    Well, yes there is.

    Tell them that magic only occurs in the movies.

    The Legislative Committee and its lobbyists have had a full court press on since the last real Board meeting (the one in which everyone scuffed their feet on the Windsor Locks Marriott carpets). But then two things occurred: first, an election year, and second, a Chinese import. The first means the primary focus in Congress is getting re-elected and all else takes second place.

    The second means that staffs began working remotely and became difficult to reach — and staff is the gate through which all must pass to get to the good folks that vote. Not surprisingly, staff and the good folks (who have also been working remotely) have been compelled to focus on how to prevent/mitigate/undo the damage to the US economy of an unwanted virus. That has sucked an immense amount of oxygen out of the DC swamp.

    In a normal year, our efforts would have resulted in confirmation by many Members that they would be cosponsors and our bill would have moved within the System, but decision making on what to them is a minor matter is taking a back seat to the monsters gnawing at their front doors. I prefer the Mr. Smith version of Washington, but unfortunately that version never was real. So, we work with what we have.

    The closer we get to the election, the more difficult it becomes to even make contact with staffs.

    Anything that is going to occur, based on input from our lobbyists is not likely to occur until after 11.3.20. Then, regardless of the outcome, they expect that Congress will focus on moving legislation out the door before January. It is then we will have a chance to move our legislation.

    Oh, even at this late date, we are making minor tweaks (based on late requests) to the language — nothing substantive — just minor tweaks to address issues raised by the FCC and Sen. Wicker's staff (who have been very helpful).

    By the way, due to the on-the-ground efforts of former Rocky Mountain VD Robert Wareham and the personal political contributions of Mr. Wareham, Mr. Tiemstra, Mr. Roderick, Mr. Hopengarten and the undersigned, we were successful in acquiring Sen. Gardner of Colorado as an additional sponsor. Sen.Gardner is a member of Sen. Wicker's Senate Commerce committee and thus his sponsorship increases the probability our bill will pass through the Senate after November.

    Making magic is easy. Making legislation is hard — particularly hard if your organization is no larger than a middling size town and it does not make political contributions. Justice, freedom and the American Way are the idealogical core of the System — but, it is cold, hard cash that fuels the furnace of politics. And we, as an organization, ain't got no fuel.

    Despite that little shortcoming, the members of the Legislative Committee (well, anyway the others) are making progress, as frustratingly slow as it is. When the dam breaks we have a very good chance of obtaining more and better Senate sponsors than we have in the past. And it is in the Senate where we died in the past. So, if our efforts bear fruit we will escape the dreaded Forest Of The Senate and should face, based on past support, easy passage through the House.

    It takes years to pass any legislation, even if the organization is large, spends heavily and has the public eye. So, the fact it is taking time is just normal — and to one not directly involved, inexplicably slow.

    Tell'em the truth — the League is absolutely dedicated to slaying the private land use dragon, it is a big dragon, and it will take time to bring it down. But, all dragons die (See Game of Thrones).

_______________________________________

John Robert Stratton

N5AUS

Director

West Gulf Division

Office: 512-445-6262

Cell: 512-426-2028

P.O. Box 2232

Austin, Texas 78768-2232

_______________________________________

On 9/25/20 9:24 AM, rjairam@gmail.com wrote:

Members are asking.

Is there something I can tell them?

73

Ria

N2RJ

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