"All trail-access decisions are political decisions"

The Trail Political Action Committee (TPAC) was founded as the first national non-partisan political action committee dedicated solely to championing responsible off-highway vehicle recreation on designated roads, trails, and areas on public lands through the electoral and legislative processes.
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The TPAC tactical goal is to target key races using state-of-the art real-time analysis where there is a tough election and the pro-access candidate needs some extra support to help to defeat their opponent.
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TPAC is needed to counter the anti-access special interests in Washington DC who have long ago figured that contributing to closure-oriented politicians is how they will accomplish their goal of restricting OHV access on federal lands.
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TPAC is ready to stand in that political breach to stop the flow of anti-access politicians into the Capital. TPAC will work hard to reverse that trend so that pro-access legislators will exist as the majority in Congress and the White House.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thank You


TPAC wants to send you a heartfelt THANK YOU for your support through the 2012 election cycle.

Your support helped elect several pro-trail candidates to the U.S. Senate in AZ and NV.   You reelected Scott Tipton (CO-CD3) who was in a very tough fight in a battleground state.  You helped Andy Barr ( KY-CD6) defeat the anti-trail incumbent.  

You were the counterweight for our targeted races against the smear campaigns waged by the League of Conservation Voters, Earth Justice, Earth First!, and the Sierra Club.  

You have constructed a strong foundation for TPAC.  Using that momentum, trail voters will be effectively engaged in future elections at the federal level.

There is always a “political itch” in a 2nd Presidential term.   That itch will be scratched by trail voters in the 2014 midterm (House/Senate) elections. 

TPAC also believes the outcome of this election places additional responsibility on trail voters to be actively engaged in non-election efforts to promote and protect responsible OHV recreation.   That work includes robust participation in the public process/administrative process related to federal land agency planning efforts.  OHVers should also continue working with other stakeholder groups such as county supervisors, outdoor groups, and mainstream conservation organizations.

Thanks again for your support and dedication to this effort.   It is appreciated more than you can ever know.


Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Day Predictions - Voters are Tired of Being Tired


TPAC’s Election Day prediction is that you will elect a pro-trail/pro-regulatory reform President, a pro-trail majority in the U.S. Senate, and retain the pro-trail majority in the House of Representatives.

Your energy and enthusiasm are fueled by the fact that you are tired of being tired.   OHVers are tired of having the Forest Service ignore public input during the travel planning process.   We are tired of having to pay $150 dollars to fill up our ¾ ton diesel pickup on the way up to our favorite riding area.  We are tired of the EPA and other federal regulators creating new and politically motivated regulations that impact our access to roads and trails.

Other voting blocks are tired too.   Coal miners in the battleground states are tired of federal regulators implementing plans to put them out of business.   Gun owners in those same states are tired of new proposals by the administration to impact their 2nd Amendment rights.   Churches are tired of having the federal government impose rules and regulations that violate their religious beliefs.  Family breadwinners are tired of worrying about losing their job.  Parents are tired of their college kids being forced to move back home after graduating because there are no post-graduation jobs.

TPAC believes trail-voters will know by early Wednesday morning who our next President and Senate Majority leader are.   TPAC also believes there will be one or two “surprise” states in the West who will go for our candidates.   Those two states are OR and NV.

You can now see that being “tired” is a huge motivator and it will be the deciding factor in this election.

As results come in tonight watch to see how many of our key targeted races win.   Now go out and vote Pro-Trail!

HERE IS OUR LIST OF KEY TARGETED AND/OR ENDORSED RACES FOR ELECTION 2012

President and Vice-President of the United States

 
Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan
 

U.S. Senate
 

Richard Mourdock (IN-Senate)
Tom Smith (PA - Senate)
Josh Mandel (OH-Senate)
Tommy Thompson (WI-Senate)
Dean Heller (NV - Senate)
Denny Rehberg (MT-Senate)
George Allen (VA- Senate)
Jeff Flake (AZ - Senate)
Heather Wilson (NM-Senate)
Rick Berg (ND-Senate)

 

U.S. House of Representatives

 

Andy Barr (KY CD-6)
John Koster (WA CD-1)
Dan Lungren (CA CD-7)
Chip Cravaack (MN CD-8)
Ricky Gill (CA CD-9)
Scott Tipton (CO-CD-3)


Thanks for voting to protect your FREEDOM to enjoy OHV recreation on public and private lands.


Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com


 

 

 

 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

ACTION ALERT - No-Trail vs. Pro-Trail on Nov. 6


With just two days until trail voters go to the polls, TPAC believes we are still in a dead heat in most, if not all, of our key targeted White House, Senate, and House races.  Dozens of OHV clubs in various states are working hard right now to make sure their members vote for our trail candidates.  However, they need those of you who have not engaged your OHV networks to send out a personal note to your contacts urging them to go and vote PRO-TRAIL on Nov. 6.

Virtually all of TPAC’s key targeted and/or endorsed races are in battleground and/or swing states.   Our candidates continue to get pummeled by huge ad campaigns and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts funded by extreme elements of the environmental movement.    For example, left-wing activists have chartered bus-loads of protesters from the S.F Bay Area into Sacramento to try and defeat our trail champion Dan Lungren (CA –CD7).

HERE IS OUR LIST OF KEY TARGETED AND/OR ENDORSED RACES FOR ELECTION 2012

President and Vice-President of the United States

 Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan

U.S. Senate

Tom Smith (PA-Senate)
Richard Mourdock (IN-Senate)
Josh Mandel (OH-Senate)
Tommy Thompson (WI-Senate)
Dean Heller (NV - Senate)
Denny Rehberg (MT-Senate)
George Allen (VA- Senate)
Jeff Flake (AZ - Senate)
Heather Wilson (NM-Senate)
Rick Berg (ND-Senate)
 

U.S. House of Representatives
 

Andy Barr (KY CD-6)
John Koster (WA CD-1)
Dan Lungren (CA CD-7)
Chip Cravaack (MN CD-8)
Ricky Gill (CA CD-9)
Scott Tipton (CO-CD-3)


Take nothing for granted.  Fire up your computer’s email list and get on your FACEBOOK page and urge your friends and riding buddies to make sure they vote PRO-TRAIL on Nov. 6.   There are two very different political paths that face each one of us in two days.  We still have time to have a positive impact on this election.  Your effort WILL make a difference.

Stay vigilant and continue to work hard  – your FREEDOM to enjoy OHV recreation on public and private lands depends on it!

 

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com
 
PS - Stay tuned for more updates and/or breaking news over the next 3 days.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Fake Outdoor Group Trying to Throw MT Senate Race


Over the last several years, extreme environmental organizations have created fake outdoor recreation or OHV groups to mask their anti-access agenda in various Forest Service and BLM travel planning processes.   So it should come as no surprise that proxies for Green Super PACs and enviro-activists have created a faux group called the Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund. 

According to the Fairfield Sun Times, this fake group just purchased $500K in TV ads to try and sabotage the campaign of Denny Rehberg who is a TPAC targeted key senate race.  A must win if we are going to elect a pro-trail majority to the U.S. Senate.

Oct. 30 Fairfield Sun Times Article on Fake Outdoor Group
http://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/articles/2012/10/30/news/doc50902c39b00f1343312234.txt
 

TPAC wanted to bring trail voters this breaking news and is asking you to stay vigilant during the few days until Nov. 6.  Dirty tricks from extreme green groups are nothing new.  Be assured that TPAC will be monitoring and lending support to our targeted key Senate and House races until Election Day.

Donate $25 - $5000 to STOP the assault on family oriented OHV recreation and our candidates
http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

 
Get involved now and help make a difference on Nov. 6.  Don’t let fake outdoor groups steal this election.
 

Thanks for your continued support!

 

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com

 

 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Guns, Regulations, and Special Trails


With just a dozen days left until November 6, TPAC believes that “excessive regulation” has replaced the ”gun issue” as a deciding factor in this election.  Many political experts believe that Al Gore’s harsh anti-gun stance cost him the election in the 2000 presidential race against George Bush.

Over-regulation at the EPA, Department of Interior, and other agencies has been a major topic throughout the primary and presidential debates.  Those regulations are impacting energy development – including the reduction of permits issued - on public lands.   It’s not just energy permits that have been reduced or made complex over the last 4 years… the Department of Interior is threatening the issuance of OHV permits due to a myriad of baseless concerns about the impacts that motorized events might have on the Sage Grouse and other species.

 
The Forest Service has also complicated it recreation permitting process for OHV events.  On another access issue, the Forest Service has proposed to basically close ALL sand trails in the forested areas of the Oregon Dunes. TPAC believes a pro-trail and pro-regulatory reform Congress and White House would review and amend those regulations to reduce their impact on family-oriented recreational use of federal lands.
 

