Legislative Update

January 29, 2006

Time is running out to get registered in time to vote in the Primary Election in March. Register, vote in the Primary and become a Delegate to your County/District Convention. Let’s Rock Warriors, no more excuses.

We just learned that in some fashion the Texas Turnpike Authority received the right to take up to 25% of dedicated Funds to be used for building Toll Roads. This cost us over $ 250,000 this year. We shall get some information on that in the very near future. Just another one of life’s little minor inconveniences. Hope it is not any harder to get the money back this time than it was the last time we had to address the dedication of our Rider Training Fund.
We had a doctor’s appointment for the 19th and had been having trouble with sharp pains in the left shoulder. We made the appointment and hoped the pain would quit (It didn’t) We attended the Houston Region COC and received a very warm reception. It was one of the largest meetings we have seen in Houston. Congressman Ron Paul was there to address the loss of Liberty especially under the Patriot Act. We had just gotten in our new shirts for the Patriot Act and they caught his fancy. We gave him a shirt he put it on right then and got up to speak. His was a welcome message and he received a standing ovation.
There was a man there, Eric Story, running for Congressman in District 22. That would put him up against Tom DeLay and Nick Lampson for that seat. This should make for a very interesting race that we plan to be involved with.
We spoke about the current issues and then explained that we would no longer be begging for financial support. We need memberships to carry the load financially. Gimme Jimmy then addressed the group and said “The COC has come a long way and we are the largest COC in the country. But if it wasn’t for TMRA 2 there wouldn’t be a COC. The COC needs TMRA 2 and TMRA 2 needs the COC. I want every member of the COC to join TMRA 2.” We signed up 10 new members and received $200 in donations. We handed out several applications. They then took up a collection to help pay travel expenses. That was a good thing too because the next time we tried to use the card it was over drawn.
We went back to the Dr. on Monday for the pain as it had spread throughout the left arm leaving the hand numb. Had to return on Wednesday and get some very strong medication. Came on back to the office and tried to catch up on all the necessary items. Unfortunately the medications we are receiving cause sleepiness,
fever, spasms and hallucinations. The normal things you always read on that type medication but it never happens. These medications live up to the warning and have still not stopped the pain.

Today we attended the Austin Region COC with Terry doing the driving. It was a pretty good turnout and Cindy’s Gone Hog Wild is a great place to get together. Dee was there to meet us and it was really good to see the Line Riders M/C show up from College Station. They will be starting up a new TMRA 2 chapter as soon as they decide who the district 15 District Advisor will be. They will have a presence at the Advisor meeting next month. We registered 7 new members and again passed out several member apps.

We will do our show Tuesday evening and if the arm isn’t better we shall go back to the doctor on Wednesday. Will get everything caught up as soon as we can get this little inconvenience under control.

Don’t forget the Rally at L&P Cycles in Groesbeck. Send in your pre-registration early to help cover the initial cost of putting on the Rally. Invite all your friends.
We need a new member from each of you also. We will be holding our Advisor Meeting at the State Office on March 11th at 1:00pm. Everyone is invited.


SB 2437
Introduced by Senator John Cullerton

This Bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. It provides that, during periods of traffic congestion, a person may, in a safe and prudent manner, operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. SB2437 also requires every operator and passenger on a motorcycle, motor driven vehicle, or motorized pedacycle to wear a helmet. The Bill has been sent to the Rules Committee. More slip slidding away.
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Subject: Patriot Act Creates New Federal Police Force
January 24, 2006
Patriot Act Creates New Federal Police Force

Patriot Police
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

A provision in the "Patriot Act" creates a new federal police force with power to violate the Bill of Rights. You might think that this cannot be true as you have not read about it in newspapers or heard it discussed by talking heads on TV.
Go to House Report 109-333 -USA PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION
ACT OF 2005 and check it out for yourself. Sec. 605 reads: "There is hereby created and established a permanent police force, to be known as the 'United States Secret Service Uniformed Division'." This new federal police force is "subject to the supervision of the Secretary of Homeland Security."
The new police are empowered to "make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony." The new police are assigned a variety of jurisdictions, including" an event designated under section 3056(e) of title 18 as a special event of national significance" (SENS).

