Oregon arrow maker shoots back at pork barrel critics
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The financial bailout bill’s tax break on toy arrows became a much-maligned example of pork-barrel politics this week, as noted here.
The Associated Press had this follow-up on the company that was highlighted in many of the reports:
Wisecracks aimed at a $2-million toy arrow tax break slipped into the financial bailout package are leaving some arrow makers feeling like they’re wearing targets on their backs. ‘Rose City Archery does not make one penny on this,’ says Jerry Dishion of Myrtle Point, Ore., who is president of one of the leading toy arrow companies. ‘We do not save one penny.’ It’s the kids -- Boy Scouts, school groups, Christian campers -- who will benefit, says Dishion, who feels he’s suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous media coverage. The tax break undoes the toy tax [about 40 cents] that manufacturers say was meant for more expensive archery arrows and is untenable for play arrows costing only about 30 cents apiece. Many youth programs have discontinued archery because of the tax, says Dishion. Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith, a Republican, and Ron Wyden, a Democrat, introduced the tax provision in each of the last two sessions of Congress. But neither sought to have the provision included in the bailout package, their offices said. Smith voted in favor of the bailout bill, while Wyden opposed it.
OK, but doesn’t Rose City Archery win if the repeal of the tax means it sells more arrows?
Just askin’. . .