Senator Simitian's Truths

[UglyJeepThing]

Many have seen by this point the video where Senator Simitian asked me to distribute information to the OHV Community regarding the nature of his proposal. I've done some other fact-checking on my own, and will now convey both messages.

1. Senator Simitian wanted members of the OHV Community, especially those contacting his office, to know that it is his intention in this proposal that money taken from the OHV Trust Fund WILL NOT include registration fees that come from the purchase of green-stickers for non-street legal vehicles. The Senator has repeated that over and over again, and although it is very confusing to all to understand how the OHV Division is funded, I can unequivocally state that the Senator does not intend for this bill to include the taking of actual 'green-sticker' funds.

2. I spoke with the Editorial Department of the San Jose Mercury News yesterday in regards to the mistakes and errors in their opinion piece, which has now been reprinted all over the state in many newspapers. I pointed out that the statement that the money taken from the OHV Trust Fund normally goes to "build new OHV parks" is patently incorrect, and pointed the reporter to the grant website where it is clearly listed how the grant money is rewarded, and for what projects.

She asked me if I was sure the OHV Trust Funds weren't going to build new OHV parks, and I relayed that there have been no new OHV parks built in years, and she promised to look into this discrepancy, which I have been assured is ongoing.

We have to thank the San Jose Mercury News for taking us seriously, and looking into discrepancies pointed about by readers.

The Senator singled me out at the subcommittee meeting to make sure people attending the meeting knew that the OHV Community was confused, and contacting him with incorrect information. I was used by the Senator to get his message across, which I believe is an abuse of his power as chair. But he should be aware that his words may come back to haunt him as well.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Amy

[The Wolf]

Amy - you did great at the sub-committee meeting! Just wanted to let you know that. With regard to the senator's comment that he wants everyone to know that he is not taking the "green sticker" funds - the OHV community has always used the words "green sticker funds" to mean the OHV Trust Fund as a whole - so, when we say leave our green sticker fund alone - we mean the whole fund. He needs to understand that!

Thank you for all your efforts!

[Brewster2]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

the OHV community has always used the words "green sticker funds" to mean the OHV Trust Fund as a whole - so, when we say leave our green sticker fund alone - we mean the whole fund. He needs to understand that!

Or, the OHV community should start saying "Leave our OHV Trust Funding Alone". This would include the green sticker registrations, SVRA entrance fees, and the fuel tax we pay on fuel used off-highway.


It's regrettable that many in the OHV community don't know the difference.

Ride on
Brewster

[fermentor]

Since the original plan, diversion of fuel tax to OHV fund in lieu of our ability to write off fuel tax has been subverted, does that mean we can now revert back to the former process of writing off OHV fuel tax?

[UglyJeepThing]

Originally Posted by fermentor

Since the original plan, diversion of fuel tax to OHV fund in lieu of our ability to write off fuel tax has been subverted, does that mean we can now revert back to the former process of writing off OHV fuel tax?

Sort of integral to the argument in the lawsuit, I believe. Promises and legislative statutes were written in response to the fact that the OHV Community gave up their right to ask for reimbursement. Now those monies are being borrowed, and downright taken for other uses. In a very real sense, we are getting charged twice.

Amy

[duneburner]

when I talked to Simitian's cheif of staff a week ago he said the exact same thing " we are not taking any green sticker money. Just fuel tax money" I tried to convince him that that money was dedicated to ohv because it came from fuel used while off highway. He didn't want to hear anything about that. In the end we agreed to disagree.

[atvobsession]

Originally Posted by UglyJeepThing

The Senator singled me out at the subcommittee meeting to make sure people attending the meeting knew that the OHV Community was confused, and contacting him with incorrect information. I was used by the Senator to get his message across, which I believe is an abuse of his power as chair. But he should be aware that his words may come back to haunt him as well.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Amy

That was VERY OBVIOUS. He is a scumbag. People say "Green sticker" fund, as a generic term for the WHOLE fund. Gas? Green sticker? it doesn't matter JOE....you still completely gutted the GRANT program and undermined the original intent of the fund in the first place.

