Celebrate FREEDOM, Trails, and the 4th of July

 

Just for today, TPAC wants riders to ignore the OHV bad news in California and focus on some positive stories about trail access due to a lot of hard work by OHV enthusiasts, Industry, aftermarket, clubs, and small businesses.

Polaris has their T.R.A.I.L.S. grant program. Yamaha has its OHV Grants Initiative, and the Motorcycle Industry Council created the Right Rider Access Fund.  All of those programs help support grassroots efforts to promote and protect our Freedom to recreate in a responsible manner on public and private lands.

 

New riding areas on public and private lands are coming online.  Riley Ranch ATV Park, a county facility, is now connected to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.  New user organizations have been formed there to champion OHV access in that area.  Moto Mountain OHV Park near Fairmont Georgia has just opened up for family recreation at that private facility. 

 

Some large timber and mining companies either have OHV recreation on some of their lands or are looking at new opportunities for that activity.

 

Today, lets reflect on the aforementioned examples of how we are still blessed with Freedom in this country. We have a lot to be thankful for.

 

After your barbecue today but before the desserts are served, consider a “Fight for Freedom” donation to TPAC so we can continue to support our pro-trail candidates running for federal office.

DONATE TO HELP ELECT FREEDOM LOVING CANDIDATES TO THE U.S. SENATE

http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

Happy 4th of July!

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC

Trail Survey - How Are YOU Engaged in the 2012 Elections?

As trail enthusiasts get ready to celebrate Independence Day, TPAC is asking you to take our

survey letting us know how you are engaged in the 2012 elections. 

TPAC believes this is a critically important election at all levels of government.   County commissioners or supervisors often vote on plans that impact the approval of local OHV parks or trail systems.   State officials have authority over state-run OHV programs.   Congress has budget authority over federal land agencies as well as creating laws that govern those programs.   The White House appoints directors to federal agencies and issues policy directives that impact how those departments approach public land access.

Thanks in advance taking this survey and for being engaged in the 2012 elections.

Greens Blister Access Candidates

TPAC wants to send this short update on the presidential race regarding the recent attacks on Governor Romney by one of the most active anti-OHV groups in the country and that organization is the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

 

PEER’s “OHV Policy” lead is Karen Schambach.  She has been the green’s point person on a majority of the anti-OHV lawsuits filed in the West included a lawsuit PEER filed to close the Carnegie State OHV Park in the S.F. Bay Area (a suit  they just lost and had to pay their own $500 thousand dollar legal debt).  Schambach was also the driving force behind the California legislature’s plan to gut the state’s user-pay/user benefit OHV program.

TPAC is warning you and our candidates that this will be an extremely ugly political season where far-left green groups will blister and smear pro-trail candidates with such names as “Member of the Dirty Dozen” or “Eco-thug” like they did to former Congressman Richard Pombo, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

TPAC hopes you will get out on the trail this summer with your family and enjoy the access to public lands that we are fighting for through the election process.

 

Donate $25, $50, $100, $200, $500 today to help us defend our candidates against the green smear machine

http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

Happy Trails,

Don Amador, Founder

The Trail PAC

www.thetrailpac.com

House Vote to Restore OHV Access in NC

For several months, TPAC has highlighted a number of House bills that address OHV access to Forest Service lands and/or address overzealous EPA regulations that will restrict motorized activities on public roads and trails.  Many of those proposals are being blocked in the U.S.  Senate by Harry Reid (D-NV).

This week, the House is expected to vote on Jeff Denham’s H.R 2578 - the Conservation and Economic Growth Act.  While Denham’s (R-Turlock) bipartisan legislative package deals mostly with water storage issues, it also contains H.R. 4094 (Jones , R– NC) that overrides an OHV closure order by the National Park Service and restores OHV access to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.

The Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act would protect jobs and small businesses by restoring OHV access to that Park Service Unit.

For the first time in national politics we have House members who are aggressively championing legislation that challenges the overzealous trail closure agenda of many federal agencies.   This fact only lends credence to TPAC’s goal this election cycle of helping to vote in pro-trail senate candidates who will then vote to replace the senate’s “Stall Chief” (Harry Reid) with a majority leader who will allow votes and/or oversight hearings on public land access issues.

