There is a bill making its way through the legislative process in Denver that would regulate how commercial river rafters can do business. The representative from House District 54 has sided with a developer from Texas who wants to fence off part of the Taylor River so that owners of the 35 custom homes he wants to build can enjoy fly fishing from their private decks.
Steve King voted against moving the bill out of committee and on to the floor of the House. He was one of three Republicans, to vote no. The single remaining Republican and all Democrats voted yes. I heard Steve King on TV last night saying that he wanted to support these small businesses, but that the way the bill is written would amount to a taking. (See yesterday’s blog.)
So, Mr. King, when a barge floats down the Mississippi River and passes through sections of the river that are privately owned, is that a taking? Should a landowner be allowed to put up a toll gate on the Mississippi River so that they can be justly compensated for their taking? River rafting attracts 500,000 visitors to our state annually, and generates $140-million in revenue, and employs some of our neighbors.
It is time for some common sense from our Representative. During the hearing, Representatives heard from small rafting companies who said their livelihoods are threatened because their right to float down rivers in Colorado is not clearly defined. It is clearly defined in most Western states, including neighboring Wyoming and Utah. Let’s define how the river can be used by river rafters. This bill is good for Colorado and all communities that have rivers running through them.
Homework:
The point of view of river rafters: http://www.coloradorafting.net/mirror/tag/colorado-rafting/
The point of view of fly fishermen: http://privatewaterflyfishing.com/uncategorized/private-water-fly-fishing-vs-rafters/
Senator Bennet has joined forces with Senator Feingold to return “power to the people” in US elections. Sign his petition at the following link.
http://action.bennetforcolorado.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=594&track=RFWeb
Steve King voted against moving the bill out of committee and on to the floor of the House. He was one of three Republicans, to vote no. The single remaining Republican and all Democrats voted yes. I heard Steve King on TV last night saying that he wanted to support these small businesses, but that the way the bill is written would amount to a taking. (See yesterday’s blog.)
So, Mr. King, when a barge floats down the Mississippi River and passes through sections of the river that are privately owned, is that a taking? Should a landowner be allowed to put up a toll gate on the Mississippi River so that they can be justly compensated for their taking? River rafting attracts 500,000 visitors to our state annually, and generates $140-million in revenue, and employs some of our neighbors.
It is time for some common sense from our Representative. During the hearing, Representatives heard from small rafting companies who said their livelihoods are threatened because their right to float down rivers in Colorado is not clearly defined. It is clearly defined in most Western states, including neighboring Wyoming and Utah. Let’s define how the river can be used by river rafters. This bill is good for Colorado and all communities that have rivers running through them.
Homework:
The point of view of river rafters: http://www.coloradorafting.net/mirror/tag/colorado-rafting/
The point of view of fly fishermen: http://privatewaterflyfishing.com/uncategorized/private-water-fly-fishing-vs-rafters/
Senator Bennet has joined forces with Senator Feingold to return “power to the people” in US elections. Sign his petition at the following link.
http://action.bennetforcolorado.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=594&track=RFWeb
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