Dear Fellow Members,
Kane Silverberg – District 2K, has sent his letter in to the folks making decisions; formatted from concern, fairness, and thoughtfulness. His letter speaks volumes for our D36 and AMA members.
While Kane may be a Commissioner, he is a dedicated racer first, and puts his money where his mouth is.
Thank You Kane for your words on our behalf. Hopefully it will spurn others to do the same. (Dave Pickett)

Subject: OHV TRUST FUND EMERGENCY

Honorable Budget Committee Members,

Please don’t take Monies from the State Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Operating Budgets or Grant and divert them to State’s General Fund. The Fuel Tax Revenue Component of the OHV Trust Fund is protected by California Constitution Article 19 and is not fungible. This action will most assuredly be challenged in court. More litigation is just another example of kicking the can down the road and is not what the Governor is asking for in the budget, he does not want us to pass the buck anymore. The OHV Trust Fund monies have very specific intended purposes and cannot be used for anything other than those uses as highlighted by both case law and the Constitution. Borrowing the OHV Trust Funds is the only way to legally access these monies, the state has done that for the last 3 years to the tune of about $140 million (including the Governor’s $21 million this year).

Both myself and over 7,000,000 OHV Registered Users/Families that are currently using OHV opportunities in the state of California are vehemently opposed to this proposal by your committee.

The State OHV Program operates with fiscal responsibility and in a manner that is the example for the rest of the state parks to follow. Dismantling the one part of the State Parks system that is healthy is an unforgivable
action and makes no sense. This action would unjustly penalize the OHV users and the program for being fiscally responsible, while rewarding other groups for fiscal mismanagement and irresponsibility. Would the taxpayers want you to take funding from a innovative, well managed program and add them to the mismanaged mess? Would you take money from one child’s piggy bank and give it to their sibling because they had spent all of their money frivolously?

The truth is these State OHV Parks offer the type of recreation preferred by a greater number of people in the park user population. Park attendance at OHV parks out paces attendance at other parks by leaps and bounds. We manage the land set aside for OHV recreation in a responsible way. Families are enjoying and protecting the land in a way that also supports their pursuit of happiness.

Please do not take the action of “Stealing” funds from the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund, it will just cost us all more money in the long term. There is a reason it is called a “Trust” fund, it is held “in trust” by you - held in our “trust of you”. If we cannot teach our children to trust you, as elected officials, to do what is right and appropriate in your positions, regardless of power and ability thereof, who can we trust?

Respectfully submitted,

Kane Silverberg
OHMVR Commissioner
District 36 Number 2K

Below is a link to video from the Budget Conference Committee that Dave Pickett attended yesterday, on behalf of D36. (Note from Dave below)

“I did have a chance to talk with Assemblyman Nielsen pre-hearing with Terry McHale of Aaron Read & Associates. They supplied this video cut, and we are a client of AR&A. I attempted to meet with others, but most in a different committee meeting. I visited by Senator Gaines and Senator La Malfa’s offices, and was told the OHV community IS making an impact with hundred of emails, telephone calls and faxes burn up at their capitol offices. Ditto their field offices.
Please note that this committee has completed all but 3/10ths of their work on proposals for their portion of the budget mess. Having said that, yesterday was the 4th time our OHV issue has been tabled and moved due to conflict.

The pressure we have levied upon the entire legislature and especially these members of this important committee is causing many on the committee to review, and ask for more information. The information presented by the AOL (Office of Administrative Law) & LAO (Legislative Analyst’s Office) and DOF (Department of Finance was full of holes, and correct information was NOT being presented to the committee members. Nary a word about SB742 intent for the program. The committee has heard from us loud and clear that OHV supports law enforcement, but the cuts proposed will harm our ability to fund supplemental LE agencies like the 58 county sheriff’s offices. IF, and a big IF, the program dies – CHP would lose millions of dollars a year that is given to them within SB742 and paid by Reg fee’s we pay, AKA “Green Sticker Fee” and this also would harm LE. Basically, they got the word about trickle down poverty destroying LE and thus it could be construed that the Administration does not support Law Enforcement. (A political bomb for them on public safety.) Things are changing hour by hour, but the testimony is clear and two state agencies are fighting and the mere mention of lawsuit is a testy topic.
They know we will sue if necessary.

Keep those love letters going to all 120 Legislators who WORK FOR US. Again, be professional and courteous; make your points, stress family, and responsible OHV recreation, as well as the tourism dollars that your family brings to the rural counties, and local SVRA merchants.
As always, follow the money.
I contacted Amador County Board of Supervisors, and they in turn “get it” and have made call up the food chain to representatives in the Assembly and Senate.
It is working, so if you have time, educate your County BOS. One thing they understand, and need, is MONEY.”

