"Is the Wolf at the Door"

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  Posted by RevBigJohn March 20, 2019 - Filed in Motorcycle News - 732 views
  

  ABATE of PA

  This article was in--- In Between the Lines which is our state newsletter and if you didn't read this maybe you should have. It was written by Charles Umbenhauer, who is many of you should know our State Lobbyist. It was titled, "Is the Wolf at the Door" 
  The new legislative session has begun and they are not wasting any time. Representatives Tim Hennessy has been appointed as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee. I looked up representatives Hennessey's vote on Senate bill 259 which was our bill that modified the 35-year-old motorcycle helmet law. Unfortunately, Representative Hennessy was among the 79 nay votes.I intend to reach out to him this week with the letter of congratulations on becoming the chair of the transportation committee and we'll seek to set up a meeting with him to discuss any plans to attempt to reinstate a helmet law.
  In the meantime,the Democrats have appointed representative Mike Carroll as the Minority Chair of the House Transportation Committee. While Mike was not in the Legislature in 2003 when the helmet , vote was taken, he has been a friend to ABATE and our motorcycling issues.

  Over in the Senate, Senator Kim Ward has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and also appointed to a leadership role as the Republican Caucus Administrator. Again this may not translate in a positive manner because she was not in the Questionnaire if as a member of the PA Legislature when the helmet vote was taken but when asked on a 2016 Bike Pac Legislative We if as a member of the PA Legislature would she support the status quo and oppose any change to the current motorcycle helmet law? Her answer was No. She did not place any comments on the page. Again,We will write her a letter of congratulations for her appointments and asking for a meeting with her.
  On the Democratic side our friend senator John Sabatina, Jr. Will be the minority chair of the Transportation Committee.
  so there is a lot of work to be done and June 3rd 2019 has been confirmed as the date for the motorcyclists Rights Rally at the state capitol in Harrisburg at noon.that really will be the starting point of a new and positive effort to keep PA of freedom of choice state. It all depends on YOU!there was a day when we easily had a crowd estimated at well over 1,000 bikers jamming the capital rotunda seeking their freedom of choice.for years I ordered $1,000 rally patches for distribution to those in attendance. We were lucky to put a few back.then I cut back to 800 because there were too many leftover that served no purpose other than to drain much needed cash out of the budget. The last rally we were down to an order of 600 patches and I still had quite a few left over.
  so keep this in mind at the next rally We will be watched closely by the new members of both the Senate and House Transportation Committees. There are also 50 new members between the House and Senate that do not have a clue about who we are or about helmet laws. You will only get one chance to leave them with a positive opinion of ABATE of PA. Make plans now to attend this year's event.
  This is why I called this months article "Is the Wolf at the Door?"We will know June 3rd if we do not do it right, you might want to pick up a helmet when you see a good sale.