PARKS OPT-OUT BILL GETS GOOD HEARING, BUT OPPOSITION ARISES

The “opt-out” funding bill to keep state parks open had a good hearing Tuesday morning, but several speakers spoke against it for various reasons.

So we vitally need to keep calls in to support HB 2339.

Federation Statewide Parks Local 1466 President Brian Yearout said now is not the time to close our state’s “crown jewels.”

“Without it (HB 2339), we face the devastating closure of up to 50 state parks,” Yearout told the House Ways and Means Committee.

Opponents said the $5 fee on license tab renewals that drivers could “opt out” of paying amounted to a tax. Some said the Parks Commission hadn’t marketed the current “opt-in” plan enough.

With this opposition, we need to keep the calls coming in on HB 2339.

So call your two House members at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to support the parks funding “opt out” bill, HB 2339.