MN snowmobilers ATTENTION

[switchback]

Here is a response from my local rep

Troy, usually a bill must have a companion to make its way through the process. In other words, both the House and Senate must hear a bill before it is voted on or before it is included in a larger bill with the same subject. Doing what Senator Anderson is doing is very controversial in the House because we have lots of lovers of ATVs and snowmobiles, like I am. There is probably no House member who wants to carry a bill like 3087.
So, what usually happens is that if a bill does not get a vote on the floor of each chamber, it cannot advance to the governor for signature.
Sondy

Sondra Erickson
State Representative
District 16A
279 State Office Building
100 Constitution Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-6746
1-800-709-0578
rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn

 

[flatlander_99]

i sent my email, i hope i get a reply.

 

[flatlander_99]

This is what I got back, anyone know the file number?

"I'm on the floor now and I'll watch for it. Do you have a file number?"

 

[Snowizard]

This is what I got back, anyone know the file number?

"I'm on the floor now and I'll watch for it. Do you have a file number?"

SF 3087 SF= "senate file". Thats where the bill was first introduced by a liberal senator from St.Paul, (sp?) Hausman.

Edit: I just looked at the legislator site again, and lists "Anderson and Dibble" as authors. Whatever.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

My reply from Rob Eastlund:

Ben,

I don't think we have a House companion bill and the Senate bill is not moving so it probably is not to likely it will pass. I will watch for the bill if it starts to move through the process and I will oppose it.

Thanks for the heads up.

Rep Eastlund

Rep. Rob Eastlund
243 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5364
rep.rob.eastlund@house.mn

 

[crossthis]

The author of this senate file is one of Minnesota great leftyy Ellen Anderson DFL district 66 St Paul / Scott(I"m gay)Dibble DFL district 60 minneapolis. Vote in Noveber

 

[R J]

You guys are great with this.

Are you sending them letters to just your senator or are you sending them to all 5 people? I have just sent the senator right now and am awaiting a reply. Will post it if and when I get it.

 

[XC700116]

Has anyone sent this to Joe S (I don't know how to spell his name) on Garage Logic yet?

Snow Wizard - Do you know if anyone from the Snodeos (Brainerd) has been made aware of this? If not I'll have to get a hold of Crazy George and sick him on the club to get them to write in.

PS just for your info I'm from Brainerd and former member of the club.

 

[Snowizard]

Has anyone sent this to Joe S (I don't know how to spell his name) on Garage Logic yet? Don't know, but that's why I suggested it. Joe loves to do a rant on needless government intervention into people's lives.

Snow Wizard - Do you know if anyone from the Snodeos (Brainerd) has been made aware of this? If not I'll have to get a hold of Crazy George and sick him on the club to get them to write in.

Yeah, I know George quite well, and see him often. Also Keith Twombly, MNUSA-Vice Pres. is a friend of mine, and lives nearby. They are aware of this legislation. Also this subject was discussed at the MNUSA Rendezvous at Craguns Resort last month. The MNUSA lobbiest is a sharp minded attorney and I imagine he is watching this closely.
MNUSA's strategy is not to say much in public , or the 'net' so as not to give away any strategy.

PS just for your info I'm from Brainerd and former member of the club.

I am a member of the Merrifield Marathons Sno'ble club, and also I'm secretary of the Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trail A$$ociation. That is made up of 11 separate sno' clubs, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber-Commerce, and the DNR. We have 855 miles of trail, and 9 clubs that do grooming in Cass and Crow Wing counties.

If this travesty ever made it to the Governors office, I know Tim Pawlenty, and Carol Molnau are snowmobile friendly and would likely get vetoed.They have shown up for MNUSA rides most every year, including this year.

Carol Molnau gets a bad rap from the hypocrats over the I-94 bridge collapse, (nothing she either did, or didn't do would have changed anything in that instance, IMO) but she had a great time at Craguns, and she rode about 100 mi. with the group.

[side note: if Pawlenty becomes McCain's VP candidate and resigns, Carol becomes governor automatically. ]
But the damn legislature still could over-ride a governors veto, like they just did with the gas tax.

If this ever passed, even the DNR gets hit hard for job lay-off's in the "Trails and Waterways" division, but the DNR can't say too much on their own. It's up to us, unfortunately.

 

[R J]

Has anyone sent this to Joe S (I don't know how to spell his name) on Garage Logic yet?

Snow Wizard - Do you know if anyone from the Snodeos (Brainerd) has been made aware of this? If not I'll have to get a hold of Crazy George and sick him on the club to get them to write in.

PS just for your info I'm from Brainerd and former member of the club.

I could call him tomorrow but I will be doing a demo with the groomer in Sawyer Cty WI.

