Today’s Laconia Daily Sun reports on it’s front page that a legislator (a Republican from Hollis) has filed legislation on behalf of the Marine Patrol effectively doubling registration fees (New Hampshireese for "tax") for all boats and vessels in NH. Reporter Michael Kitch notes that the head of the Marine Patrol
hastened to stress that the bill would only apply to the registration fee, the proceeds of which are earmarked for the navigation safety fund that funds 57-percent of the Marine Patrol budget.
Gee, I wonder how much of the new money "needs" are driven by the newly adopted lake speed limits here in the formerly free "Live Free or Die" state? Am I the only one that recalls the mindless pooh-poohing of those who stated the Marine Patrol had no real means of monitoring and enforcing such limits? And, need I remind anyone that it was mostly REPUBLICANS that pushed the original legislation bringing speed limits to our lakes, thereby causing MORE government, MORE spending, MORE regulation, and now MORE taxation? I’m eagerly awaiting GOP "leaders" like the esteemed John H Sununu to tell me again why NH should bring Republicans back into the majority, and that it is DEMOCRATS that are "ruining" our state… 