MTNBYKR

RTP Update

Hopefully by now, you all know about the Recreational Trails Program.

* This program is funded by the federal gas tax dollars you pay every time you fill your snowmobile or other OHV.

* This program is housed in the Highway Bill and is administered by the Department of Transportation.

* This program is vitally important to our snowmobile trails. The snowmobile clubs and state associations rely on these dollars for our trails programs!!

* The program officially expired a couple of years ago and has been living on extensions. The next extension will expire on March 31st.

* The House included RTP -- with the dedicated funding we have had -- in the legislation that recently passed out of committee. Unfortunately, it appears further action by the House has stalled.

* The Senate included RTP -- BUT, stripped the dedicated funding.

* Senator Klobuchar from Minnesota has an amendment that will be voted on this week that will reinstate the dedicated funding.

* Other Senators that are cosponsors of the amedment are:
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
James Risch (R-ID)
Bernard Sanders (D-VT)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Mark Udall (D-CO).

And we believe we have solid commitments of support from others. But we need you to call or email both of your Senators and ask them to support this amendment.

* Remind them that at the current funding level, we receive less than 42% of the federal gas taxes paid every year. If this funding is not continued, this will convert a legitimate user fee into a new tax on the off highway recreation community.

* This program is truly a user-pay, user-benefit program.

Please contact your Senators today. If you are not sure how to contact your Senator you can use this link:
http://www.senate.go...enators_cfm.cfm