 

[R J]

This should be getting more attention folks. I know there are way more riders in MN on this site. We all like riding out west but you need to get off your duffs and take 5 minutes and write a personal e-mail. No form letter about this.

If you ATV, Boat, Snowmobile, Off road, Motorcycle you better be paying attention!!!!

 

[XC700116]

Wizard sounds like you know the guys and got that covered. I would also recommend talking to Paul Coering (sp?). I know the gay thing still irritates some people but he's a senator and normally very much on our side when it comes to these things.

I can't say too much about it to them since I'm no longer a MN resident but will send a letter anyway.

 

[Snowizard]

UPDATE!! More bill titles introduced.

In addition to SF3087, from a post on hardcoresledder.com , there are now TWO MORE variations of the anti-snowmobile funding bill.

Be sure to mention all 3 numbers when writing your State Senators and Representatives.

Quote:" Two more introduced to try to take away the unrefunded gas tax, HF3781 in the House and SF3468. Mention opposition to those to your Rep and Senator. "
(Thanks to "hugh" on HCS for the research!)

Note: SF = "Senate File"
HF= "House File"

Bills can be introduced in either legislative body. A bill must have support in both "bodies" to make it to committee hearings, before it goes for a vote.
We want to create enough awareness for our rep's to keep this from EVER getting to a vote. If it were ever to pass house and senate votes, then it will go to the governor to sign into law, OR VETO.

He (hopefully) would veto it, BUT the Demorats have enough votes to over-ride a governor veto.
That's the danger of letting this get too far along in the process.

 

[R J]

Just great, and on and on it goes.

I wonder why there is so much opposition to us getting that money. They railroaded the gas tax increase through so why try cutting this? It makes no sense.

 

[Snowizard]

Just great, and on and on it goes.

I wonder why there is so much opposition to us getting that money. They railroaded the gas tax increase through so why try cutting this? It makes no sense.

RJ, one theory is that last years session the state had almost a 2-Billion Dollar SURPLUS!
The spendo-crats managed to pi$$ that away, and IN ADDITION, run up an additional $900 Million DEFECIT. So nearly 3-Billion gone.

So that's what the state is faced with now, how to make up the 900M, and still fund all the "pork." And a sagging economy to boot.

So snowmobile trails have "some" money, albeit only about 5 Million. But with the gas tax increase the spendo-crats just passed, our amount would go up accordingly, based on current formula.

Whaddya bet sno-trails share will stay the same or even decrease? According to one MNUSA officer I talked to yesterday, thats the talk around the Capitol for now.

Although it is proposed to increase ATV trail funding. Go figure.

The whole situation seems pretty volitile at the moment, IMO.

We still need to keep up contacting our senators and reps.

 

[xrated]

Just great, and on and on it goes.

I wonder why there is so much opposition to us getting that money. They railroaded the gas tax increase through so why try cutting this? It makes no sense.

RJ google MRR and look at their site. They want no motors except the subarus they use to haul canoes and bikes to be used in MN. They figure if they take away our fair and owed tax refund from the gas taxes that we will loose all interest in motorized recreation since we will have no trails to use!

 

[R J]

RJ google MRR and look at their site. They want no motors except the subarus they use to haul canoes and bikes to be used in MN. They figure if they take away our fair and owed tax refund from the gas taxes that we will loose all interest in motorized recreation since we will have no trails to use!

I know exactly that is what they want to do. It's one reason I can't believe there isn't more people up in arms about this. It's funny seeing how a stolen trailer of sleds can get more attention at the top of the forum?

I would be happy if the funding stayed the same as most clubs got an increase a year or so back do to the permit sales. Maintaining is what we need, if we get more then great.

As for the ATV increase, yeah, those guys are working both sides of it in a way. Don't want to see it go away but they want an increase in their share. It's needed as MN needs to step up and get more legal areas to ride the ATV's. Model it after WI and you would see a lot of people staying inside state lines to go riding instead of crossing the border every weekend.

 

[TEC800]

I sent my e-mails to rep. sandra masin and sen. jim carlson tonite, i will post there responses if/when i recieve them.

 

[BigBlueEdge]

MnUSA Legislator Reception *DATE CHANGE*: 4/15

Please note that the date for the MnUSA legislator reception has been changed.

Due to the fact the legislators decided to take off earlier than expected (noon on 3/19) for their Easter holiday, MnUSA has moved the legislator reception to the following:

MnUSA Legislator Reception
Tuesday, April 15th
4-7 p.m.
Best Western Kelly Inn
161 St. Anthony Ave. (I94 & Marion St.)
St. Paul

Don't forget to contact your legislators ASAP to ask them to protect our sport!

Who are my MN Legislators and how do I contact them??

The bills you want to discuss with them are:

SF3087 *
HF3781
SF3468

Thanks,
Rob

*SF3087 may die for lack of a companion bill