Legislative Update

What's wrong with Holt II (HR 811)
By Bev Harris
Online Journal Guest Writer
You may have received one of the mass e-mails recently from Common Cause or People for the American Way (PFAW), urging you to support hurried passage of the new Holt bill. Below is a concise list of problems with the bill.
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1738.shtml
--
First they came for the Communists,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didnt speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

TMRA2 needs your help. The comittee hearing for HB 706 Equal Access has been cancelled and will be rescheduled later. While we wait for the rescheduling, we ask that all TMRA2 warriors, report any discrimination of businesses weather in writing or verbal to us.

Please write a short letter explaining who you are, what business it was that would not let you in with biker attire or wouldn't serve you cause you are a biker, and send it to us (TMRA2) so we can show the comittee at the capitol that biker discrimination really happens.

If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at this address, or call me at 512-971-8777, or call Dee at 832-867-5819. We need this right now before the next meeting is scheduled.
Thanks for the help.
Terri Williams
TMRA2 State Secretary

This note is to address what is going on in Austin. We introduced four Bills this session. As with all past sessions we begin with the Bills that get filed and numbered first which in this case was HB 706. This Bill was already written as we had passed it once before. Simply a case of changing numbers and names and it was ready.
As always we set about getting the 100 votes we seek prior to asking our Author to present the Bill for a hearing. The difference this session is that we have formed the Legislative Task Force and three others have also been spending at least part of each week walking the Halls. When we reached 50 Ayes Dee and Jenifer took over HB 706 and Jerry and I took up HB 727, the Helmet Bill. Another simple Bill to write. Change the age to 18 for negotiating purposes and strike the two amendments.
We have now reached the halfway mark on HB 727 and HB 706 is ready for committee so it was the first one released by me for committee. It was scheduled for this Wednesday but the Chairman determined that he had loaded the docket for this meeting as some would be more controversial than anticipated. Believe it or not they have already gone into the wee hours of the morning on meetings.
The first wrench thrown into the works was to learn that our Rider Training Fund had again been removed from dedicated 501 account to undedicated 601 account. TX. Dot had taken over $260,000 of last years training budget and placed it into the Texas Mobility Fund. We then had to dedicate some time tracking down who and how in order to get rolling on that. Meantime they hit our latest budget again. We aren’t finished with this issue yet but we have learned who. We also were made aware that all the money spent for Drivers License would go into The Mobility Fund next year including all our Training Fund, currently over $6,000,000 This despite the law still says it can not be moved out of 501, the reports show it goes to 501 while in actuality it is in the 601 Fund and can be taken. This issue is taking a good deal of time at the moment. We have three Reps and two Senators working with us on that problem.
Rep. Menendez introduced HB 528, Failure To Yield Bill. We were waiting for another Rep to introduce a Bill that rather than Jail time asked for a $500 fine to go into a Driver Training Fund and double the points on the drivers license. That way we could offer a choice. Senator Wentworth introduced a companion Bill to HB 528 which is SB 798. That being the case that will be the next issue we work as soon as Equal Access works it’s way out of committee. Again this was an easy Bill as it had already been written once with our guidance.
Rep. Deshotel agreed to carry the Signal Light Bill and we sat down with his staff and laid out the guidelines for that Bill. HB 1279 was written and as this was the first time Representative Deshotel had authored a Bill for us he filed it without our having read it. As we have two other issues in order of business before the Bill would come up we simply let it lay, realizing it needed work when it came to committee. Rep. Deshotel being a member of the Transportation Committee sent the Bill on to committee without our working it. We owe it to him to have some members there to sign affirmation sheets and someone to speak on the Bill. To me this is an unavoidable predicament.
And that is where we are to date. I know what we said we would do with each of these Bills and I know this one Bill is not exactly what we had planned to do. If it passes it will be better than nothing but passage is pretty unlikely without some leg work and we have all we can handle at the moment. We could even, if time permits have a Bill filed in the Senate but we aren’t seriously considering that as an option. Jerry already has blisters on his feet and we aren't even going good yet. Ha Keep those cards, emails and Faxes going to the Representatives on the Bills we are currently working.
Sputnik
--

HB 706, Equal Access has been removed from the docket for the Wednesday Meeting. No action is necessary for Wed. 28th. They say we will be we will be on their next Agenda but we will wait and see.
Please contact everyone you posted to and give them this notice.

NO MEETING WEDNESDAY the 28th.

