Time To Call And E-mail State Legislators About The Utv Program

To: WATVA ATV & UTV Advocates

Now is the time for action. We need you to call or e-mail your state senator and your state representative. Ask them to vote in favor of the UTV bill (SB 448) when it gets to the full floor.

For your reference see: SB 448 - Expanded and extended UTV legislation http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB448hst.html

The Senate Committee (chaired by Senator Holperin) on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry & Natural Resources held a public hearing on our UTV bill (and snowplowing bill) this past Wednesday, January 20th in Madison. Rob McConnell and I testified in favor of, along with quite a few other WATVA members from the Tri-County Club.

I am pleased to report there were no opponents at this public hearing for the UTV bill. That's a good sign! The next step in the legislative process is for the same senate committee to hold what is called an "executive session". A majority vote of those committee members will send the bill to the full senate floor for a vote by all state senators.

More good news to share.....that "session" has already been scheduled for Thursday, February 4th. There is no more public input during an executive session, the senate committee member's simply vote as to whether the public comment period swayed them to be opposed or to support the bill. A majority vote sends it to the senate floor while a negative vote kills the bill!

I feel very confident SB 448 will make it out of the executive session and onto the full senate floor. That's why we need to make some noise now and let all of our lawmakers know we want their vote!

On the Assembly side, the same bill is being sponsored by Representative Mary Hubler. She is working to get the bill heard in the appropriate Assembly committee and if successful there, onto the full Assembly floor. We might as well be telling our state representatives we're out there and we want their support as well.

If you favor the UTV bill, this is the time to contact your senator and representative so they know your position. Do this through your e-mails and/or calls. Ask your state lawmakers to support the bill.

If they happen to be on the committee so much the better but let's get the word around that our lawmakers know we have grassroots support for SB 448.

If you don't know who or how to contact your state senator and representatives, not to worry, it's really easy!

To find their e-mail address and / or phone number, simply go to the link below, fill in your home address and you will instantly have your answer.

http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

It's OK to speak to their staff, whoever answers their phone if you call. Just tell them you support the UTV bill (SB 448). To recap, it is scheduled for an executive vote out of Senator Holperin's committee on February 4th while being sponsored by Representative Mary Hubler on the Assembly side.

We just need the e-mails and calls to start coming into their offices so our state lawmakers (senators & representatives) know we support this legislation and we are asking for their vote(s).

Thank you in advance, your e-mails and calls really do make a difference!!!

As a side note, the ATV snowplowing bill (SB 400) ran into some opposition from the state patrol so the WATVA office is working with Senator Holperin's office to make an amendment that might satisfy the state patrol's concerns. That bill is also scheduled in the same executive session so hopefully we can come to a compromise on a minimum age of driver (maybe age 16 when driven on the road for snowplowing purposes and possibly a shorter maximum distance less than 2 miles?).

Randy Harden
WATVA / NOHVIS
President
3321 Behrens Parkway
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Direct Line 920-694-1881