Showing posts with label john dingell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label john dingell. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2009

CPSC Cat Fight - Dueling Commissioners


As a former Chairman of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission at California State Parks (circa 1994-2000), I have been a witness to a ‘dueling commission.” In that case, it was often pro-access commissioners trying to defeat anti-OHV commissioners’ efforts to defund Forest Service and BLM trail projects between the years of 2000-2008.

In the case of the CPSC, it appears the 2 current members of the commission (they are waiting for a 3 member) are engaged in some sort of cat fight. In a March 20 letter to Congressman John Dingell, Commissioner Nancy Nord sends a 24 page document that offers suggestions upon which Congress could take immediate action;

Commissioner Nancy Nord’s 24 Page Letter
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/dingell032009.pdf

In an apparent response to the Nord letter, Commissioner Thomas Moore sends a 2 page letter that basically states the Commission (once a 3rd member is added) is best suited
to address the flaws and/or find solutions.

Commissioner Moore’s 2 Page Letter
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/dingell032009a.pdf

Having read both letters, The General asks the question…”Is the OHV community and American public best served by supporting the ongoing efforts by Congress to address the functional ban of youth-OHVs or are we better waiting for an un-elected government body to decide our future?"

If you use the 2000-2008 OHMVR Commission as an example… the answer would be a clear NO!!!

However, given how slowly Congress acts on some issues… our children would be old and gray before the youth-OHV ban was overturned.

At this point, I am leaning towards giving the pro-access DEMS and GOPers in Congress the chance to address the unintended consequences of their 2008 legislation.

In the meantime, be sure and check the MIC website for daily updates on what you can do to help overturn the ban.

MIC OHV Ban Website
http://www.mic.org/
Also, speaking of the CA OHV Commission - ck out their letter to the CPSC on the issue - Thanks
OHV Commission!!!


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Monday, March 9, 2009

People Banging Trash Can Lids to Protest CPSC Ban on Youth OHVs


I read in the VOICES Section of the March 11, 2009 issue of CycleNews
where SF Bay Area OHV advocate, Dave Duffin, said he was ready to
start banging an old metal trash-can lid so Congress will hear our voices on
the absurd and hurtful CPSC ban on youth OHVs (and snowmobiles).

Good news for Mr. Duffin, a loud national outcry IS arising from the grassroots and they are mad as hell and are not going to take it any longer. The General visited a local KTM dealer
last week and he said that it is hurting his business and making his customers
mad.

Based on numerous recent letters from Congress to the CPSC and requests
for hearings on this issue, I would say that Congress and the media are hearing
from thousands of motocross/trail moms, angry dads, distraught OHV dealers,
and discouraged young riders.


Our friends at the MIC have a very cool Website and letter program set up. It has
specific letters tailored for the various stakeholders including riders, dealers, and families to send in. Go there TODAY and send new letters to Congressional Committees and the CPSC.

The General has already sent email letters and also printed off hard copies and placed them in the mail today.

BRC’s March 9 “Lead Alert”
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=959

MIC's "Stop the Ban" Letter Generator and Info Site:



BRC's News Release with Link to Congressman Simpson's Letter to Chairman Waxmanhttp://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=636


Western Caucus Letter


State Representative Tom Self's Website



Go forth and write! That’s an Order

-- The General