Sputnik

The House Elections Committee hearing was held yesterday (2/21/2007) at 2pm in the Texas Capitol. HB 384, a Voter Verified Paper Trail (VVPT) bill, was laid out by Rep Kolkhorst, and can be seen, with all the testimony here: http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/committee80/70221p13.ram about 51:55 minutes into the video.

Testimony by members of VoteRescue, is towards the end of 42 people who signed up to testify for or against this bill. From the onset, it was apparent that this Committee (and even the author) might just be looking to solve the voting problem. In the beginning it was all about the $50,000,000 it would take to retrofit to VVPT's. At the end of the meeting (after all the great testimony), it turned into a Hand Counted Paper Ballot (HCPB) debate. Chairman Berman said he would be asking the SOS if we could go back to paper ballots and comply with HAVA. The Committee asked VoteRescue to come back with experts and a demonstration of a live hack.

Also, they wanted a cost/reliablilty study of paper vs. machines. This is a VERY important point to note with the Texas Legislature and this Committee. The Chair has said that his committee would not pass out an unfunded mandate on the Counties. Note that the Counties oppose this bill ONLY because it is an unfunded mandate. Show this committee (with expert testimony) that paper is more reliable and cheaper, and Rep Kolkhorst would probably turn HB 384 into a Paper Ballot Bill!!! Committee member Rep. Lon Burnam looks to be onboard with that idea!

It looks very promising, and I know with the continued work of citizens, we'll get this done.

I was scheduled to testify, but had to leave b4 I came up. I was at the Capitol yesterday as part of "Hill County Day", and the bus was leaving at 4pm. :-( I will be walking and talking this bill (and the others), and the next time I won't be taking the bus!


Greg
--
First they came for the Communists,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didnt speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

Transportation Committee will meet at 8:00am Tuesday 27th. The Signal light Bill by Representative Deshotel will be heard during that meeting. I will be in the hospital that morning but someone needs to be there.
Sputnik

The members of the Task Force have done a good job after being introduced and getting acquainted with the Legislators. HB 706 the Equal Access Bill now has 90 Ayes recorded including all Civil Practices Committee members but one. We have been told the Bill will come to Committee Wednesday morning, February 28th.
It appears there is nothing going to stop it from coming out. It would be helpful to have any riders who can to be there and sign an Affirmation Card to show you support the Bill.

We have 49 Aye Votes on HB 727 the Helmet Amendment Bill. I am attaching a list of those who have said they will support the Bill. If your Rep isn't listed send them an Email or Fax and ask for their support on this Bill.

The Committee members we need contacted are:
Linda Harper-Brown
Mike Krusee
Nathan Macias
Jim Murphy.
These four are top priority.

We will give a full update at the Texas Independance Day Rally in Groesbeck.
Thanks,
Sputnik

Legislators with a Yes vote on HB706

Legislators with a Yes vote on HB727

From the Austin Statesman.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/22/22txu.html


Process governor wanted fast tracked is postponed to give groups more time to prepare case.
By Claudia Grisales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Hearings on TXU Corp.'s proposal to build a series of coal-fired power plants in Texas were postponed today until June 27.
Environmental groups had asked state administrative law judges to delay the hearings so they could have more time to prepare their case.
The process will be slowed to "provide a bit more time to allow all the parties to fully prepare, have their Ts crossed with response to testimony and that sort of thing," administrative judge Kerry Sullivan said.
Gov. Rick Perry had ordered an expedited process for approving the plants, but Tuesday, a state district court judge said Perry had overstepped his authority and that his order wasn't binding on the hearing judges.
TXU's proposal has drawn strong opposition from environmental and citizen groups from Texas and Oklahoma. Members of those groups say the plants would more than double the utility's emissions of carbon dioxide, a chief culprit in global warming.
TXU and its allies say Texas urgently needs more power to meet growing demand.
Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen, said the new hearing date will allow time for the Legislature to consider acting on the plants, although no legislation has been proposed so far.

Texas Bikers! The Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the state's policies for toll roads, public private partnerships, and the Trans-Texas Corridor. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and voice their concerns on these issues to state officials.

Sponsored by committee chairman, Sen. John Carona, the hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, at 8:30 a.m. in the Capitol extension auditorium. If you are unable to attend you can express your thoughts on these issues prior to the hearing to Sen. Carona at " href="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist16/dist16.htm#form" target=_blank>http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist16/dist16.htm#form;.

There is also a grassroots group attempting to pressure the Legislature to put a stop to privatization in Texas. This group has organized a pubic rally for Friday, March 2. The gathering is set to kick off with a march on the Capitol building beginning at 1:45 p.m. and a rally on the Capitol steps will follow from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

For more information on this public rally you can contact Terri Hall, one of the group's founders at terri@satollparty.com mailto:terri@satollparty.com;.