What has happened, is our leaders..and I use that term LOOSELY....completely disregard the will of the people. That room paraded commenter after commenter that knew more about that fund and what it does...than Alan or Joe...yet they chose to disregard, and do what they wanted.

Shame on Joe and Alan for disregarding people that are smarter or more knowledgeable on the subject than they were.....shame.

[OrangeCrash]

Well here's our answer to Simitina, the OVHDC web site now shows $15,003 Dollars with 100 sponsors so Amy go get um.

[cruzila]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

[RockMolester]

That's awesome to hear!

[navy-jeepster]

Sorry, I don't buy it.

Smoke and mirrors! That is what Enron did to their investors, and that is what our government of this state is or will try with our OHV trust fund.
If they succeed at getting just the gas tax portion, they will then go after the rest when they think we are not looking!

Is the trust fund able to know exactly how much comes from gas tax, green stickers, and SVRA entrance fee's? Being a state run division, I would bet not very well!

And this is not the only trust fund that is being attempted to get raided. The trust fund for scholarships of state citizens killed or hurt in the 9-11 attacks, and some of this trust fund also goes to fighting terrorists at the state level.

Todd

[navy-jeepster]

So, was their intention all along to take the whole 31 million, or the 11 million figure I heard floating around for a long time.
Either way, it was money in the OHV trust fund for a specific purpose.

Sounds like they used their smoke and mirrors to decieve people again!

Disappointed that our state government took our trust money to try and plug a billion dollar hole in their budget with a few million.
Kind of like trying to plug a hole in a boat that was made with a cannon ball, and trying to use your finger! Not going to work!

Oh, and the state is also taking money from another trust fund is being raided.
http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/...9bb2963f4.html
The California 9-11 special plate trust fund is and has been raided also.

Todd

[jjeep71]

[QUOTE=UglyJeepThing

1. Senator Simitian wanted members of the OHV Community, especially those contacting his office, to know that it is his intention in this proposal that money taken from the OHV Trust Fund WILL NOT include registration fees that come from the purchase of green-stickers for non-street legal vehicles. The Senator has repeated that over and over again, and although it is very confusing to all to understand how the OHV Division is funded, I can unequivocally state that the Senator does not intend for this bill to include the taking of actual 'green-sticker' funds.

Amy[/QUOTE]

Funny, I sent a number of emails to Simitian's office and never heard back. At least Feinstein sends her auto replies!

I need to look through the SJ Mercury to find the retraction/corrections, I did not see it.

Now Simitian has been termed out and is running for Santa Clara County Council. Throw this bum out, I know he will not be getting my vote!

[LYIN' KING]

OHV Funds: The Next Round

Written by John Stewart.


The ink is dry on the California budget and details are coming into focus. So, what about the OHMVR program? What about the future of OHV recreation in the state of California? The OHMVR budget is linked to the California State Parks budget. Now, for the rest of the story...

While news headlines claim nearly all California State Parks will remain open, the angst caused by Senator Simitian and the California Parks Foundation ended as no benefit to the Parks and a detriment to OHMVR program.

BAD NEWS: In short, the Governor reduced the OHMVR Trust Fund portion of gas-tax revenue. Rather than $21 million loss of gas-tax funding to the OHMVR program, the loss was $7 million. The end result is the OHMVR local assistance grant program will be funded at the $10 million level as opposed to the $21 million of last year.

GOOD NEWS: Now, let's examine the details of the gas-tax portion. There was an effort to divert $21 million in gas-tax revenue originally proposed to fund the local assistance grants portion of the state OHMVR Program. That effort resulted in $7 million being lost while the remaining $14 million was transferred to the OHMVR Trust Fund.

Thanks to letters and calls from OHV recreation to local representatives and the Governor's office, the reduction of funding was not as severe as it could have been.

MORE BAD NEWS: Now, let's examine the details of the local assistance grants portion. The $21 million was directed to support the local assistance grants program. Other than that, it did not impact the OHMVR Trust Fund; only the grants program which was targeted to need $21 million for the 2012 grant cycle.

During the legislative session, separate legislation provided authority to spend ONLY $10 million on local assistance grants for the 2012 grant cycle. This placed a cap on the grants program; a 52% reduction from the proposed 2012 grants cycle.

