Texas Motorcycle Rights Association
512-971-6777 - 275 Old Lexington Rd. Elgin, Texas 78621 www.tmra2.org
PRIORITY - ACT ON THIS NOWWe met with Senator Carona to ask why SB 1967 wasn’t out of committee yet. He informed us he had planned to bring it out on the 8th but one Bill took more time than anticipated and they had to leave some Bills hanging. He assured us it would come out on the 15th. We have met with almost every senator concerning the Bill and it would be very helpful if you would contact your senator and ask for their support when the Bill comes to the Floor. The more phone calls they get the better our chance for passage..
US House passed HR 1253, sponsored by Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) and cosponsored by Bart Stupak(D-MI), which would require that people signing up for a health plan receive in writing an explanation of treatment limits or non-covered conditions, along with other plan restrictions, "in a form that is easily understandable." The bill passed with overwhelming support with the final vote coming in at 422-3.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate.
President Barack Obama said nominated the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Charles Hurley as the next administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hurley is the number one architect for the Crusade to establish Road Blocks by state legislatures.
Looks like rough riding for us if Hurley is approved. Actually nearly every person appointed by President Obama appears to mean rough roads ahead for all Americans.
Speaking of Road Block Bills SB 298 has still not received it’s first reading in the House and been sent to committee yet. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
And finally the push is on to replace the dollar as the common trade currency due to it’s devaluation. The currency of choice appears to be the little known SDR (Special Drawing Right) under the control of the IMF ((International Monetary Fund). This is a combination of several currencies which up until recently had only about $31 billion in reserves.
At the recent G-20 meeting it was voted to expand the reserves to $250 billion. President Obama voted Aye.
While this may seem like a slap in the face to many it could be a good thing for the country. My question is why wasn’t this reported on the news?
April 2009
TMRA2 Senate District 22 Advisor’s report
by Greg Bodovsky
The Heart of Texas Chapter has not had their meeting for April yet. I hope to see a good crowd though, and if the March meeting was any indication, I’m sure it will be well attended. It’s always on the 2nd Sunday at 1pm at Jim’s Cycle Shop in Axtell.
The Lake Granbury Liberty Riders Chapter had a meeting in March, which I was unable to attend, so I don’t have a report on it. The meetings are scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of the month at the VFW in Granbury. I am glad to see this Chapter coming back to life, and all area riders are urged to attend.
I continue to forward reports from the State Office to my email list. If you are not receiving anything, please send me an email, and I’ll update my list.
If anyone would like to help out, anywhere in the District, or has any questions, let me know.
My email is txhdryder@att.net and my phone is 254.582.9291, so contact me with any questions or comments that you might have.
Ride Safe & Ride Free (while U steelcan)!
Greg
BBQ with the Bikers
It was a beautiful day for the event. Although not many stayed outside, those that did seemed to enjoy it. There was enough food for everyone.
Just a couple of us had the vegetarian plate at the end, but all the invitees got fed. The event was very cordial, I saw smiling faces whenever the staff came by the desk.
I’m sure Texas ABATE put us all in a positive light; let’s hope it turns into positive movement for the bills we support.
Need your Letters
We have more bills out there now with action items. Please write you Senators and Representatives in support of our bills and against the bills we want stopped.
SB1967We had a really good hearing on SB1967 Wednesday. Paul and I gave oral testimony while Terri attended and turned in cards in favor of. Woody also sent a letter of support from El Paso and Terri made the necessary copies and placed it into written testimony.
One lady asked for an amendment stating children couldn't ride unless they could reach the foot pegs. Chairman Carona told her he had given us his word that if we came up with something we could all agree on, it would go to the Floor unchanged and he was not going back on his word. He also thanked us for coming up with a good Bill.
Without question this Bill will come out of committee when they next vote on Bills.
Sputnik
Bills out there right Now….
Supported
HB 759 – Passed House committee, waiting to go to the floor
Subject: Relating to the creation of a hotline to report suspected incidents of impaired driving or dangerous driving
HB 1569 – Filed – Hopefully a public hearing soon.
Subject: Relating to equal access to places of public accommodation
SB 374 – Passed Senate now in house committee.
Subject: Relating to the power of a county to enforce compliance with speed limits by an automated traffic control system (Prevents cities or counties from putting up automatic speed traps)
SB 736 – in Senate committee.
