TMRA2 Legislative Update

“If we move in mass, be it ever so circuitously, we shall attain our object; but if we break into squads, everyone pursuing the path he thinks most direct, we become an easy conquest to those who can now barely hold us in check.”
– Thomas Jefferson (letter to William Duane, 1811)

Reference: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Memorial Edition, 13:29

It was brought to my attention by Butterfly that my last post with the Sites on the North American Union was FALSE. I read the site and Agree with her. However while saying the stories were false, they did add, that is not to say they won’t do that in the future.

Transportation Secretary Peters says she plans to continue with the program to allow Mexican trucks to travel US highways in a trial program. Congress voted to kill the project and remove the funding for it. Peters said she will just shift money from other programs and continue doing things her way.
It appears this issue will become a test of wills before it is settled.

She wants the 2010 Federal Grant money to be shifted from MC Safety & Awareness to a lobby fund for states to try to initiate an adult helmet law. People in the Transportation Department, both state and federal appear to be good at shifting funds. Remember TxDOT shifted our dedicated fund for MC Training into the 601 Highway Fund so they could steal 25% of our budget each year.
I have been pissed off about that for three years now but told Clif Burdette we would wait till he retired before we made any waves.

That time has come and so we went in to talk to John today while we were in Austin paying our sales tax. Those who attended the Safety Seminar met him there and most everyone we spoke to had a good impression of the man. I am even more impressed with him now.
It just so happened he was working on the Budget when we got there and he was as unhappy as I have been about it. We discussed everything that has been done with the fund since 1993 and he got even more unhappy than he had been when we arrived. This is a man who is not afraid to buck the system and one we can really work with.
We talked about Mary Peters and TxDOT and what Motorcycle Awareness really means.
We both recalled when May was Motorcycle Awareness Month before it was changed To MC Safety & Awareness Month. We agreed that needed to be changed back and as we continued talking we came up with several things that needed to be changed In the entire system. He spoke of several things our meager budget had to pay for that It should not be paying. He was trying to find $30,000 for workbooks that were not a part of the budget but that were needed.
We spent about 2 ½ hours making plans for implementation on several fronts.
I will be calling on the officers of Texas ABATE Confederation, Texas Motorcycle Roadriders Association and Butterfly to get their input on some of the issues we discussed this evening. Quite possibly there will be major changes in the wind.

Speaking of Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month, it is that time of year again.

Time to start getting those Proclamations and getting all the publicity from the media that you can possibly get squeezed out of them. Butterfly has been coordinating this effort for several years now and doing a good job of it. I would recommend you contact her to learn where you can help. Remember NCOM is coming to Texas and we need to show them we are involved with the awareness program.

I know this next issue is one of the most controversial issues in the country but I have to mention it. HR 4088 is an immigration Bill. It calls for putting 8000 more Border Patrol Officers on the border and set up a way for employers to verify the legal status of employees. I’m not asking anyone to do anything about this Bill but just using it as an example of how our government works. The Bill received enough cosponsors to pass it on the Floor including some very high ranking Democrats such as John Murtha.
It was well understood that Speaker Pelosi would not bring the Bill up for a vote. A Discharge Petition was filed (DP110-5). 218 signatures would require the Bill to go to the Floor for an up or down vote. Every Republican in Texas except Ron Paul signed that petition. Only one Democrat in Texas signed the Petition.
This is a true example of wanting to have your cake and eat it too.
Pretend to support
something until it is time to fish or cut bait. That is how we get Gridlock. We’ve had it in DC for many years.

Ride Free – Ride Sober
Sputnik

The Lake Granbury Liberty Riders chapter of Texas Motorcycle Rights Association will not be having their regularly scheduled meeting tonight (Wednesday March 26th), out of respect for a fallen brother. Hammer, the President of the Granbury chapter of Boozefighters M/C was killed Sunday, riding his new Harley.

Funeral services are pending.

Please keep his family, brothers, and sisters, in your thoughts and prayers, as they are in mine.

Greg Bodovsky
Senate District 22 Advisor
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association

–

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end upbeing governed by your inferiors.” …Plato

Retracted

Further info shows that this bill (HB 137) has not passed yet. You can see the current status of the bill at
http://tinyurl.com/2t2gyd

WHO YA GONNA CALL

When you want to learn exactly what the Helmet Law says about the sticker or want someone to go to court with you on a helmet ticket?
When you have shown an officer your Medical Insurance Card or rider training Certificate and you get a ticket for no helmet anyway?
When you want to find out what your rights are under HB 823 as far as carrying a concealed weapon in your car or on your bike as well as any number of other issues that have been ruled on in the past few years?

Most of you have shown that you will call the organization that helped write the Bills in question. The ones who found an Author for the Bills, walked the Capitol Halls daily to solicit enough support to bring them through committee, passed on both Floors and signed by the governor.
That association is the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association.

WHO YOU GONNA ASK

What the law says about the handlebar height.
What the Attorney General’s ruling means for Poker Runs.
If you had an issue you felt should be addressed by the legislature.
What to do about an officer who routinely harasses bikers etc. etc…..
Again you have shown that you will ask the association that is well versed in the political arena and either has the answer or knows where to get it.
Is very well acquainted and highly respected by nearly every Senator and Representative in our state government.
That organization is Texas Motorcycle Rights Association.

NOW WHAT IF

What if that phone isn’t answered when you call? What if That E mail brings no response or our Websites disappear. Then where will you turn with your problems that require legislative action or clarification? Think about it.
We find ourselves in that position today. We have just finished a Rally that will finally pay off our debts. However the 2000 + members of the association due to the economy can no longer afford to continue to fund an organization that works for all riders.
This is a member driven organization. Without an increase in membership we shall be forced to close the doors. Every one of you knows in your heart that Texas Riders would be much worse off if this organization had not been founded and proven to be so successful. There are other organizations but none that can offer the services we have provided for the past 16 years. Check out our website and ask yourself if those services rendered are not worth $30 per year. Remember this all the issues we have worked will be coming up again next year including a helmet law.

Sputnik
512-971-6777
sputnik@tmra2.org
www.tmra2.org
Chairman TMRA 2

Calling upon the federal government to ease lobbying restrictions imposed at the behest of motorcycle rights organizations across the country, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has requested legislation that will allow her to divert motorcycle safety funding to convince states to enact mandatory helmet laws.

Peters has sent letters to House and Senate leadership urging legislation to allow states to utilize federal funds intended for motorcycle rider training and awareness programs to promote helmet laws instead.

We have been through this with NHTSA when they used federal funds to lobby states to pass helmet laws and won. We need to do the same for Secretary Peters.
Contact both Texas US Senators and your US Congressman and tell them not to enact any enableing legislation as requested by Secretary Peters.