The people who visit the White Mountain National Forest should be able to enjoy these precious lands without the tax imposed on them today. The temporary parking fee was implemented in the WMNF and other forests in 1997. The Forest Service announced this week that the Clinton Administration supports legislation to make the pilot projects permanent. But, this is public land for the entire nation and therefore should be supported through the traditional funding process.
People pay enough taxes to maintain our national forests.
Under this program, Americans are taxed twice. Bass has been a vocal opponent of the parking fees. In 1997, the Second District Republican introduced the Local Free Access Bill, which would have exempted North Country residents from the WMNF user fees until the Federal Government fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program. The program provides payments to local governments in counties with large tracts of federal forest land to compensate for lost property revenue. These fees are especially unfair to residents of Carroll, Coos and Grafton counties.