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: While $14 million was transferred to the OHMVR Trust Fund, the OHMVR Program has authority to spend ONLY $10 million, a 52% reduction and serious impact on local governments and our trails.

At this time, the State Vehicle Recreation Areas remain fully funded and open for use. The funding reduction will be felt at federal and county facilities (like the Rubicon Trail of Eldorado County) that depend on ORMVR local assistance grants to remain open. For the past three years of OHMVR grants, funding has dropped from $26 million in 2010, $21 million in 2011, and $10 million for the current 2012 grant cycle.

So, what is the impact to OHV recreation? First, the $10 million will be split as such:
•Law Enforcement - $2 million
•Operation and Maintenance - $5 million
•Restoration - $2.5 million
•Education and Safety - $500,000

For an estimate of what this means to the current grants awaiting funding for Operations and Maintenance projects, see:
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...e2012-p2-4.pdf

While BLM El Centro and Glamis Sand Dunes will receive grant funding, the Eldorado National Forest and iconic Rubicon Trail will not receive grant funding.

So, what does this mean for OHV recreation? To put this in perspective, review this analysis of the how law enforcement, Forest Service, BLM and other grant recipients for the past four grant cycles. Note: 2012 grant cycle is included at is original projected amount.
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...-Applicant.pdf
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...-Applicant.pdf
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...-Applicant.pdf
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...-Applicant.pdf
•http://www.4x4voice.com/Notebook/ohm...-Applicant.pdf

As this analysis points out, the local assistance grants program is an important part of the state OHMVR Program. It provides much needed funding to Forest Service and BLM to maintain the OHV trails and off- road areas important to OHV recreation. The OHMVR Grants Program provides an important economic boost to the rural counties of California where recreation occurs.

In the end, the California State Parks System was projected to receive a $21 million infusion at the expense of OHV recreation. They received a net loss of $24 million while OHV lost $7 million. The California State Parks System is still on life support. The California OHMVR Program is now connected to life support.

For details of the OHMVR portion of the California State Budget, see pages 58 and 59 of:
http://www.dof.ca.gov/documents/Full...ummary_web.pdf


Source: http://cal4wheel.com/california--acc...the-next-round

[Runzoff]

Amy,
Let's start another letter writing campaign to the Media and politicinas about restoring the OHV Trust Fund, Grants Program, and Daphne Greene and Eric Lueder to the OHMVR!!

[LYIN' KING]

Screw ALL the local/national orgs with their traditional intervention, letter writting and other conformist stuff!

Let's just freakin' sue like the GREEN crew does!!!

[UglyJeepThing]

That's not a bad idea!

We are already working on finding a bipartisan group of Legislature members who will carry a bill to restore money to the Grants and Local Assistance Program. This was before the current scandal broke, but we're still working on it now. I think timing will be everything.

From what I know, the Governor and Secretary of Natural Resources are already realizing that that Daphne is the most qualified candidate they have for the position of Deputy Director.

Eric got a raw deal from the Senate; between that, Daphne's dismissal, and the way the State Senate passed the Sustainable Parks Proposal through the Legislature like a freight train, they should all be embarrassed enough to help us and restore money to the fund.

The seeds have already been planted...when it comes time for a petition I will let you know and we'll break it out!

Amy

[UglyJeepThing]

Originally Posted by LYIN' KING

Screw ALL the local/national orgs with their traditional intervention, letter writing and other conformist stuff!

Let's just freakin' sue like the GREEN crew does!!!

Bob, when it comes time to release Stage 2 of OHVDC (which will be soon, our attorney filed more Public Record Requests with the state yesterday), I am going to remind you of this post, and put you in charge of fundraising!

In the meantime support PLF for the Tahoe lawsuit, and Sierra Access Coalition in their upcoming lawsuit!

Amy

[LYIN' KING]

Originally Posted by UglyJeepThing

Bob, when it comes time to release Stage 2 of OHVDC (which will be soon, our attorney filed more Public Record Requests with the state yesterday), I am going to remind you of this post, and put you in charge of fundraising!

I retired earlier than Ruth, honorably, and NOBODY assigns me anything excepting my Wife of 30 years, even at . . . that I rarely comply.

Regardless, thank you for the update!