Green PACs are going full-bore until Nov. 6 and so should TPAC and our trail voters.  TPAC believes that “every trail is a special trail” and we should do everything we can to make sure those special routes remain open for future generations.

Thanks also to the following donors who stepped up to the plate and hit a homer this last week.

TRAIL CHAMPION -$200 or more
Steve – Reno, NV - $200
Bill – Grants Pass, OR - $200

TRAIL BOSS - $100 or more
Mike – Denver, CO - $100
Gary – Boise, ID - $100
Jody - North Bend, OR - $100
 

DONATE ANY AMOUNT FROM $25 -$5,000 TO PROTECT OUR SPECIAL TRAILS IN THIS ELECTION
http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

  

Thanks for your continued support of the fight. 
 

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com

 

 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

TPAC Endorses Romney/Ryan Ticket


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:  Don Amador, Founder
EMAIL:  info@thetrailpac.com
PHONE: (925) 301-5439
DATE: October 16, 2012
WEBSITE: www.thetrailpac.com

 

THE TRAIL PAC ENDORSES MITT ROMNEY AND PAUL RYAN
                                                         FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

 

     NORTH BETHESDA, MD (Oct. 16) - The Trail Political Action Committee (TPAC) is announcing today its strong endorsement of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for President and Vice President of the United States.   TPAC was founded as the first national non-partisan political action committee dedicated solely to championing responsible off-highway vehicle recreation on designated roads, trails, and areas on public and private lands through the electoral and legislative processes.

     Early in President Barack Obama’s term he showed his passion for burdensome federal regulations when he appointed extreme leaders from the environment movement such as Carol Browner to be Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change.  Browner was former head of the EPA during the Clinton-era.   

     Lisa Jackson was appointed to head the EPA and Nancy Sutley as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  

     On the other hand, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have regulatory reform of the EPA and other federal agencies as a key plank in their platform.  A president Romney would require congressional approval of all new “major” regulations and reform the legal liability system to prevent spurious litigation.

     Don Amador, Founder of the Trail Political Action Committee, states, “The OHV community is being continually bombarded with new federal rules and regulations that impact our ability to enjoy family-oriented motorized recreation on public and private lands.  The Obama Administration has shown no substantive interest in scaling back their politically motivated regulatory agenda on lands managed by the U.S Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.”

     “Trail voters believe there is one clear choice in this election.  If you want to see the White House address tort reform and support personal freedoms which include the responsible recreational use of our public lands then you and your friends should vote for Romney/Ryan on November 6,” Amador concludes.

# # #

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Regulate the Federal Regulators!


As TPAC voters know, it’s both anti-trail politicians and the agency leads they appoint and/or confirm at the EPA and other cabinet level departments that can impact our recreational access to public and private lands.

 

TPAC is working hard to elect a pro-trail/pro-regulatory majority to the U.S. Senate.  On November 6, trail voters will help determine if the new Senate will rein in federal regulators on OHV recreation-related issues.   TPAC believes a new pro-access majority in the Senate will have a significant and immediate impact on the politically motivated regulatory agenda of the EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Those two agencies regulate both our public land access and the vehicles we use.

 

Tomorrow, TPAC will be announcing several new additions to our key targeted senate races.  Remember OHVers need a net gain of 4 pro-trail senators (3 if Romney/Ryan win) to get our majority.

 

Here are TPAC's Key Races as of October 10, 2012

 

U.S. Senate


Tommy Thompson (WI-Senate)
Dean Heller (NV - Senate)
Denny Rehberg (MT-Senate)
George Allen (VA- Senate)
Jeff Flake (AZ - Senate)
Heather Wilson (NM-Senate)
Rick Berg (ND-Senate)
 

New polling data just coming into TPAC’s war room is showing that Tom Smith is closing in on Bob Casey, Jr. in the Pennsylvania senate race.  Casey is backed by Big Green’s League of Conservation Voters and has almost a 100% score from that organization.  Smith’s regulatory reform agenda would give a big boost to public land access champions such as Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Dean Heller.

 

Donate $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, up to $5000 dollars to take back the senate!

 

TPAC is also reviewing other highly competitive and strategic races in OH, IN, and MO.  Again, at least two key senate races will get TPAC donations tomorrow.  Just how large those donations are will depend on your support of our effort in the remaining few weeks of this election cycle.  This is YOUR chance to make a difference.

 

Thanks for your continued support!

 

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com