TMRA2 Legislative Update

LEGISLATIVE DAY is finished for this session but it was well planned, well orchestrated and successful as usual. There were roughly 2000 riders who showed up on Sunday to attend the Pre-Legislative Day planning and informational meetings. All groups shared equal time during the day laying out specifics for their members to adhere to during the coming day. TMRA 2 shared talking points for Bills and protocol while in the capitol.

During our part of the gathering we hoisted a quick auction to help defray the cost incurred for the event. We raised about $900 right quick. We thank everyone who donated items for this endeavor. The Treasurer for the Alamo City Gypsy M/C made their annual donation to the Association of $ 1400. Though it came in late this time we know we can always count on them for a nice donation and it is greatly appreciated. We cut out before the party and went back to the motel as I wasn’t breathing real well.
Next morning we entered the cafeteria at 7:00 am as usual on this day. I say as usual but the news Media screams out there was nothing usual about this day. Our state secretary, Terri contacted all the news media with date and approximate times of events and they came. Terri passed the word that while the media were filming the ones riding in from the Moose Lodge that morning they kept saying they had never seen anything like it. Of course there were many riders already in the capitol by then walking and talking.

Those who rode in together gathered at the South Gate and walked in behind an Honor Guard provided by the Confederation. I was not breathing well so I stood on the South Capitol Steps and awaited their arrival. What a sight to see! This was my first time to stand and watch it play out and even I was inspired. After the Pledge of Allegiance was said and colors were posted, I gave a brief go get ‘em talk and the invasion began in earnest.
The El Paso constituents, along with the TMRA 2 officers present, were honored with a luncheon in the office of Da’Lady, Rep Norma Chavez. It was one hell of a spread and well attended. My wife and I went down early to escape the media interviews. Then it was back to the Gallery to witness the Proclamation honoring the Bikers for their commitment to honest government and the constitution in politics. Da’Lady had written and introduced it as other of our legislative members stood beside her on the Floor.

Some may not return for two more years, some will return if they are called to attend committee hearings and a few will make their presence felt throughout the session. You can be sure none will forget this day as one of their finest moments. I want to thank the Confederation, ABATE, the Defenders and everyone who took part in this amazing event. Special thanks to Gimmee Jimmy. May we both continue to walk side by side and meet all challenges head on.

Footnote: One of our complaints was the misappropriation of our rider training fund. While the media coverage was great it once again comes down to the El Paso “Newspaper Tree” to tell it like it is.
“Born To Be Riled” 5000 Texas Bikers descend on the capitol………..

Ride Free – Ride Sober
Sputnik

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I am sending this e-mail out for Sputnik to all the District Advisor and Abate.
We are cancelling our DA meeting for Feb. 7th and moving it to Feb. 21st.

Sincerely

Terri Williams
TMRA2 State Secretary

What an event! Hope you were able to make it.
The Suds & Butterfly website has lots of links to newspapers and pictures. Check it out they did a nice job with the site.

http://sudsandbutterfly.homestead.com/BikersInTheCapitol2009.html

I will post more links here for more coverage of the 2009 Legislative Day. Read and enjoy, but remember showing up is only the start, we still have to stay on top and get our bills passed.

The Dallas Morning News took some pictures and this was on his blog.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/fresh-eyes-2.html

While speaking with your Senator or Representative let them know that we want our Rider Training Fund put back into the 402 Account to protect it from being used by DPS. Explain that Motorcycle Riders are the only ones who pay into this account. We requested the charge be added to our driver license to into a 402 Dedicated Fund with the proceeds only being spent for Training and Awareness.
This fund has now been transferred into a 601 Account which allows DPS to take 25% off the top of our allotted Budget prior to our receiving any money. Currently this amounts tp over $250,000 per year. This money would go a long way toward training new riders to ride safely.