Subject: Relating to the funds consolidation process and the use of state revenue dedicated by law for a particular purpose (rededicating all funds to their specific purpose instead of the general fund)
SB 737 – in Senate committee.
Subject: Relating to conducting a study to improve transparency in the state's budgeting process and electronic access to information about the state budget (add budget to website so everyone can see it)
SB 1967 – public hearing on 4/1, still in committee.
Subject: Relating to the safe operation of motorcycles and other vehicles in this state; providing penalties
Comment: This bill contains several elements failure to yield, cleanup of helmet law, and rider education program.
AgainstHB 169 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Public Safety and certain local law enforcement agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated
SB 298 – Passed Senate now in house.
Caption: Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Public Safety and certain local law enforcement
agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated
SB 369 – public hearing 3/25 still in committee
Subject: Relating to information contained in an intelligence database used to investigate and prosecute offenses committed by criminal street gangs
Bills to keep an eye onHB 714 - Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the penalty for the offense of reckless driving
Covers reckless driving penalties like we wanted for failure for yield
HB 823 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the authority of a peace officer to take a blood
specimen from a vehicle operator to test for alcohol concentration or
other intoxicating substances
SB 506 – Passed in Senate, now in house
Subject: Relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during
periods of traffic congestion
SB 730 – Passed Senate now in house
Subject: Relating to an employee's transportation and storage of certain
firearms or ammunition while on certain property owned or controlled by
the employee's employer
SB 1389 – Passed in Senate now going to House
Subject: Relating to the penalty for the offense of reckless driving
Covers reckless driving penalties like we wanted for failure for yield
Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month (From Suds and Butterfly)
It's time to start on 2009 proclamations for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month. Texas bikers have done outstanding work through the years. Go to the link below to add a city to the board...
http://ridesafeintexas.homestead.com/Proclamations2009.html
Since 2003 this campaign has been the combined knowledge & participation of many clubs, organizations & Independents across Texas. Some may not understand why we need to do this again each year...
It gives non-riding folks the chance to see riders in person and put a face to that little taillight they see on the highway. This helps a lot when we ask them to drive more aware and share the road.
Each year rider participation increases and each year the number of newspaper articles increases... which means the number of drivers receiving our message also increases.
For those new to the proclamations campaign...
Our goal is to set up dates to attend city council meetings where the riders will be presented with a proclamation for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness. The proclamation is read during the meeting. Some cities broadcast their meetings on pbs for folks in the community to watch. The local newspaper will usually run an article showing the Mayor's support for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month if we make sure to contact them ahead of time with this request. This media coverage is our main goal because this is what reaches the drivers in each community.
If you're unable to add a city to the board then please check the board for cities near you and attend to support. That's a big part of what we need is more support for these meetings.
If you're unable to attend a meeting then maybe you have time to make the call to your local newspaper or radio station to see about getting some messages out there on motorcycle awareness. May is nationally recognized as Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month so during the next couple months most newspapers will be happy to take your call. If everyone does a little then no one has to do more than they can handle.
It's all about looking out for the safety of the brothers & sisters we love... if we can spend all day and our last dollar for a down brother or sister's benefit, then we oughta be able to make at least one meeting to help prevent more riders down.
On the next newsletter I'll be able to introduce the TCOC&I team of Safety & Awareness Coordinators for each region. They are an outstanding team who stand ready to assist with proclamations across Texas this year.
Respect & Ride Safe ~Bttrfly
State Safety & Awareness Liaison, TCOC&I
Safety & Awareness Coordinator, TCOC&I-DFW
http://ridesafeintexas.homestead.com
Elmer H. McKeegan
Chapter Coordinator
District 31
As scheduled, the Permian Basin Chapter meeting was held on the third Thursday at Warfield Truck Stop. Attendance has been down for several months now, with only 1-3 members showing up. This month, Jan and Bob Walker were the only ones to join me. We met informally for about half an hour, discussing the past and the future of the association. Their attendance at future meetings for the summer will be sporadic due to being out of town travelling.
I called the offices of my representative and senator but was not able to speak to either. I spoke with their aides, and expressed concern over the issues we are dealing with. I got favorable comments from both offices, but we will have to see what happens.
Until next month, ride free and keep safe.
Dean Maltsberger
District 31 Advisor