TPAC really needs your fiscal support now as we have key races (and some new ones) that need our continued support.   To help TPAC stay in the game, please make a generous donation today:

Donate $50, $100, $200, $500, $1000, or $5000 today.

http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

Thanks in advance for your continued support!

Don

Don Amador, Founder

The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com

VA Primary Today Important to Off-Road Voters

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 12, 2012

CONTACT: Don Amador
EMAIL:  info@thetrailpac.com
PHONE: 925.301.5439

ALLEN v. KAINE BATTLE IN NOVEMBER IS KEY PUBLIC LAND ACCESS FIGHT

WASHINGTON D.C. –  Outdoor recreation access interests are watching to see if George Allen wins the primary to face Tim Kaine in the November general election.    

When Senator George Allen was in prior office (109th Congress), he was listed as a “Champion of Private Property Rights” by the League of Private Property Voters.

During that same time-period, then Governor Tim Kaine filed a petition with the federal government for them to set aside almost 25% of scarce multiple-use Forest Service lands as “Clinton-era Roadless Areas” on 400,000 acres in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Don Amador, Founder of The Trail PAC, states, “Off-roaders will continue to support the George Allen for Senate campaign in this election as one of our key targeted senate races.  Allen will need our support because the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has targeted him for defeat.  As you know, LCV has a voting review committee comprised of hard-core anti-OHV groups including the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund and The Wilderness Society.”

“TPAC believes this election is critical for trail voters and is committed to helping ensure the trail community is effectively engaged and represented in the election process,” Amador concludes.

 # # #

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.

www.thetrailpac.com

VOTE THE BUMS OUT!

As CA, MT, NJ, NM, and SD hold their Primaries next week on June 5, TPAC wants to remind folks to not only vote/support your pro-access congressional candidates but  vote for your local and state candidates as well.  Often times these folks move from one elected body to another leaving a voting record you can review.

 

For example in CA yesterday, Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-Petaluma) voted in a budget committee to gut the CA OHV Grants program that supports  FS, BLM, and county OHV parks such as Metcalf Cycle Park near San Jose.  However, he is termed out of his state office and is now running for the House of Representatives in a congressional district that has number of federal OHV areas.  The very same areas he voted to defund while a state representative.

State Senator Joe Simitian (D- Palo Alto) who championed the plan to defund the CA OHV program is also termed out of his state office and is now running for county supervisor near one of the county parks he voted to defund.

TPAC is once again strongly urging trail voters to cast ballots for those in all offices who will support our sport and access to public lands.  Become an army of one and network with your fellow riders regarding this election.  As you can see in CA, it DOES matter who you vote for.

To help TPAC at the federal level, please donate today at:

http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

Now – GO VOTE and forward this email on to your riding network.

Thanks,

Don

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

Big Green v. Trail Candidates in WI

TPAC believes Wisconsin will be one of the key "trail" battle states in our race to unseat the anti-access and pro-regulatory majority in the U.S. Senate. The WI Primary is tomorrow and it looks like it will pit Tammy Baldwin (who has been endorsed by Big Green) against several pro-trail candidates.

TPAC believes the two top pro-access candidates who are leading in the polls are Tommy Thompson and Mark Neumann. Thompson is the former governor and is a motorcycle rider and one-time (or current) member of the American Motorcyclist Association. Thompson has also been endorsed by rocker Ted Nugent -an avid outdoorsman from the "hook and bullet" community.

Neumann also appeared to be pro-access and against overregulation while serving in Congress. He has the endorsement of Senator Rand Paul - a real champion who is working to stop the EPA from abusing the public via its excessive regulatory agenda.

TPAC is not sure who will win the primary battle between the access candidates, but we are committed to supporting the eventual winner against Baldwin who would be a strong environmental ally of Senator Harry Reid and support his ongoing efforts to block Senate votes on pro-trail and regulatory reform House bills.

TPAC believes the trail and outdoor communities should work together to help make sure this battleground state elects a pro-access candidate to the U.S. Senate on November 6.

Please join the off-roaders, racers, aftermarket, lawyers, architects, land agency staffers, academics, small business owners, motorcycle moms/dads, OHV media, and others who have already donated to TPAC.

Donate $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, up to $5000 to help us fight in key battle ground states to win back the senate.

Donate here:

http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html

Thanks,

Don Amador

The Trail PAC

www.thetrailpac.com