CA Trust Fund Raid On Major Sports Talk Radio

HQ’s Don Amador was on Bike Week Radio on June 24, 2012.  The main topic was the ongoing raid by the CA legislature of OHV fuel tax monies and the impacts it will have on the grants program and even the program in general.

Topics and themes included the CA Dems declaring war on the GOP and how OHV is being caught in a political perfect storm.   And, how other user-pay/user benefit programs are being hit and how important it is for all motorcyclists and OHV users to get engaged in the political process.

My introduction is at 28:20 – 29:49

Main segment is at 33:28 – 46:19

Link to Bike Week Radio Show

http://www.bikeweekradioshow.com/archive.html

We also mentioned how CA Parks Foundation is helping implement Karen Schambach’s long-time dream of decoupling the off-road fuel tax from the OHV program.   Assemblyman, Brian Jones, was also given props for being the lone voice on the Assembly Budget Committee who stood up against the raid.

Helmets off to Broc Glover and the rest of the gang at Bike Week Radio for having a segment on this important issue.  We also touched on the fact that there are positive pro-OHV efforts in the House of Representatives and how local counties are fighting back too.

Thanks for your continue interest and support!

PS- Be sure and send Broc Glover a note if you appreciate him having OHV access issues on the show…

Contact him at:  sales@bikeweekradioshow.com

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Dark Days Ahead for CA OHV Program

"Hell's a Coming..."

The Recreation HQ is not happy about what happened today at the Assembly Budget Committee hearing.  By now, many of you already know that Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-Petaluma) championed the agenda of the far left environmental movement to defund the OHV grants program to the FS, BLM, and county/city parks so they won’t have the money to maintain trails and facilities.   After which they will complain about the lack of funding to maintain trails and then sue the agencies to force them to close the trails.

BRC News Release on Hearing Today

http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/05/31/california--ca-legislature-votes-to-gut-ohv-program

SacBee Article from last year that describes the green closure plan

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/03/3673670/public-eye-lawmakers-take-10-million.html#storylink=scinlineshare

 

Video of Hearing (BRC/my comments start about 44.31, other OHV reps follow)

http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=470

 

This is actually one of my darkest days in land-use advocacy in the last 22 years.  It appears the anti-OHV groups have a choke-hold on an all too willing legislature.  It also appears the city/urban legislators have declared POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC WAR on rural parts of the state.

Shame on the Parks Foundation for their part in this scheme.

Just where this ends, I don’t know.  Be assured that the fight is not over, but we are at the bottom of one of the longest political hillclimbs I have ever faced.  Stay tuned for further alerts and action items as this plan moves into conference.

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As the Stomach Turns - The CA Budget Fight

TV soap operas are where make believe people try and solve torrid love affairs, financial woes, and family tragedies.   The good news - at the end of the day - is that the aforementioned issues are all phony and are simply there for your viewing pleasure.

Unfortunately, the CA “budget soap opera” being played out in Sacramento is all too real.  As I talk with my political contacts in the Capitol, it is my fear that not only is the CA OHV Program in potentially grave trouble, but many non-park related state programs, government employees, and public services will face the budget axe in the near future as well.

HQ believes it is fool hardy for lawmakers to propose an increase in taxes as a tool by which the state can be rescued from running off the proverbial cliff.   Appropriating funds from successful self-funded user-pay/user benefit programs such as OHV is one of the surest signs that the legislature is mentally bankrupt and is not able or willing to make the cuts needed to bring California back from this fiscal crisis.

Basing California’s future on the current fiscal house of cards (increased taxes, taking money from programs such as OHV, etc.) only acts as a catalyst that motivates a growing number of residents to leave the state for greener pastures.     

Be assured that HQ is acutely aware, engaged, and monitoring Parks (will Ruth Coleman stay or be replaced and by whom) and OHMVR (will Daphne come back or who will take her spot)? Will the OHV grants program become a casualty in this budget fight?   There is a lot that will shake out in the next few days and weeks.

This political soap opera is all too real and nobody that I know of (including Donstradamus) has a crystal ball.