BRC Action Alerts

Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,

I just got email an Action Alert from Nick Haris, Western Representative for the American Motorcyclists Association (AMA). Nick also serves on BRC's Board of Directors.

Nick has been watching the latest machinations in Sacramento regarding the budget mess. Nick reports that the Gov's proposed budget includes a $90 million dollar transfer from the OHV fund to help balance the state's budget.

The Governor's office is using the term loan to describe the transfer. Nick correctly put quotes around the term in his action alert because, based on experience in other states, such "loans" are seldom repaid.

Nick is right on about how critical it is for OHV enthusiasts to contact their state legislators ASAP. I pasted a copy of Nick's email below; please follow its instructions and take action today.

Please pass this important alert on to your friends and family and please ask them take action as well.

Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

Help Save the California OHV Trust Fund!
Information Alert Tell the Governor and the State Legislature to Leave the OHV Trust Funds Alone!!

TAKE ACTION!

The latest version of the Governor's proposed budget includes a $90M "loan" from the OHV Trust Fund to help balance the states budget. The "loan" would be taken out of the acquisitions fund account, and would not affect the ongoing grants program or the State SVRA system. However these funds, which are collected specifically to enhance and expand the state OHV system, are wholly funded through user collected fees, not general state tax dollars. While we understand that the state is in the grip of the worst budget crisis in history, this proposal is simply not acceptable.

What can you do?

It is urgent that all OHV users get in touch with their state legislators as soon as possible. Tell them this proposal is unacceptable. As you may remember, in response to the Wilson Administrations raid on these same funds years ago, the funds are now in a trust fund and must be repaid, as per. state law. Therefore this is simply an accounting trick and will only postpone the hard economic choices facing the legislature and the administration.

Since the passage of Senate Bill 742 these funds have been a top priority for the OHV division and community, and in fact over $30 million in projects are currently "shovel ready" and awaiting final authorization. Important points to raise in your letter include:

• The OHV community volunteered to raise our fees in SB 742 in order to keep this program operating smoothly


• Ask your legislators if they signed a "no borrowing pledge", and remind them you expect them to stand by that promise


• Borrowing from state funds that must be repaid does not solve the budget problem, it only defers dealing with the problem to a later date


• Using a trust fund as a revenue source sets a bad precedent. Trust funds are established to protect public funds for specific purposes.

Fax or email your letter today!!!

To comment directly to the governor visit: http://gov.ca.gov/interact

To find your state representative got to: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/

More Info