"A special event of national significance" is neither defined nor does it require the presence of a "protected person" such as the president in order to trigger it. Thus, the administration, and perhaps the police themselves, can place the SENS designation on any event. Once a SENS designation is placed on an event, the new federal police are empowered to keep out and to arrest people at their discretion. The language conveys enormous discretionary and arbitrary powers. What is "an offense against the United States"? What are "reasonable grounds"?
Many naive Americans will write to me to explain that this new provision in the reauthorization of the "Patriot Act" is necessary to protect the president and other high officials from terrorists or from harm at the hands of angry demonstrators: "No one else will have anything to fear." Some will accuse me of being an alarmist, and others will say that it is unpatriotic to doubt the law's good intentions.
Americans will write such nonsense despite the fact that the president and foreign dignitaries are already provided superb protection by the Secret Service. The naive will not comprehend that the president cannot be endangered by demonstrators at SENS at which the president is not present. For many Americans, the light refuses to turn on. In Nazi Germany did no one but Jews have anything to fear from the Gestapo? By Stalin's time Lenin and Trotsky had eliminated all members of the "oppressor class," but that did not stop Stalin from sending millions of enemies of the people" to the Gulag. It is extremely difficult to hold even local police forces accountable. Who is going to hold accountable a federal police protected by Homeland Security and the president?




Feds Seek Google Records in Porn Probe
By Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Bush administration, seeking to revive an online pornography law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, has subpoenaed Google Inc. for details on what its users have been looking for through its popular search engine. Google has refused to comply with the subpoena, issued last year, for a broad range of material from its databases, including a request for 1 million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period, lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department said in papers filed Wednesday in federal court in San Jose.
The government contends it needs the data to determine how often pornography shows up in online searches as part of an effort to revive an Internet child protection law that was struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court on free-speech grounds. The 1998 Child Online Protection Act would have required adults to use access codes or other ways of registering before they could see objectionable material online, and it would have punished violators with fines up to $50,000 or jail time. The high court ruled that technology such as filtering software may better protect children.
The matter is now before a federal court in Pennsylvania, and the government wants the Google data to help argue that the law is more effective than software in protecting children from porn.
The Mountain View-based company told The San Jose Mercury News that it opposes releasing the information because it would violate the privacy rights of its users and would reveal company trade secrets. Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government's efforts "vigorously."
RECEIVED this article from Tiger Mike, President, ABATE of Oklahoma:::
ABATE of Oklahoma is currently reviewing its State By-Laws, and at our annual State Membership Meeting January 14, I proposed changing our ABATE acronym to once again represent A BROTHERHOOD AGAINST TOTALITARIAN ENACTMENTS, in the light of the current political climate in our Nation. The response on the part of our membership seems to be overwhelmingly positive, and our Revision Committee intends to include the recommendation as part of the By-Laws Review which will eventually be sent out to our Chapters for ratification this Spring. I feel this move will be worth printing up a few new business cards over, and will let you know if and when the name change officially takes effect.
You Go Bros.,

Ride Free - Ride Sober

Sputnik

MRF E-MAIL NEWS
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dave Dwyer - Government Relations Assistant
dad@mrf.org (e-mail)

January 25, 2006

#06NR02 - Motorcycle Riders Foundation announces new electronic EPA
questionnaire

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has created a web based, online
version of the survey about the impact that the new EPA emissions rule will
have on the custom motorcycle industry and individual riders.

The new rule aims to enforce the Clean Air Act by reducing the number of
exempt custom motorcycles that small shops can build and individual riders
can own. The rule also drastically reduces tail pipe emissions for all
motorcycles effectively making carburetors a thing of the past and
electronic fuel injection and catalytic converters a mainstay.

The survey originally ran as part of an article in the February edition of
American Iron magazine. The survey was an idea that came out of the
Motorcycle Riders Foundation government relations department and the good
folks at American Iron liked the idea so much they ran it as a full page.
The principle behind the survey was to obtain feedback from custom shops and
their customers to determine real numbers of how many shops and bikes are
going to be affected by the EPA rule.

Rather than ask shops and motorcycle enthusiasts to send information to the
EPA, Congress or any other government organizations, The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation agreed to act as the clearing house of the valuable information.
The MRF gives full assurance that the information will only be used to help
motorcyclists fight the EPA and not for anything else. In fact the survey
guarantees absolute anonymity of all who take the time to fill it out.

