This section highlights the activities of state highway users groups and provides an understanding of local efforts, which you may join, to impact issues effecting you and your community.

4th Quarter 2002 (from America's Highways)

Personal Visits and Speeches to Update State Groups on Federal Issues and Discuss Highway Users Campaigns/Programs

• National Governors' Association in Washington, DC
• National Conference of State Legislators in Washington, DC
• US Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC
• Real Estate Advocacy Group for States in Washington, DC Automotive Trade Association Executives in New Orleans, LA
• California State Committee on Environmental Quality in Sacramento, CA (testimony)
• Texas Transportation Summit in Dallas, TX
• Washington State Highway Users in Seattle, WA
• Colorado Highway Users in Denver, CO
• Multi-State Highway Transportation Agreement in Park City, UT

State Contacts Provided Grassroots Support to Highway Users on Key Federal Legislative Issues

• The Highway Users briefs about 20 members of Monroe (LA) Chamber of Commerce and urged them to tell their delegation about impact of $8.6 billion cut in highway investments.
• 346 organizations respond to call for action and added their names to list urging Congress to adopt legislation increasing highway funding.
• Briefed VT Highway Users Conference and IA Asphalt Pavement Association on RABA impact prior to meetings with Sen. Jeffords and Rep. Nussle on reauthorization.
• Urged supporters in DE and PA to contact Senators Carper and Spector, who offered an amendment to increase CAFÉ standards. Amendment was defeated.
• Contacts in CA, IL, MI, NJ, OH and PA served as spokespersons for radio interviews on the ethanol mandate and its impact on the Highway Trust Fund.
• Asked supporters to contact their Senators and urge support for MEGA Trust Act.

State Contacts Provided Grassroots Support to Highway Users on Program Activities

• CA Highway Users participated in a campaign to oppose state legislation requiring reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks.
• Organizations and contacts in every state volunteered to deliver the binder, The Road to Congress, to every Member of Congress and other 2002 candidates for major federal and state offices.
• Drafted letter from MT Contractors' Association and state organized labor official thanking Senator Baucus for his leadership and support of environmental streamlining.
• Wrote letter to Detroit Free Press in response to editorial on highway and road construction and had MI Road Builders agree to sign it.

3rd Quarter 2002 (from America's Highways)

Binder Aims to Educate Congressional Candidates

We've received an excellent response to our request to hand-deliver The Road to Congress binders to congressional candidates. The binder, an informative and easy-to-use manual on the importance of highways for 2002 congressional candidates, has been delivered to about half of the 535 members of congress. Contractors, truckers, state highway users groups, asphalt and pavement manufacturers, service station dealers and other highway-related organizations have met with candidates across the country to discuss highway issues and deliver the books. The Associated General Contractors, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, National Sand, Stone and Gravel Association, and The Highway Users sponsored the binders, improved and redesigned from the 1996 version, jointly. The books are aimed at educating congressional candidates about key highway and transportation issues, including reauthorization of TEA-21, which expires in 2003. Our goal is to have a binder delivered to each major congressional candidate by our members, supporters and others in the highway community prior to the November elections. If you are interested in participating in this important program, please call Dave Lakin at The Highway Users (1-800-483-4544).

2nd Quarter 2002 (from America's Highways - formerly Members Only newsletter)

AB 1058 Campaign Rages On

The Highway Users teamed up with the California Highway Users Conference and coalition spearheaded by California auto dealers to oppose state legislation that could restrict motorists from buying the type of vehicle they need and want. Assembly Bill 1058 (AB 1058) gives the state Air Resources Board virtually unlimited authority to regulate greenhouse gases and allows the board to impose restrictions, taxes, fees and reduced speed limits on drivers and their vehicles.

If the measure becomes law, AB 1058 could raise vehicle prices and place certain types of vehicles out of financial reach for many consumers, jeopardize car-pooling programs and force many families, who choose larger vehicles for the space and safety they provide, into smaller, less safe vehicles.

The bill passed the Assembly in January and the Senate adopted their version of the measure in May. If the Assembly concurs with the Senate amendments by August 31, AB 1058 will go to Gov. Gray Davis (D) for approval. But a strong grassroots effort headed by a coalition of auto dealers and the businesses community is having some impact. Several members of the Assembly who supported the bill in January when it was adopted, are reported as having second thoughts about the proposal now.

California Highway Users Chairman Andy Schlaefli of San Diego and Highway Users President Bill Fay co-signed a letter opposing the bill and sent it to the Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Highway Users Vice President, Public Liaison Dave Lakin testified against in the bill at the hearing on April 1 in Sacramento, using the letter as the basis for his testimony.

"One of the greatest freedoms in America is the freedom of mobility," the letter said. "Having access to the vehicles of our choice has made it possible for Americans to pursue jobs across far larger areas, raise our standard of living, and pursue the American dream of owning an affordable home."

"In addition to restraining mobility and limiting consumer choice, the proposal will have a negligible impact on greenhouse gases," the letter said. A recent study from the American Enterprise Institute found that if all gasoline powered cars and light trucks were removed from the roads, the worldwide levels of man-made carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – would be reduced by only four percent.

"If California wants to lead, why not become the second state in the nation to adopt a bottleneck removal program (Minnesota was the first) and help lead efforts to make traffic bottleneck removals a high priority in the next federal highway reauthorization bill?," the letter asked.

"While we understand the sponsor's concern about man-made emissions of CO2 and overall fuel economy, unilateral action will have little impact on either, while adding tremendously to the cost of mobility for the state's families," the letter said.

For further information on the campaign to oppose AB 1058, call Dave Lakin at 1-800-483-4544. You may also access the campaign website at http://www.wedrive.org/ or call 1-800-988-2588 for information.