GOOD NEWS
Dear RBAW Members and E-Lert subscribers,
We have good news to report!* Today in the Senate Transportation Committee, legislators considering Senate Bill 5483, a bill containing new revenues to pay for a transportation investment package, unanimously adopted an amendment to remove the provisions from the bill that would have doubled the Watercraft Excise Tax!*
This is a tribute to all of YOU and the power of grass-roots advocacy and recreational boaters making their voice heard.* Using the Action Alert put together by the Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW) and the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA), more than 5,000 of you sent over 17,000 messages to lawmakers throughout Washington State, urging removal of a doubling of this tax.**
This change in Senate Bill 5483 would not have been possible without the cooperation of key legislators who worked with RBAW and NMTA.*
Senate Transportation Chair Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens/44th Dist.) offered the successful amendment to remove the Watercraft Excise Tax provisions, supported by his Vice-Chair Sen. Rebecca Saldana (D-Seattle/37th Dist.) and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima/14th Dist.)
Additionally, Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes/40th Dist.), whose district is a haven for recreational boating, had an amendment ready to remove the Watercraft Excise Tax provisions if Chair Hobbs had not offered his
If you have a moment to send these legislators a short thank-you note, indicating we as recreational boaters do understand the need to invest in transportation, but had a real concern with the Watercraft Excise Tax provisions, and truly thank them for their actions, that is always welcome.*
Steve.Hobbs@leg.wa.gov
Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov
Curtis.King@leg.wa.gov
Liz.Lovelett@leg.wa.gov*
In the meantime, RBAW will stay vigilant on this issue as Senate Bill 5483 continues to move through the process during these last two weeks of the Session.*
In closing, the voice of our affiliated yacht clubs and our individual members is better together - thank you for your willingness to take action.* Together, we are the Recreational Boating Association of Washington.
Please email Andrea Pierantozzi, RBAW VP of Administration or Doug Levy, RBAW Lobbyist if questions.
Thank you,
RBAW