The survey results began coming in via fax and US mail and the overwhelming
volume of results prompted the MRF to develop an online version. The more
surveys the MRF receives, will strengthen the case that this new rule should
not stand or get stricter.

Please take the time to fill out the online survey today and help the MRF in
Washington, DC fight the EPA on your behalf.

In addition to the questionnaire, if you would like to join the MRF when the
meet with EPA or the Small Business Administration on this important issue
please contact the MRF in the Washington DC office at 202-546-0983 or by
email at dad@mrf.org.

The EPA survey can be found at:
Questionaire

MRF E-MAIL NEWS
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)

January 18, 2006

#06NR01 - TOP SPOT AT NHTSA FILLED

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) announces President Bush has sent the
nomination of Nicole R. Nason from Virginia to the U.S. Senate to assume
the position of Administrator at the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA).

"Let's hope Ms. Nason has a better approach to motorcycle safety than her
predecessor." said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations for
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. "In all seriousness, the MRF does look
forward to continuing to work with NHTSA when comes to focusing on
motorcycle safety.", he continued. "The recent formation of the NHTSA
motorcycle safety network's quarterly meetings which include the involvement
of the MRF, AMA, NHTSA, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, SMSA, MSF and law
enforcement is a positive sign NHTSA does want input from the riding
community.", Hennie added.

NHTSA will be the lead agency in administration of the $25 million
motorcycle safety grant program contained in SAFETEA-LU (PL 109-59).
Inclusion of the grant program in the bill was due singularly to the efforts
of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and its members.

Currently Ms. Nason serves as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for
Governmental Affairs. Previously, she served as Assistant Commissioner for
the Office of Congressional Affairs for the United States Customs Service.
Ms. Nason also served as Communications Director and Counsel to
Representative Porter J. Goss. Earlier in her career, she served as
Governmental Affairs Counsel at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Ms.
Nason received her bachelor's degree from the American University and her
Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve.

Worthy Mention.
The President also nominated Roger Shane Karr, of the District of Columbia,
to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. Karr will replace Nason.

<<30>>

To subscribe or unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit
http://www.mrf.org/subscribe.php

Here is the PDF of the EPA questionnaire please feel free to send it to as
many people as you see fit. So far we have gotten over 1500 responses in the
DC office and we will soon have a web based version as well.
Thanks for all you do for the MRF and keep up the great work-
Jeff
Jeff Hennie
Vice President of Government Relations
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
P: 202-546-0983
F: 202-546-0986
Mobile: 202-725-5471
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002
www.mrf.org

Questionnaire

Here is an article from American Iron Magazine Article about the EPA rules. Its got a catchy name.

WANT A $10,000 EPA FINE?

Here is the questionnaire again but with the article that goes with it.

EPA ACTION FORM

If you've been thinking about our troops out there and was wondering what you and your group could do to help. Well here is a couple of websites that might give you some ideas.

The first is for motorcycle riders to attend funerals of our fallen men and women of the military. There has been groups that are protesting these funerals and the bikers are showing up in numbers as a shield and support for the families. No confrontations of any sort are allowed. The bikers just line up with their backs in full view of the protesters. Here is the website to look at and see if you want to participate.

http://www.patriotguard.org/


There is a plane load of Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines that lands at Dallas Fort Worth Airport every day. This is mostly servicemen and servicewomen who are on two week R&R leave from overseas, mostly from either Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait. This is their first landing on US soil, and from here they board other flights or catch rides with family for the trips to their hometown. With the outstanding support of DFW Airport, a daily welcome party is held to give them a warm reception and let them know the folks here at home support them. As they get off of the plane and exit customs they encounter our party...a group of enthusiastic patriotic Americans of all ages with flags, balloons and posters applauding and shaking their hands.
This is truly a wonderful experience welcoming home our troops. I've been out there 3 times now and I've taken the kids along once. They enjoyed meeting all the troops and want to go back out there again. So here is the website on how you can participate.

http://www.welcometroops.com/

UPDATE 1/11/06

This was slipped into a (must pass) Bill in Washington and signed by the
President.

