SB 5153 - 2019-2020 : Raid of Snowmobile Account! Senate Operating Budget C

[Tony DiPangrazio]

 

  Unfortunately This Doesn’t Surprise Me!

   I still remember when the State Legislature Swept the NOVA Account for $400,000.00.

  A lawsuit was filed by several motorized user groups and the Court Ruled the State Legislature couldn’t do that and said don’t do it again.

  But the court didn’t require the Legislature to repay/replace the money. It worked so well the DNR was able to get away with it when they

  were allowed to take $100,000.00 from the Snowmobile Acct; to help fund the purchase of land in the Teanaway Valley from American Timber Resources.

  Then the DNR redistributed some of the Senior Water Rights to their buddies in Kittitas County rather than sell some of those Senior Water Rights and repay the

  $100,000.00 they took from the snowmobile account. The irrigators, the non motorized users and special interest groups were the ones that truly benefited from that money grab.

  I remember Pam McConkey and Wayne McLaughlin from the state parks winter rec program saying at one of the Kittitas County Grooming Council Meetings “the $100,000.00

  will give the snowmobilers a seat at the table”. At best a snowmobilers received a seat in the back of the bus, but not at the table. Many suspect the deal had already been

  cut with the irrigators and special interest groups before the money was taken from the snowmobile account. Winter Recreation said they were kept in the dark and were

  unaware the DNR intended to take the snowmobile funds until after the fact. States Parks Winter Motorized Recreation Administrators also oversee the non motorized user groups.

  So it didn’t adversely affect them because their salaries were safe and the funding of their retirement pensions continued to receive funding.  “Basically they had no skin in the game”.

  In the private sector administrators and department heads are expected to follow the money, track expenditures and balances in their operations budgets.

  I stated at a Kittitas County Grooming Council Meeting that motorized recreation would also lose access to some of their favorite snowmobile riding areas in the Teanaway Valley,

  which they have. It’s as though the State Legislature expects the Snowmobile Community to sit silent and embrace the loss of funding and riding areas like well indoctrinated subjects.

  It appears some in the State Legislature and State Agencies are allowed to continue raiding the funds from the snowmobile account without fear of reprimand or retribution.

  Another prime example is the disregard some Legislators have shown for Mom and Pop businesses in smaller outlying communities that are dependent upon year around tourism to

  remain in business. Their actions and behavior suggest some elected officials and state agency department heads perceive themselves as being beyond reproach.

  One of the more unpleasant lessons I have learned in life has been “If a person is allowed to disrespect you, some will also attempt to take what doesn’t belong to them”. 

  Some in the State Legislature that are in support of SB 5153 Senate Operating Budget C, favor open borders and welcome undocumented illegal aliens with open arms.

  Many are also the same State Legislator's that refers to our states present drug epidemic as a homeless problem.

 

  Just a few heartfelt comments from another former snowmobiler who has grown tired of being disrespected by elected officials and various state agencies!

  Respectfully Submitted

 

  Tony DiPangrazio

   Port Angeles, WA.