Why Should you support RIMTA's Political Action Committee (PAC)???
… We wrote the legislation that eliminated the Rhode Island sales and use taxes on new and used boats and on any equipment installed on those boats at the time of sale. If your revenues are higher now than they were in 1992, you've probably got RIMTA to thank. This legislation has benefited every boat dealer, broker, and charter company in the state, everyone who conducts business with locally bought boats, and every company providing goods or services to these businesses.
… We helped kill the personal property tax that towns levied on boats kept in Rhode Island more than six months out of the year. Because of this, the state is perceived as more boater-friendly to non-residents, and this has meant more business for marine equipment vendors, repair services, hotels and restaurants.
… RIMTA played a leading role in repealing the infamous federal luxury tax on boats. Rhode Island's big-boat builders and their suppliers saw their business skyrocket when this ill-conceived tax was laid to rest.
… We created the "Boaters Resource Center" at the Providence Boat Show a joint project of RIMTA, RI-DEM Boat Registry, RI-DEM Division of Enforcement, the Rhode Island Harbormasters Association, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the U.S. Power Squadron to make boating registrations and safety information more accessible to the public.
… RIMTA spearheaded the "Deadbeat Boater Law," to accelerate past-due payments to marinas for boat storage, repairs, and other services rendered.
… We're a key player in the East Bay Economic Initiative, helping promote Rhode Island's great boatbuilders and great cruising grounds throughout Western Europe and other foreign markets. Who benefits? You guessed it: just about everyone selling goods and services to boaters.
… RIMTA helped write the marinas' "Best Practices" guide for controlling non-point source pollution, and insisted more pump-outs be installed throughout the state before actively supporting new regulations making all Rhode Island waters a No-Discharge Zone. The first such statewide designation by a coastal state. We did it because we believe that clean water is good for the industry, and because we want to demonstrate to the general public that the marine trades are the "good guys," not the enemy.
… We're working with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Governor's Dredging Task Force, and other entities, to promote the dredging of the Providence River Ship Channel and marinas all across the state. This is critically important, for once there is an approved disposal site, marinas will finally be able to dredge. Virtually every marine business in Rhode Island therefore has a stake in this issue, and RIMTA is doing all it can to make it happen.
… Most of all, we are your watchdog during the legislative session to ensure our industry is not unfairly regulated and to ensure the taxes we worked so hard to repeal are not reinstated.
Federal Legislative Contact Information
Senator Jack Reed
1000 Chapel View Blvd
Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 943-3100
(401) 464-6837 fax
Washington Office:
320 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3903
Phone: 202-224-4642 Fax: 202-224-4680
Email: jack@reed.senate.gov
Web: reed.senate.gov
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
170 Westminster Street, Suite 1100
Providence, RI 02903
401-453-5294 phone
401-453-5085 fax
Washington Office:
Hart Senate Office Building Room 502
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2921 phone
202-228-6362 fax
Congressman Patrick Kennedy
249 Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 200
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: 401-729-5600
Fax: 401-729-5608
Washington Office:
312 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4911 Fax: 202-225-3290
Email: patrick.kennedy@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/patrickkennedy/
Congressman James Langevin
The Summit East
300 Centerville Rd., Suite 200
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 732-9400
Fax: (401) 737-2982
Washington Office:
109 Cannon House Office
Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2735 Fax: (202) 225-5976