Ride Safe and Free (while U steelcan)
Greg Bodovsky
Senate District 22 Advisor
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association
www.tmra2.org
LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE

--
First they came for the Communists,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didnt speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

We had a Advisor Board meeting Saturday that ran way past our usual hour.
It was time to make decisions on the Budget for the coming year and decide on other financial matters facing the association in the future. WE introduced Johnny "JB" Barnett as the newly appointed Advisor for District 20. He was asked questions and given the gist of what being an Advisor was all about. He was then immediately approved by the other Advisors to be seated at the table.
I want to apologize to Larry "TXBUG" Brown for not acknowledging the part he played in setting up our trip to speak at the South Texas COC on the 13th. It has been brought to my attention that he had received permission from Bandido Slick for us to attend that meeting. After the meeting in Corpus I met with him and JB to establish a Representation in that district and he said his job would not allow him time to hold such a position so it fell to JB to accept the job. Larry did join TMRA 2 while we were down there. Thanks to both of you for making the trip worthwhile.
After the Area Reports were made, which covered a myriad of problems and how they were solved in the different areas Sputnik gave a Legislative update.
It has been learned that our Rider Training Fund has been moved from 501 dedicated Fund to the 601 Tx. Dot Fund. 25% of our last two Budgets have been taken and put in the Texas Mobility Fund ! This amounts to roughly ½ million dollars stolen from our Fund. Each group in the capitol is blaming the theft on someone else but we have learned that ALL OF THIS MONEY, roughly $ 6,000,000 will be taken and put in the Mobility Fund next year.
To say Sputnik is on a RAMPAGE is putting it mildly. To list all that is in the works here would take a long time so just say I ain’t going away.
We then got down to the real business at hand. After a line item comparison of the 2006 Budget $73,000 and the Proposed 2007 Budget of $83,000 it was pointed out that we had missed the 2006 budget by over $20,000. That meant that Sputnik once again did not receive his salary as voted on at the last General meeting which included a $500 per month cut from the salary he did not receive in the prior years. The new Budget had an addition to it to pay Sputnik the missed salary from 2006 along with other unpaid Bills which would mean the association would require about $100,000 in income for the year 2007. To meet this goal would require 3000 new memberships out of the 361,000 registered motorcycles in Texas and the nearly 800,000 licensed riders in Texas. Not an unreasonable figure but one that hasn’t been met. This still does not include the un-reimbursed money Sputnik paid out of pocket to keep things running.
The Proposed Budget was approved.
Next item on the Agenda was a $5.00 per year increase in dues. A yes vote would have put the issue before the General Membership to decide at the May meeting. After some very heated discussion on the subject it was voted down by a 5-4 vote. It seemed to be the consensus of some that the membership couldn’t afford the increase while others pointed out the increase was a pack of cigarettes or a six pack of beer per year. Some seem to think that membership will increase if the dues aren’t raised. I guess we will find out in the very near future.
The meeting adjourned and a few of us headed for the Krazy Horse to get our customary Fried Catfish afterward.
I am at home now for a rough day of Pulmonary tests on Tuesday. Hoping to get back to the capitol on Tuesday evening but if not then I will make calls from home. I also know the Task Force will do a good job of covering for me until I can get back. Thanks to Dee, Jenifer and Jerry for the effort they have put forth this session.

Ride Free – Ride Sober
Sputnik
--

Brazosport Facts - Clute,TX,USA

City officials agree four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles need to share the road, but they still want more information about proposed motorcycle awareness signs.
Published February 14, 2007
read this article:

http://thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=1db784d705312752
--------------------------------
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Suds & bttrfly Newsletter

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http://sudsandbutterfly.homestead.com/

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Send us a picture of a sign that shows discrimination acainst bikers.

Sputnik

Added 2/15/07 - HB727
Hill, Fred
Escobar, Juan
Paxton, Ken
Martinez-Fischer, Trey
Ortiz, Solomon

We now have 33 votes for HB 727.

Added 2/15/07 - 706
Cook, Byron (as written)
Strama, Mark (same deal)
Escobar, Juan
Paxton, Ken
Ortiz, Solomon
Anderson, Charles

WE now have 81 votes for HB 706

Check to see if your rep is on the website. If not then send him/her an Email. My next update will be posted Wednesday. Be sure to check.

Sputnik

Legislators with a Yes vote on HB706

Legislators with a Yes vote on HB727

If you legislator is not listed, call or write a letter to them and ask them (politely) to support these bills.

