Day 21: The Hunting Tax

Since I teased the release last night I figured I would post today's press release. I ended up going with the Hunting Tax. The beat goes on...

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(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April Tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increased cost of hunting permits in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Wisconsin does not even have an elk hunting season and Governor Doyle is raising taxes on it. Thousands of residents rely on tourism and outdoor activities, like hunting, to make their livings. The Governor is hurting those families by making it more expensive for people to enjoy the outdoors,” Kanavas said.

During the last budget cycle two years ago, Governor Doyle’s budget increased the tax on an elk hunting license from $49 to $75 for a Wisconsin resident and from $251 to $400 for non-residents. The budget provision also increased the application processing fee from $3 to $10. In both cases the legislature defeated his efforts to raise the fees. In his 2009-2011 budget Governor Doyle is back at it, proposing an increase in the Elk and Bobcat application processing fees by a total of $180,000 over the biennium.

“Tourism is one of the largest industries in Wisconsin and hunting is a huge part of that. Wisconsin is a destination for hunters and outdoorsman from throughout the Midwest and we should not be doing anything to discourage Wisconsinites or our neighbors from enjoying what our state has to offer,” Kanavas added.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsin citizens about the $1.7 billion in new taxes included in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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