Michigan OHV Funds Threat – News – Dirt Rider

AMA warns of proposed cuts to rider safety programsThe American Motorcyclist Association has issued a warning to motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle riders nationwide that cash-strapped states may raid funds earmarked for rider safety programs to balance their budgets.The first example of this skullduggery comes from Michigan where Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) has asked her state’s Legislature to eliminate Michigan’s Motorcycle Safety Education Program and the Off-Road Vehicle Safety Education Program. She eliminated the programs from her proposed Fiscal 2004 state budget, which was recently sent to lawmakers for consideration.Michigan riders can easily send messages to their government officials asking them to keep the rider training programs via the StateWatch of the AMA’s Rapid Response Center. While you’re there, you can tell the governor and your state lawmakers that the safety programs are self-supporting — paid for through fees collected from motorcyclists and ATV riders. Killing the programs would eliminate the fees collected to support the programs so the state would see no money savings.You don’t have to live in Michigan to be affected. Use the AMA StateWatch to keep abreast the latest issues on the burner in your state and get your voice heard by the elected officials.