Proposed Outdoor Equipment Tax Under Fire

The prospect of a federal tax on outdoor items from backpacks to sport-utility vehicles has sparked intense lobbying efforts by industry officials and environmentalists. Environmentalists and state fish and wildlife agencies have enlisted the heavyweight lawyer-lobbying firm of Patton Boggs to push the tax, which would run as high as 5% and be earmarked for state-administered wildlife conservation programs. They call their proposal Teaming With Wildlife. To make sure their opposing voices are heard, recreational industry trade groups are flooding Capitol Hill this week to lobby against a bill. That group is called Teaming Against Taxes. Proponents say they just want those who enjoy the outdoors to pay a small fee to protect wildlife, the same way buyers of fishing and hunting equipment pay an excise tax used for conservation activities. The tax would range from 0.25% to 5% of the cost of items used for outdoor activities, including wild bird seed, cameras, tents and mountain bikes. But opponents argue that many people who buy backpacks don’t go near campsites, and that the same cameras bought to take pictures of wild birds are purchased by others to photograph a new baby. Supporters acknowledge that the tax proposal isn’t popular.