I vehemently disagree! Nobody should be made to pay for non-motorized play! Today in Vacationland we pay the countries highest combined taxes to; earn, live, drive, and eat.
A potato can only produce so much before seeking better soil.
Beware or soon children may have to be registered (to pay) for play on the monkeybars.

Stop Maine's out of control state spending - NOW!

I agree, No Mo Taxes.

Can I call you No for short?

If anything, Maine should be encouraging more people to exercise and use non-motorized transportation, not punish them. No, ten bucks isn't a lot, but it's more the principle than the price.

I've got an idea: A paddle on Augusta

Chants, music by Billy Bragg, and then we dump something into the water (non-toxic of course) to protest the fee a la the Boston Tea Party.

Whoa! I never said I "liked" the idea. But rather that I could live with it... for a specific time period (two years), and if it is dedicated to alleviate a specific problem (DIFW budget shortfall). That's why I suggested the "sunset provision", something that makes lawmakers whoozy and disappear into the ether. After all, they only like to raise taxes, not do away with them. Sunsetting this fee, as well as many (every!) others, would help to keep things in check. But I understand your point--if we have to balance our checkbooks, why doesn't the state?!

As a property owner my ability to be gracious towards our state's spending was not as tactfully stated, yet we are on the same team. My barrage was not intended to fly over your bow - sorry to make you hit the deck..
I also would love to dump enough bipartisan non-toxic dye into the Augusta waters to make our politicos pee purple for a week. Then, only after they all believe that their private parts are going to shrivel up, wilt away and fall off will they get an idea of how over the top they're spending has become...

No taxes or fees on non-motorized water craft please. My children and grandchildren will be very unhappy, especially when their "floaties" become taxable!

It is bad enough for owners of a kayak or two, but non-profit summer camps (a major economic and recreational resource for this state) would take a major hit for their fleets of canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, sail boats and the like. I have not read the entire proposal, but from what I have read, there does not appear to be a provision for that type of scenario. Additionally, this pay to play fee was slipped in without debate. FMI- contact the Maine Youth Camping Association.

Ten bucks fine. Twenty gets me two boats and is almost the cost of a fishing or hunting licence. At thirty we start to have a fairness problem, and there are more than a few citizens out there who own more than 2 floatable objects.

I have not seen any propositions that call for my fishing license to set at the number of rods I own or my hunting license by the number of guns.

If this proposal had been subject to the usual public hearing process we might have been able to hear some constructive ideas.

heres a thought let the governor pay the ten bucks for all our boats.seems he likes to spend our HARD earned money lets see him spend some of his.whats next a fee to take a walk or how about we register our kids bicycles and scooters.don't we get taxed ENOUGH to live in me.