Hi David,
Well put and thanks.
I have always felt that reactionary comments might make someone feel
good, but give ammunition to the "DO GOODERS" & "AGAINSTERS".
The MVPA gives us a coordinated national forum for action and support.
Winning a point with politicians is a slow, constant battle. Joining the
MVPA is worthwhile, without a doubt.
Your personal efforts have helped all collectors.
Tom McHugh, NJ
52 M38A1
MVPA
On Wed, 23 Aug 2000 20:19:30 +0100 "Enterprise B&B/Cayman Islands, BWI"
<Enterprise@earthlink.net> writes:
> I spent the last hour on the phone w/Lee Holland (LH) discussing the
> situation about HR-4205 and more specifically Section 361, the demil
> portion. I asked some very pointed questions and received a lot of
> answers
> and information. I made notes and here is what transpired:
>
> LH said he is a civilian employee of the Army and doesn't know why
> the
> Armed Service Committee referred me to him to answer questions about
> S361.
>
> LH has not been in touch w/Spence and said Spence was only a
> figurehead in
> submitting the bill and Spence is to retire shortly. He said it
> would do
> no good to contact Spence and he has not tried. Now here comes some
> important/interesting stuff:
>
> LH says the MVPA has hired, as of about 10 days ago, some
> *registered*
> lobbyists who are representing the MVPA and some other "interests"
> (his
> word w/no other details given) to find out more about and go behind
> S361
> LH told me the lobbyists did not want it revealed who they are! I
> said
> this struck me as slightly strange since as registered lobbyists,
> they are
> required by law to file a list of all interests they represent and
> that
> could be easily found. LH agreed but said that was the "wishes" of
> the
> lobbyists and he must respect it. He also was asked not to discuss
> the
> identities of the other "interests" who the lobbyists were
> represneting on
> this matter. He did mention the word "museums".
>
> LH specifically said twice he had talked w/people on the Armed
> Services
> Committee but no names or details of the communications were given
> to me.
> He did say it appears the genesis of Section 361 is the Army.
>
> We talked for a while about "Legislative Intent" which as I have
> said
> before is the statement of the reason(s) given as to why any
> particular
> bill, law or part of either is proposed. LH said he had heard of
> there
> being problems w/computer hard drives sold w/sensitive information
> on them,
> circuit boards sold to the public with stratigic parts and people
> building
> planes or such from parts legally purchased. I don't doubt this to
> be true.
>
> I said it seems to me (and this I know to be true) it would only
> take a day
> or two at the most of someone looking through the Congressional
> Record
> transcripts (and I think they are made daily) to find out not only
> who
> introduced the bill and/or Section 361 but to find the statement of
> the
> reasons behind it. LH said that is exactly what the lobbyists are
> looking
> into now. He expects some answers in around a week but could not
> give a
> specific time-frame.
>
> As to the status of the bill (there are two versions now but only
> one will
> come out of "committee"), they are in "committee" and when a final
> version
> is hammered out, it will go to Slick Willie (Hey, I actually like
> the
> horney guy) for signature. LH feels we are looking at around
> mid-September
> before something really happens.
>
> At this point in the conversation, my computer died and I started
> making
> handwritten notes so what follows is both from recent memory and in
> free
> association format.
>
> LH said he felt the MVPA is in a good position to protect the rights
> of all
> of us in this "hobby" and he himself is the owner of many MVs so he
> does
> have a vested interest in this matter. He felt it would be
> detrimental for
> individuals to try to take personal and direct "action" with
> representatives because the wrong thing said could hurt the cause.
> He
> alluded to some of the posts on this list which were somewhat
> militant. He
> also pointed out this list is not an "official" MVPA voice and many
> listers
> are not MVPA members and he would not become involved in posting to
> the list.
>
> LH indicated there has and is going to be serious funds spend by the
> MVPA
> on fighting to keep Rule 361 from becoming law. He also said it was
> his
> opinion that even if R351 did become law the Government wasn't going
> to
> start rounding up jeeps, half-tracks, etc. but he did admit under
> the
> present wording that and more could be done.
>
> OK, for those of you who are still w/me, the above are the "facts"
> of the
> conversation as my notes and memory reflect and serve me. The
> following
> are my feelings and impressions. Read them if you want and give
> them
> whatever weight you feel they deserve. They could be worth what you
> are
> paying for them :)
>
> I did tell LH I was going to post here on my conversation and he
> said he
> had no problem with that, he also gave me his home phone number if I
> wanted
> to talk more. LH seemed very sincere and dedicated and clearly is
> taking
> a lot of his personal time on this and probably other MVPA matters.
>
> My first feeling is, everyone on this list who is concerned w/not
> only R361
> but any legislation respecting this hobby should immediately join
> the MVPA.
> Considering what we spend on our toys, it's really chump change and
> I do
> believe the money which is being spent by the MVPA is for our
> benefit. If
> we're gonna ride, we should pay the fare. It's sort of like voting.
> I feel
> if someone doesn't get their bumm out and vote, they shouldn't
> complain
> about what the Government does or doesn't do. So that's my first
> point.
>
> I wasn't happy w/what I considered the "secrecy" involved in what
> the MVPA
> is doing. I feel the MVPA site should give more specific updates
> including
> names, times, dates, etc. I am not comfortable feeling anyone
> thinks I am
> not ("smart" or whatever term you would apply here) enough to be
> given the
> facts/specifics. I appreciate being represented and I sure don't
> have the
> money to do it all on my own but I don't like to feel as if I'm
> being told,
> when I ask about specifics, "Don't worry, just leave it up to me to
> handle
> and go about your playing".
>
> I also agree w/LH when he says that if (and "if" is the operative
> word
> here) some nut case (my term) starts making threats about this, that
> could
> be used against "us". If I am given specific details, then I'm
> willing
> to let the MVPA represent my interests but until then, I view
> everyting
> said w/caution.
>
> My final impressions are that LH/MVPA is on our side but should
> trust us
> with more details. I also feel whoever out there isn't an MVPA
> member
> should join STAT!
>
> OK, my 2mm worth.
>
> David
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@skylee.com>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> <mil-veh-digest@skylee.com>
> To reach a human, contact <help@skylee.com>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Sep 02 2000 - 09:32:34 PDT