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate
telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted,
in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity
and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who
receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned
not more than two years, or both." DEFINE ANNOY
This could cover most Blogs and lot's of Emails. We do indeed annoy a lot
of people with our postings. Next they'll say we can't annoy people with
TV or radio spots.

POKER RUNS

Thanks to our AG the South Carolina AG has just issued an identical
Ruling. Other states look at Texas to see how we handle issues such as
this. Hopefully we can come up with a successful solution. We are
currently awaiting opinion from an attorney who is considering our
proposals for getting around the ruling. If we receive word that we would
possibly have a winnable case in court if called on to do so then we will
become a test case. We have put Poker Run on our Flyer for the Texas
Independence Day Freedom Rally to be held in Groesbeck on March 3-5. Come
out and join us and be a part of seeing how it plays out.
Who better than our politically active Warriors and Allies to do this? We
have been protecting biker's rights for the last 14 years with less than
1/10 of 1% of Texas riders doing their part. This is a real let down from
days of old when riders were Bros and worked together for the good of all
who ride.

Progressive Insurance has put out a list of ten cities with the least
number and the most Motorcycle crashes in the country. Texas did not have
any cities on the safest list but placed two cities on the most crashes
list. San Antonio came in at # 7 and the Upper Rio Grande Valley,
McAllen/Edinburg area was listed as #8 for the most crashes.
There are an awfully large number of cities in this country so this is
really bad news. When time permits we shall try to trace the cause for the
crashes. This should be an interesting bit of information.

Sputnik

POKER RUNS

URGENT * URGENT * URGENT
We have just received word from an attorney on how we should be able to
comply with the Texas Penal Code and the AG opinion. I personally shall
sponsor the Run at our Texas Independence Day, Freedom Rally in Groesbeck
so only I will be responsible if I am called on it. Counting on you to be
there for moral support. Let's make this one to remember.
I ahall take a page from our Brothers in Pennsylvania, based on an Event I
participated in at the SOLR Tea Party in Iowa last year. We shall do a
RUN-N-GUN and I will take full responsibility for the Event. If it is
contested then only I will be the one to be charged. There will be a sign
posted to that effect during the event.
Sputnik

Each year Texas Motorcycle Rights Assoc. Tri County Chapter host a 4th of
July Rally in Old Glory to celebrate the birth of our nation. This year
Tom Maddux of Lost Prairie Cycles will host a Texas Independence Day
Freedom Rally to celebrate the birth of our state. The Rally will be held
in Groesbeck, Texas, March 3-5 with proceeds going to TMRA 2. (Watch for
Flyer). This will become one of our major fund raising events of the year.

Free Camping (self contained RVs welcome)

Field Events w/Trophies - Live Music (Bands TBA)

Vendors and Food - Bike Show - Naughty Nighty Contest - Wet T-Shirt
Contest

Poker Run - 1st Bike out 9:00am Last Bike @ 11:00am 50/50

Pre-Registration $30 per Person includes Run T-Shirt (at gate $30 no
T-Shirt)
Pre-Registration deadline February 15th.

We need the support of all clubs and Independent Riders if we are to
maintain the Legislative office in Austin and a constant presence in the
State Capitol.

WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED W/Support from Texas ABATE and Texas COCs
. Opened HOV Lanes to Motorcycles.
. Changed tolls on new toll roads for bikes with trailers or sidecars.
. Received permanent medical exemption for helmet use.
. Caused Breckenridge Park to change their ban on motorcycles.
Caused Right To Carry Bill to be introduced and worked for passage.
. Convinced SW Memorial Hospital to lift their no motorcycle parking rule.
. Helped kill "No Fault" insurance during two consecutive legislative
sessions. Bills would have added $0.40 per gallon to gasoline tax,
increased MC registration by 11% of market value as set by state and
increase traffic violation tickets with astronomical surcharges.
. Changed the way most legislators perceive motorcycle riders.
. Received handicapped license plates for motorcycles.
Were successful in killing Road Block Bills during two sessions that would
allow any police agency in the state to set up road blocks for four hours
at a time and search anyone stopped by the officers without probable
cause.
. Increased Budget for Rider Training by $ 424,000 annually during two
sessions.
. Worked with DPS Motorcycle Safety Bureau to get the motorcycle safety
course to count as the road test to get your motorcycle license, if you
already have a car or truck license. Also, you can take the ERC for ticket
dismissal.
. Modification of the state helmet law in '97 so you have a choice to
ride without your helmet
. Active in repeal of the ISTEA federal helmet mandate.
. Established a full time legislative office, in Austin, to monitor
legislation and protect rider's rights.
. Got legislation passed to prevent discrimination based on style of
dress or mode of transportation, however it was vetoed by the Gov. Rick
Perry. Several other Bills we got passed were vetoed by the governor also.
Helped draft and pass legislation to allow any person who can legally own
a gun in Texas to carry it, concealed, in your personal vehicle without a
Concealed Carry Permit.