I am attaching information on who has said the will support the two Bills we are currently working on. Please post them so we can keep a running update and people can check back routinely for additions.
Thanks,
Sputnik


Legislators with a Yes vote on HB706

Legislators with a Yes vote on HB727

If you legislator is not listed, call or write a letter to them and ask them (politely) to support these bills.

We have been walking and talking in the halls of the capitol on HB 706, the Equal Access Bill and on HB 727 the Helmet Amendment Bill. Jenifer, Dee, Jerry Rose and I started laying out HB 706. After they got some hands on training the Ladies then took over working HB 706 while Jerry and I began laying out HB 727. We will finish laying out this Bill tomorrow and then begin asking for votes.

Despite not yet having this Bill laid out to all Reps we have received 28 yes votes.
As of this date Dee and Jenifer have 75 yes votes on HB 706. That is ½ the House members. 25 more affirmative votes and this Bill will be ready to go to committee.

We shall keep a running Tally for both Bills on our websites and it will be updated routinely. If your representative is not listed on either one of these Bills send them a postcard or Email and ask for their support.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Check our websites at www.tmra2.org or www.terry-g.net/sput/

To check out your Representative click on www.capitol.state.tx.us Click on House then click members. Click your Reps name and then click Home page. This will give you contact information including phone and fax.

We were invited to attend the Corpus Christi COC Meeting last night. This was an extremely large group of riders and their meeting place at the VFW was perfect, very large and closed off from the rest of the building. IT appeared that all those tables and chairs set up in perfect rows would be mostly empty. When they began arriving it was like a flood of riders. They chairs quickly began to fill and they just kept coming. After a while it was standing room only and one of the largest gatherings we have ever witnessed for a bikers meeting.
They knew nothing of what Texas Motorcycle Rights Association has been doing in Austin. Most didn’t even know their State Rep or Senator. Our invitation came about by Boozefighter "JB" Barnett moving from Lubbock to Corpus and looking for a TMRA 2 chapter to get involved with.
We gave a short rundown on the association and what had been accomplished in the past few years. We laid out the Bills we were working this session and received a standing ovation. After the meeting we signed up a few members and many more took applications. The President of the Alternative M/C invited us to attend their state meeting. He said they were a National organization but all members in Texas would join TMRA 2 as individual members and the Club would become a Supporter Member.
We were introduced to the President of the COC and he told us that they would have to sit down and talk about it but they had over $10,000 in the bank and we could expect to receive financial support from them.
We then talked to JB and he agreed to accept the position as Advisor for District 20 and represent the association in South Texas. I never cease to be amazed by the support from the Boozefighters M/c in this state. All you Bros are first class.

Sputnik
State Chair
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association
chairman@tmra2.org
512-971-6777

Help stop the Rick Perry's TTC!!! Go to this website to learn more.
http://www.dont-tagtexas.com/
Greg
--
First they came for the Communists,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didnt speak up,
because I wasnt a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didnt speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

If you are a CHapter Co-ordinator or a District Advisor you have only 4
(FOUR) days to get your Report into the March Warrior.

***********************************************************************
HB 706 Equal Access: Author Rep. Senfronia Thompson

Members who have said they will support the Bill:
Leo Berman, Dennis Bonnen, Fred Brown, Joaquin Castro, Norma Chavez,
Warren Chisum, Garnet Coleman, Craig Eiland, Ismael Kino Flores, Pete
Gallego, Helen Giddings, Ryan Guillen, Joe Heflin, Terri Hodge, Chuck
Hopson, Delwin Jones, Edmund Kuempel, Eddie Lucio lll, Jerry Madden,
Borris Miles, Anna Mowrey, Rick Noriega, Rene Oliveira, Joe Pickett, Jim
Pitt, Robert Puente, Chente Quintanilla, David Swinford, Senfronia
Thompson, Marc Veasey, Hubert Vo, Alma Allen, Charlie Geren, Abel Herrero,
Rick Hardcastle, Jim Keffer, Phil King,Elliot Naishtat, John Otto, Patrick
Rose, John Zerwas, Buddy West, Pat Haggerty, Fred Hill, Todd Smith

This is a total of 49. We want 51 more before we ask for a committee
hearing. If your State Rep is not on this list contact them and ask for
their vote. If they give you an answer call the office and let us know.
Dee and Jenifer have done a really good job of speaking with the
Representatives on HB 706. I will leave that in their capable hands and
start working on the helmet Bill on Monday.

