Everyone,

Hopefully this is the next to last email I will send out to the list about HB 49. I apologize for the email clutter about this but your collective response to these emails had made me think we now have the Eagle Forum equivalent for bicycle advocacy!!

HB49 is dying in the Senate Rules committee. The bill left the House with strong support from Demo's and Repub's but is now being held hostage by two senators, Killpack and Bramble. Sen Bramble indicated that he had issues with the bill and would hold up the bill in Rules, but, when pressed by one of his constituents, he blamed the holdup on Killpack. However, I have an email from Killpack indicating to me he will do all he can to move the bill along. WELCOME TO THE LEGISLATURE!!! (In all fairness I want everyone to know the House was the model of professional courtesy and inquiry: virtually every debate was to the meat of the matter and never strayed into political dogma. I wish I could say the same about the Senate).

So this is crunch time. If we are to save the bill it has to get out of Rules so it can be voted on.

I would ask everyone who gets this email to do two things.

First, go to : http://www.utahsenate.org/perl/spage/index.pl

look up your Senator, and send them an email asking them to :

1. help get this bill out of Rules and send it either directly to the Senate floor or into the Transportation Committee.

2. Ask them to vote for the bill when it comes up for a vote

Be nice, don't insult or threaten them: honey works better than vinegar, but feel free to remind them you a cyclist that votes!!

Second, call (801) 538-1035

Ask to speak to your Senator. You will most likely leave your name and number. They, or their intern WILL call back, and then give them the same message. Again be nice and to the point. The Senators respond to in-person talks the best, followed by hand written letters, phone call and emails. But I figure to get everyone involved, the email and phone calls should work. Besides, standing around in the halls for hours waiting for your Senator to walk by so you, the voter, can actually talk to them is kind of degrading: been there, done that!

If this works and it passes the Senate, then my last email to you as a group will be about emails to the Gov to both let him know to sign the bill, but perhaps most importantly, to let him know we are out here. But we'll save that email for another day.

Thanks for all of your help. Please participate: we need every voice!!

Thanks.

John Weis_______________________________________________
mbac-list mailing list
mbac-list@aros.net
http://www.aros.net/mailman/listinfo/mbac-list