The Austin Minutemen Chapter of TMRA 2 will hold their next meeting on
Feb. 7th at the Moose Lodge located at 2103 E. M. Franklin.

FRom I-35 go East on Manor Rd., turn right on Pershing. Road will split
and you stay to the left at the Y. Meeting starts at 7:30pm. Bring a
Friend.
For more information call 926-0043

While sitting at his Crawford ranch during the Christmas holiday he took time off from cutting brush to sign a few Bills. Despite Congress approving a six month extension the Bill he signed was for a 5 week extension. He plans to force congress to renew the whole Patriot Act and make the 14 disputed sections permanent. We can only hope that despite both our US Senators selling us out the other Senators will hold tough.
He also signed an Appropriation Bill funding the Depts. Of Labor and Health and Human Services. A part of this Bill would help ice dancer Tenith Belbin gain American Citizenship in time to represent the US in the Turin Olympics. She is considered the only hope for figure skating gold in Turin. A medal of any color would be America’s first in ice dancing since 1976.
THE PRESIDENT IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR TAKING CARE OF SUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESS. sic. Congress should be applauded for considering a medal to be so important to put this skater ahead of others seeking citizenship. Yeah Right.
After becoming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court one of John Robert’s first acts was to ask for a 35% pay raise for Federal Judges. He said the low (six figure) salary is keeping good lawyers off the bench. Now I am not so sure that is a real problem. Let’s get some Judges that aren’t so aware that they owe allegiance to those who appoint them.
Comptroller Rylander has chosen to run for Texas Governor as an Independent . This could possibly remove our best chance of getting rid of Rick Perry. Another four years of his administration will be very detrimental to anyone in this state who does not own a major corporation.
Three sessions with Rick Perry in the governor’s seat has already cost citizens a
fortune in wasteful spending through poor leadership or one might say lack of leadership.
Last year Congress gave a tax break up to $2000 for persons buying a Hybrid automobile. This year that tax break is increased up to $3800 on some models. Sounds like a good deal yes? The Dept. of Transportation says it is a bad idea. These cars are resulting in less gasoline being burned and is cutting down on the amount of gas tax going into government coffers. They are recommending a special tax on those who drive Hybrids to bring their income back up.
WOW! Our learned politicians at work.

The Mayor of Topeka threw a snow ball at a tree. He missed the tree but broke the law. An Illinois student wrote the mayor a letter after it had been pointed out in her government class as being a “Dumb Law” making it illegal to throw a snow ball in his city.
The mayor replied to the girl and noted that after writing to you I will turn myself in and throw myself on the mercy of the court. He said he also planned to have an ordinance drawn to repeal this Dumb Law so our prisons don’t fill up with children who get carried away while building a snowman. He admitted he had broken the law.

And finally:
We all know that the Atty. General has ruled that Poker runs violate the Texas Criminal Code. He says they are a game of chance and are therefore gambling. Only a few people can request a ruling from the A.G. Among those are Chairs of the Legislative Committees.
Our illustrious, Anti Gambling Governor has openly made a wager with the California Governor on the Rose Bowl. Since he has no chance of determining the outcome wouldn’t that be a game of chance? If so that would violate the Texas Criminal Code wouldn’t it? Mr. Perry has already shown he can ride his motorcycle past a cop at 80 mph and not be ticketed. Do you believe anyone would dare request an opinion on whether he is breaking the law?
Have you ever heard him admit to being wrong about anything?

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sputnik