Thanks

HB 727 Helmet Amendment Bill: Author Rep. Chuck Hopson

We have already been told the doctors don’t like the Bill and Senator
Wentworth plans to put a $100,000 insurance amendment on it when it gets
to the Senate.
Guess we’ll find out if one man controls the Senate in the next few months.
Send a letter or postcard to your State Rep and ask them to support HB
727.
Do not speak of both Bills in the same correspondence.
Those Representatives needing special attention are:
Mike Krusee, Larry Phillips, Linda Harper-Brown, Pat Haggerty, Patricia
Harless, Fred Hill, Nathan Macias and Jim Murphy. They are on the
Transportation Committee that will hear the Bill.
Get started right now and get those cards and letters into their offices.
Have postcards and pens at your chapter meetings, Club meetings or what
ever and get those messages sent in.

NAME
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768-2910
Fax 512-463-5896

Get moving on it please.

Sputnik
State Chair/ TMRA 2

HB 706 was sent to Civil Practices today as I expected. Get those letters and Faxes going to the members of that committee NOW. We will hope to call for a hearing by the end of this month. Your help is essential.

Sputnik

(from AOL news)
States Challenge National Driver's License
By LESLIE MILLER, AP

WASHINGTON (Feb. 4) - A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Mainelast month, is quickly spreading to other states.

to read this article go to link below...

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/states-challenge-national-drivers/20070204125809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

----------------------------------

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website
http://sudsandbutterfly.homestead.com/

Newsletter signup
http://sudsandbutterfly.homestead.com/NewsletterSignUp.html

Friday governor Rick Perry issued an Executive Order making it mandatory
that all 11-12 year old girls get a vaccinaction to prevent cervical
cancer.
If this in itself wasn't bad enough the drug is made by Merck
Pharmacutical Co. the one our Vice President gave the big contract to. Lo
and behold the governor's ex Chief of Staff is now the Top Lobbyest for
Merck. Does this man have no decency at all?

March 2nd thru the 4th Benefit for Texas Motorcycle Rights Association

Its that time again, we need a big push from everyone to make this rally successful. Please try and get a word in on the rally at every stop you make.

Try and push the rally everyday for the next 30 days and this will be a success once again and don't forget the $500.00 cash to the most represented club, this will go directly in the hands of that clubs president!

AND, the $500.00 chrome, leather and accessories given away by Lost Prairie Cycles.

We still have a few spots left for sponsors in the $150.00, $500.00 &$1000.00 advertising spaces. Big push here!

We still need a few vendors also, check with Shari at Lost Prairie Cycles 254-729-8024(Rally hotline).

If anyone needs flyers contact Shari@LPCycles.com

Thank you all,
Tom

Here are the members of the Civil Practices Committee. This is the committee our Equal Access Bill, HB 706 will probably go to. Contact these Representatives and let them know you are supportive of this Bill. As soon as we are sure we have the votes to bring this Bill out of committee we will ask for a hearing. Note that Rep. Madden has already said yes.
Drop by the local office of your Rep and let them know you support this Bill. They are generally in their offices on Friday.

Civil Practices Committee:
Chair: Rep. Byron Cook - Corsicana
V. Chair Mark Strama - Austin

Members:
Phil King - Weatherford
Jerry Madden - Yes
Trey Martinez Fisher - San Antonio
Sid Miller - Stephenville
Richard Raymond - Laredo
Robert Talton - Pasadena

It is imperative that those in Henderson & Kaufman Counties contact the office of Rep. Betty Brown. You can call her Austin office at 512-463-0458. Generate us some calls.

Our signal light adjustment Bill is written. I will get down to the capitol and read it this evening and if it is agreeable it will be filed and get a number by early next week. We shall also get sponsors for our Bills in the Senate next week as well.

The association needs 3000 new members to stay afloat this year. For too long now the cost of running this association has been borne by a few bikers. Everyone in Texas who rides benefits from what we accomplish at the capitol. The cost for membership in TMRA 2 is less than one six pack of beer, one pack of cigarettes or one mixed drink in your favorite bar (per month.) That is the best bargain you can find anywhere in the country based on what you get for your money. Our next update will list the top six cities and the number of members we have in each. For those who think that someone else will do it for you this should open your eyes to the fallacy of such thinking.We need your membership to continue representation for your rights. 3000 is a very small percentage of the 400,000 registered bike owners.

Ron with the Clubhouse Magazine said he received a post from an ABATE member in New Yorg saying that our legislative Day Rally was shown on Fox News in that state. Those who attended pat yourself on the back.

You Rock,
Sputnik
--