To view the hearing, click here.
It is password protected; the password is OHV.

FYI. Open the document and see page 8 - OHV.

This is ugly!!!

This time, the State does NOT want to pay back any stolen OHV funds (that WE paid) backto the OHV program!!!

They don’t want to allow any public comment from anyone, either.

To quote someone else “those arrogant a–holes”

budget-conference-1339.pdf

We must ACT NOW to save the OHV program! The Governor of Califoria is trying to sweep all the user fee/trust accounts.

What can you do: Act now and contact your legislative members ASAP! Find your representatives here, and use the speaking points below, or add some of your own: click here

Every day the status on this changes - but here is the basic background:

The Issue: On Friday, February 18th, the Assembly Budget Committee voted to take $27 million out of the OHV operating budget. This would NOT be a loan, and would continue unstopped year after year. It would result in closures and cut-backs to the California OHV Parks – Carnegie, Clay Pit, Heber Dunes, Hollister Hills, Hungry Valley, Mammoth Bar, Oceano Dunes, Ocotillo Wells and Prairie City. The Snow Grooming program and State Sno-Parks will also be greatly affected or closed. In addition, the Governor is proposing to take $27 million more from the OHV program. This could be the end of the OHV program as have enjoyed it for the last 40 years.

This Thursday, February 24th, the Conference Committee will meet in the State Capitol to iron out difference between the State Assembly and Senate Budget Committees. We have to influence the Conference Committee members through our elected legislative representatives.

 The budget proposes only an $11 million cut for 270 State Parks, yet a cut of $27 million is proposed from the OHV division which has only 8 State OHV Parks. This represents less than a 10% cut to State Park operations, but over a 40% reduction to the operating budget of the OHV parks. The OHV Division is a user funded program, taking NO money from the General Fund.

 The State OHV Parks are all about children, offering them opportunities to recreate outdoors. The OHV parks encourage families to go camping, and offer urban residents the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. The OHV parks enjoyed a 150% increase in attendance over the last 10 years, which State Parks cannot equal.

 The Law says the OHV division of State Parks should have equal priority among the other State Parks. Budget impacts should be equally shared….yet the State OHV Parks have had $112 million dollars taken over the last 3 years. Now the Assembly proposes to gut the program, favoring less popular State Parks. This is certainly discriminatory, and counter to the law. The OHV community has given more than it’s fair share of the OHV Trust Fund. These are dedicated user fees.

 The OHV community has taken legal action for two other attempts of this kind…and the State has lost! We sued you and won $21.5 million. We are willing and able to do this again, and the State will lose even more money before all this is over. We will pursue all legal remedies to stop this action, and stop the discrimination against the State OHV Program and affiliated activities.

 This is an urgent appeal to contact your legislators NOW and tell them HANDS OFF OF OHV FUNDS!

Dave Pickett District 36 MC Sports Committee – President & LAO
Amy Granat Nor Cal Representative – California 4 Wheel Drive Association
Nick Haris – AMA National-Western Region Representative

We need you help, as we have obtained assistance from congress and a new bill inside of Congress, HR 412 “The just let kids ride bill” is alive and kicking.

Please click on the link, and take 5 minutes to lend your support of this bill for our kids.

BRC & D36 are asking everybody to send in a note. Please pass this along to all of your riding friends.

It is very important we defeat this outrageous law.

David Pickett, Director
Legislative Action Office
AMA District 36 - Motorcycle Sports Committee

Action Alert with Video and Letter Links:
click here

Hello!

The winner of the $100 Tucker Buck certificate from the Oasis is Cole Conatser!

Remember, only the racers who are enrolled in the 2011 MSR/Answer Rider Contingency Program are eligible to win the $100 certificates this year . . . . . we get to give away 30 and your chances are really good to win one if you sign up now!

Thank you Tucker Rocky/MSR/Answer/Pro Taper!!!!

(Cole, the certificate will be mailed to you from MSR in the next few days - Congrats!)

Hello!

The first winner of 2011’s $100 Tucker Buck certificates is Nick Thom!

Remember, only the racers who are enrolled in the 2011 MSR/Answer Rider Contingency Program are eligible to win the $100 certificates this year . . . . . we get to give away 30 and your chances are really good to win one if you sign up now!

Thank you Tucker Rocky/MSR/Answer/Pro Taper!!!!

Who won the Shane Watts riding school certificate?

Who won the riding gear set?

We are trying to accumulate a list of main prize winners to make sure the prize donor knows who won!

Please email Al Fitch at teamfitch1@aol.com, Jill Patterson at d36photo@pacbell.com or Kraig Traum at d36moose@att.net.

Thank you!

The Crosscut Family Enduro and the Sawmill Enduro Fliers are posted in the events area.