AMA Opposes Efforts to Change Anti-lobbying Law

AMA Opposes Efforts to Change Anti-lobbying Law

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) opposes
efforts to change a law that bars federal employees from lobbying states for
mandatory helmet laws or other traffic-related legislation.

The National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR),
a national group that represents the highway safety offices of most states,
wants to repeal provisions in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(TEA-21) that bar federally funded employees from lobbying state legislatures.
TEA-21 is being considered by Congress for reauthorization.

Several years ago federal bureaucrats were traveling to state legislatures to
testify in support of mandatory helmet laws and against repealing the laws,
raising the ire of motorcyclists and prompting Congress to act to ensure such
decisions are left up to the states.

"Motorcyclists fought long and hard to get this anti-lobbying language written
into law when the Transportation Equity Act was approved by Congress in 1998,"
said Sean Maher, AMA director of state affairs. "Whether it involves lobbying
legislatures to enact mandatory helmet laws, or to crack down on cell phone use
by car drivers, we oppose it. We don't believe that our federal tax dollars
should be used by federal bureaucrats, or federally funded state workers, to
lobby, period.

"That money was earmarked for highway safety initiatives and should be used for
those safety programs, not for lobbying," Maher said.

NAGHSR members are appointed by state governors to administer federal and state
highway safety funds and to implement state highway safety plans. Maher wants
motorcyclists to write to their state governors to let them know that NAGHSR is
trying to change the lobbying language in TEA-21, which would lead to more
federal involvement in state legislative processes.

"Motorcyclists can write letters on their own, or go to the AMA website at
http://www.AMADirectlink.com to get a pre-written letter," Maher said. "Just
click on the `Protecting Your Right to Ride' icon on the left, then click on
`StateWatch,' and then click on your state. You can print out the letter and
mail it, or send it by e-mail."
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The American Motorcyclist Association is a 270,000-member nonprofit
organization.  Established in 1924, the Association's purpose is to pursue,
protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of
its members. For more information, visit the AMA website at
http://www.AMADirectlink.com.