Stupid Politicians

But then, I repeat myself. (shoutout to Mk. Twain) From the Portland Maine Press-Herald:

Measure would put an end to free store 'camping' for RVs
The Yonder Hill Campground in Madison used to be filled to capacity every summer night with recreational vehicles. But that was years ago. RV owners have found they can skip the $36 campground fee and park overnight at the Skowhegan Wal-Mart for free.

The campground's owner, Allen York, said he often sees 25 to 30 RVs parked at the Wal-Mart.

In recent years, he said, there has been a cultural shift in how RVers travel, influenced in part by Web sites that use searchable databases to guide RVers to free parking spots.

"What has happened is nothing short of a phenomenon," York said. "All of a sudden, we are looking at empty lots when we should be in the prime season."

Owners of the state's 275 campgrounds are pushing legislation that would ban RVs from parking overnight at commercial lots, such as Wal-Mart. The Legislature's Health and Human Services committee voted 8-2 to endorse the bill, LD 114, which may come up for a vote in the House this week.

Proponents say the measure would help local campgrounds and RV parks stay in business and also allow the state to recoup nearly $1 million in lost state lodging taxes.

And of course, the RVers aren't taking this lying down:

While Wal-Mart is staying on the sidelines, RVers around the nation are mobilizing. News about the legislation has spread via the Internet on message boards and newsletters. People are sending e-mails and making phone calls to legislators, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci's office, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine tourism offices.

If it passes, Maine would become the first state in the nation to ban RVs from commercial parking lots. Similar bills in Montana and Nevada were defeated after protests from RVers, according to a news release by the Escapees RV Club, a Texas-based club with 32,000 members nationally.

"If this legislation passes, it may well set a precedent for the rest of the country, and we could see our freedom to choose where we park permanently revoked!" the club said in an electronic newsletter.

The callers are delivering a simple message: If the Legislature passes this bill, RVers will no longer come to Maine.

"I like Maine. I want to visit there. But I don't want to be told I have to pay to camp," said Jim O'Briant of California, who administers www.overnightrvparking.com, which tells RVers where they can park for free.

Don't these idiots know that protectionism flat does not work. Like it says: "If the Legislature passes this bill, RVers will no longer come to Maine. So you have not only a measured drop in RVers overall, you have the corresponding loss of business in stores, restaurants, gas stations, gift shops, grocery stores, Wall-Marts, shopping malls, movie theaters, amusement parks, fishing charters, etc. etc. etc... State taxes go down but Maine doesn't stop spending so the local tax base is going to get hit next time they pencil out the state budget. The Mark Twain quote I alluded to is this:

Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
--Mark Twain