[Reactionary]

The Alabama Primary Election is June 1, 2010.

There is a Proposed Statewide Amendment Number One on the ballot “relating to the promotion of propane gas… by providing for an assessment on the members of the propane gas industry for the purpose of financing promotion programs”.

The Amendment would ‘assess’ propane retailers to fund a nonprofit designated by the Legislature to administer and implement promotional programs. Furthermore, it would also allow for the conduct of referenda among retail and wholesale propane marketers.

Get this: “The assessment authorized to be collected pursuant to this amendment is not to be considered a tax…” even though propane gas retailers are subject to “penalties for failure to make the collection and distribution of the assessment”.

The Alabama Propane Gas Association supports the Amendment. Gee, I wonder which nonprofit will be designated by the Legislature to collect the not-a-tax.

Of course, propane retailers will pass the not-a-tax cost on to propane consumers, resulting in higher propane prices. Supporters argue that the assessment is only pennies, however my personal favorite argument is: “It’s not a tax…it is an opportunity for propane consumers.”

Disclosure - the following link is to my blog:

Propane Amendment 1 – raising prices means lower costs? | flashpoint (http://www.flashpointblog.com/2010/05/20/propane-amendment-1-raising-prices-means-lower-costs/ - broken link)

[writerwife]

Figures. This year, for the first time in our memory...we got a notice for a "pre-buy"... in April. In April. I have never seen one going into the summer months before. They're gonna get ya one way or another.
And this is just to promote the use of propane?

[chj]

is alabama's primary opened or closed?

[jakabedy]

It's open.

[Reactionary]

BTW if you don't want to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, you can get a ballot with the Amendment only.

Also note, only Dem primary voters can vote in a Dem primary runoff (closed runoff). Any voter can vote in a GOP primary runoff.

[bluebeard]

I'm voting no just cuz I can't find the text of the original Act to see how it would be required to be spent.

[Crashj007]

Isn't there a comedy TV cartoon show where propane marketing is the dad's job? Maybe this is just a jobs program for unemployed relatives?

[Reactionary]

bluebeard - there was a link at my blog to the Proposed Statewide Amendment Number One. Note that it took some digging to find the text of the bill, so your voting NO because they didn't explain it is a valid and proper response IMO. Here is the link, for your convenience. Click on the "Act 2009-547" PDF file:

Proposed Constitutional Amendments

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

bluebeard - there was a link at my blog to the Proposed Statewide Amendment Number One. Note that it took some digging to find the text of the bill, so your voting NO because they didn't explain it is a valid and proper response IMO. Here is the link, for your convenience. Click on the "Act 2009-547" PDF file:

Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Thanks for the link!
Looks just about equally vague as the amendment. So some petroleum association, which I'm guessing its required to be a member of if you deal propane, wants legal authority to levy a few, for which the primary purpose appears to be "promotion", oh and other stuff too. I might be for it if it said XX% goes to rebates for those using efficient equipment, etc... But this looks like its mostly for marketing.

[Reactionary]

Currently, membership in the Propane Association is NOT required. But if the Amendment passes then all propane dealers will have to pay the association (forced 'membership' with State penalties for refusal to pay the assessment).

Even though the amendment is promoted as costing 'only a few pennies to the average consumer', it will cost farmers hundreds of dollars. The 'rebates' are for a 'cash for clunkers' type program, which only benefits very few people (and those people are usually the ones who can afford new appliances anyway).