NASHVILLE – A bill that would impose a privilege tax on people using commercial whitewater rating companies to ride down the Ocoee River abruptly sank in the rough anti-tax rapids of legislative sentiment today.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, at the request of Polk County officials, failed when it only got 39 yes votes. Forty-seven lawmakers voted “no” and seven abstained.
During debate, Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis, asked House Conservation and Environment Committee Chairman Joe McCord, R-Maryville, about what an amendment his committee had approved on the Watson bill did.
“It is a tax – tax – tax,” Rep. McCord said. “A 50 cent tax on tourists, that’s unprecedented on federal property. But nonetheless, that’s the direction they (Polk County officials) want to go. I don’t agree with it.”
Rep. Watson took the defeat with a bit of sarcastic grace.
“Thank you, members. Welcome to the Ocee River anytime.”