
A license fee for all bake-bean-suppers to offset the affect on the ozone layer!( an alternate might be a license fee on "butt crack".)
A tax on mailboxes to diminish administrative costs. ( homing pidgeons are exempt )
a real money maker would be a disposal fee deposit on all cemetary monuments.D

We register out of state snomobiles & Atv's.Well what about boats.Matter of fact cars should not be exempt. A guest Maine registration, complete with excise tax for all visitors to our state.OH by the way a new registration is required for each visit!

And what about skateboards? Think of the wear and tear on town sidewalks, roads, and railings from the wheels used on those things... all those mischievous kiddies should have to cough up ten baksheesh for that privilege, too!!We could get really cool permit stickers made for those, the kids could have a choice between BoSox and Baldacci. There are hundreds in my town alone... think of the added revenues!!

And Tricycles!
We can register tricycles. The money raised could go to support hospitals and ambulances.
If a tricycle and a Mack truck collide, you got to admit, someone is going to get hurt. How about a tax on eccessive posting of new legislation? A representative would be limited to the number of bills they could submit during a session. Anything above that, $100 fine, each offense. Absolute limit would be no more than double your quota. If any bills submitted above your quota, pass and become law, but then are overturned by a vote of the people, automatic termination of that representative!
[ I like this idea so much it deserves consideration for a new AMG thread. ]

We need an annual excise tax on any personal property valued at $100 or more. Lawn mowers, personal computers, hand tools, washing machines, wedding rings, etc (imagine the possibilities!). These items are all luxuries in the eyes of our governor, and we should pay our fair share! It's only money, have you ever seen a U-Haul behind a hearse?

Tax binoculars that weigh more than a pound. No hunter will lug a big set of binocs, but bird watchers will.Tax Volvos and Saabs because of their economic impact on Northern Maine's economy. Their owners advocate for rural cleansing.

quote:Originally posted by Roger Ek:
Tax Volvos and Saabs because of their economic impact on Northern Maine's economy. Their owners advocate for rural cleansing.

As a Saab owner, I'm object to this one. I bought it used, if it will exempt me.....

Does your license plate say "SNAAB"?
:) A friend tried to get that for his Saab in Mass, they wouldn't let him have the plate. I guess they thought it was a swear word or something.

quote:Originally posted by Roger Ek:

Tax Volvos and Saabs because of their economic impact on Northern Maine's economy. Their owners advocate for rural cleansing.

_________________________________________________HEY! Back-off. I drive a Volvo ( second hand) and besides that it has a "MARY ADAMS" bumper sticker! Volvo car manufacturing is owned by Ford, and Ford car engines are made in Mexico. Don't play the "made in USA" game because corporate America left a long time ago.D

Psst. The new Ford 500 sedan is a Volvo under a Ford skin.

quote:Originally posted by chuck:
We need an annual excise tax on any personal property valued at $100 or more...

Why have personal property at all? Why not let the government own everything... then if you want something you can rent it from the government.While tax revenues will take a hit, rental revenues will be way up. Actually we could all work for the government building and repairing their stuff!Hmmmm.... somehow it seems like I've already seen this system somewhere.