MOVING FORWARD WITH HB 4323
September 12, 2007
MMRC #19 Please post and forward
Having spent the afternoon in Lansing yesterday visiting various Senate offices, there is no reason we cannot get HB 4323 through the Senate, but it will take some serious effort on our part. There is little visible that should dampen our spirit! The budget process has things in quite the turmoil at the moment, that shall pass by the end of the month.
Again, my Thanks for all your efforts, all I had to do was mention 4323 and they said “the ORV Bill”. We have made our presence known. Thank You!
Our plans are as follows;
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, we will visit Lansing hand out questionnaires to every Senator asking them if they are supportive of HB 4323 as passed in the House. If they have issues with the Bill, would they please attach them to their return response? Included in the packet will be a brief overview of HB 4323 and a list of counties having an ORV Ordinance and its date of inception.
We will need some 12-15 volunteers to help do this. Need those who are good at speaking on their feet and feel comfortable in business attire. Most important, have good knowledge of HB 4323 and that information is available and you will be coached in advance. Please contact the following if you are interested, Thomas Dunn representing AMA D-14, Chuck Smith representing ATVOC, Lewis Shuler representing CCC, Pat Brower representing GLFWD, Dick Ranney representing MMRC/AMA D-14. Those in the UP, continue contacting Senator Prusi and Senator Allen.
To coincide with that, we need you to continue to send e-mails to your Senator urging the passage of HB 4323. From October 10th and a short period thereafter, we need a blitz of e-mails to Lansing .
In addition, we need letters of support on HB 4323 from governmental agencies such as County Commissions , Township Boards, Road Commissions, Sheriff’s Departments, Chambers of Commerce and Tourists Associations. Also included in this list should be a formal letter from user groups and each club. Especially from those considering an ordinance.
The letters need to be sent to the Senator for the District, and copied to;
Senator Patricia Birkholz (R), Chair, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
senpbirkholz@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Michael D. Bishop (R), Majority Leader
senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
It would be advantageous for us to have some rallies, especially in metropolitan areas, if you have any ideas and locations, give me a call @ 989 469-2405.
In addition to HB 4323, there are other issues we are dealing with in Lansing regarding ORV use in Michigan .
800 MILES OF NEW TRAIL, this is being wrangled with by Michigan Motorized Recreation Council by representatives of each user group. Give each one of those participating a lot of respect, it is not an easy task, but MMRC continues to move forward on this and it is expected to go on for several years before the final mile is on the ground. A huge amount of paperwork and the same for patience.
LONG RANGE FINACIAL PLANNING, We expect those discussions to begin this fall and it will be a ten year spending plan to manage Michigan ’s ORV trail system. These discussions will be followed by the need for additional legislation in various areas of Public Act 451, 324.81101-50.
REVISIONS OF 811 Similar to the above, but a separate set of meetings. There is a group in the House that would like to have a Caucus that meets periodically to review ORV law and make adjustments to keep abreast of the times.
All these issues tie into one another with many details to get handled making for a rather sizeable agenda. It will take the efforts of many to get them resolved even close to everyone’s satisfaction along with years of effort.
We are moving along rather nicely, but as usual in politics, far too slow. Let us not forget, it took three major efforts to get the current laws establishing Michigan ’s ORV Trail System a few decades back. We have a good shot of winning this one on the first try, but only with your continued involvement.
Later, Dick