🚀 go-pugleaf

Subj:  Speed Limit Repeal		Section: Safety/Driving
  To:  [F] all				Friday, June 16, 1995 10:22:00 PM
From:  National Motorists Assoc

The end of the National Maximum Speed Limit law may well be in sight!

This is as close as it's been to being repealed in 8 years, maybe more.

The National Highway System bill (S.440) contains a clause in it to 
repeal the NMSL entirely, (therefore letting the states set the speed 
limits) in addition to funding and other issues.  It allows for 
presently free Interstates to be converted to toll roads too. (that's a 
no-no under existing law.)

This is a very important piece of legislation!

The Senate was not scheduled to debate the NHS bill until after it 
worked on welfare reform. However, for various reasons the Senate 
leadership decided to wait on that.  So, when welfare reform was pulled 
from the schedule, Sen Dole (Majority leader) looked for bills that had 
cleared their committees and were awaiting a vote in front of the full 
Senate.  He decided on the NHS bill, S.440.  It passed the Senate 
Environment and Public Works Committee. (If I remember correctly, the 
vote was 13-1)

The bill was to be debated today.  However, several Democrats began a 
filibuster to show their disagreement over the part of the NHS bill that 
deals with construction contracts. That objectionable piece was removed 
and the filibuster stopped.  (this is good, there were not enough votes 
to stop the filibuster)

Senators Snowe (R-ME), Campbell (R-CO) and Smith (R-NH) are prepared to 
offer an amendment to the NHS bill that deletes the penalties on states 
without helmet laws.  Sens Baucus (D-MT) and another I've since 
forgotten plan on offering amendments to strike the toll provision of 
the bill.  (that is also good)

FREEDOM IS ON THE LINE AND WITHIN REACH!

The full Senate will begin deliberations on S.440 Monday at 1pm ET, with 
a vote likely on Tuesday.

You are encouraged to call and/or fax your Senators in DC, not their 
local office (phone # in the blue pages of the Yellow Pages book. -- 
Blue pages of the yellow pages?) and let them know that you support the 
NMSL repeal clause in S.440.  When talking to the staffers, use the bill 
# as they don't always know the title of a bill.  (Information overload 
is the way of the world in DC)

If you don't have a phone book, the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121.

We know that Sen. Lautenberg (NJ) is an ardent 55 supporter.  It will 
take a lot to convert him.

Sen Lauch Faircloth (NC) added the NMSL repeal clause to S.440 early 
on.  Sen Don Nickles (OK) has also introduced a separate bill (s.476) to 
simply repeal the NMSL.  Sen Burns (MT) has stated many times publicly 
his displeasure over the NMSL idea.

  -National Motorists Assoc

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Subj:  NHS Vote				Section: Safety/Driving
  To:  all				Monday, June 19, 1995 5:55:11 PM
From:  National Motorists Assoc

The NHS is being debated in the Senate now.  The bill, S.440 is known as 
the National Highway System Act and has a few interesting items in it, 
one of them being a repeal of the speed limit.

As expected, Sen Lautenberg (NJ) has introduced an amendment to the bill 
that keeps the 55/65 in effect. He's never going to stop thinking that 
55 is a good law.

Problem is, Sen Mike DeWine of Ohio is agreeing with him and supported the 
amendment.  Sen. Moynihan (NY) will also probably fall into place behind 
DeWine.  Since we don't have TV here, I don't know how the debate has fared 
since an NMA member called earlier today to tell us that. He saw it on 
C-SPAN 2, which I don't think I get at home.

  -National Motorists Assoc

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Subj:  NMSL dying on the vine!		Section: Safety/Driving
  To:  all				Tuesday, June 20, 1995 1:41:12 PM
From:  National Motorists Assoc

FREEDOM IS CLOSE AT HAND!

Well, the results are in.  NMA was 98% successful in beginning to get 
the NMSL repealed.

Today, the senate voted on the NHS bill.  As written, it included
a straight repeal of the NMSL.  However, two amendments were offered 
during the vote to deflect that.One, by Sen Lautenberg of NJ would have 
kept 55/65 pretty much as it is.  It failed by about 15 votes.

The other one, by Sen Reid of NV, repealed the NMSL for cars but not 
trucks. It passed, 51-49.

Either vote shows that the theory/validity of a national speed limit is 
almost dead.

We think this can be knocked out in a House-Senate conference.  A one vote 
victory is hardly strong.  We're getting in touch with the trucking 
industry and letting them know about this.

  -National Motorists Assoc





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