Or you might mention that we will be opposed to the Road Block Bill (which is being called a Alcohol Checkpoint this session. There is no difference in this Bill and the ones called Road Block Bills during the last two sessions.
Once stopped at a Road Block or Check Point, whichever you choose to call it the officers is at liberty to charge anyone in the vehicle with any crime they choose. A drunk passenger could be charged with Public Intoxication despite the driver being sober thereby nullifying the Designated Driver plan. This is just one act that makes such a law wrong.

Or let it be known that we are strongly opposed to any attempt to make changes to the Helmet Law during this Session.

Only mention one of these items when you are speaking to your Legislator.
They will hear about all three by the end of the day.
Thank you for being here.

Here are some links to talking point. Print copies of these out to give to your legislators.

Equal Access

Failure to Yield

LEGISLATIVE DAY PRIMER
I was laid up for the entire month of December so we are running behind our normal schedule but we will catch up some slack next week. We seldom have all our Bills filed by Legislative Day but we will as always have a list of the Bills we will be getting filed and who will be filing them.
We have asked Rep. Chuck Hopson to file the Failure To Yield Bill. There are already 3 filed but we want a Bill that includes using a cell phone at the time of a collision to double the minimum penalty if it causes a collision and double the maximum penalty if the collision results in injury or death. We will have a paper prepared giving talking points as to why this should be acceptable to the legislators. We will be holding another Bill in reserve in case we have to change quickly.

We will be seeking an Author for the HIPAA Bill. We plan to ask Rep Smithee first as he heads up the Insurance Committee. If he is not agreeable to file it we will look elsewhere but we will have an Author prior to Legislative Day and talking points will also be ready for that.

There will be a Helmet Bill and a Alcohol Checkpoint Bill which we will oppose. There will be other Bills that we will support or oppose as the session moves along.
This is just a primer on what to expect when you get to the capitol. You will be met in the Rotunda (the center of the capitol on the first floor) by our staff. If you don’t know who your Rep and Senator are we will help you find out. We will then tell you how to find their offices. It works best if you already have appointments made for that day and about three of you go in together. If you have never been there before we will be happy to send someone in with you to introduce you and get you started talking.

Talk about only one Bill during your visit. Study the talking points on the Bill you plan to discuss and be prepared to answer questions on that Bill. Be courteous, if you can’t answer a question tell them you will get back with them on it and then report to us what the question was. Leave the talking points paper with them and thank them for their time.

This year we will have one exception to the one issue talk. As you are finishing up let them know we want our Rider Training Fund put back into a 402 account. We can’t afford to have DPS taking over $250,000 per year out of our Budget. Explain that the money for that Fund is only paid by licensed riders and we would like to increase our Budget but not to just give more money to the DPS.

We are generally recognized from the House Floor for being so politically active during Legislative Day. We won’t know what time that will take place until we actually get there. It is imperative that we fill the gallery when this happens. The gallery holds 500 people and we need to fill every seat. Plan on staying at the capitol for a few hours. Walk around, go to the cafeteria or what ever but stay there until we are recognized from the Floor.

We shall try to arrange to have a Resolution read from the Senate Floor this time as well. Of course we will try to plan them so they take place at different times. Jan 26th is the single most important day of the session for riders. For most it is the only day you will make an appearance. When I start the steady grind of making the rounds each day it is always nice to hear someone say “Oh yeh Sputnik, some of your people came by yesterday (last week or when ever) and talked about that Bill. I will support it.”

A WORD OF CAUTION: Do not try to force a legislator to say whether they will support the Bill or not. If they are not completely sold on the Bill and you push them for support they will most probably say NO. It requires several meetings to convince a legislator that a controversial Bill deserves their support. Each Bill usually takes 500-600 individual meetings to get enough support to pass a Bill. If you force them to say no on that first visit it is unlikely we can change their mind later. Leave them uncommitted and let us try to work our magic on a daily basis

Thank you in advance for taking the time to be at Legislative Day. Believe it, your attendance can make all the difference in the world. Of course we will need support for committee hearings and Floor Votes but this is our day to shine.

Sputnik
State Chair
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association