From the Prez:

Here we are.   The bill is on the governor’s desk.  I want to thank all the members who were in Lansing June 4^th.  The day began with an early interview for me.  7:45 a.m. in Lansing.  Sure I can be there.  It was a hostile interview with the patterned questions about WHY repeal the law, and  WHY should car drivers pay more for insurance, and blah, blah, blah.

I am ready for all that BULL.  Why is the opposition so strong?  NHTSA’s recent press releases, and the DOT secretary, Mary Peters, are calling for a national helmet law.   We don’t need to look at Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.  We need to look at Michigan.  We have had a helmet law since 1969.  It has not made a difference in motorcycle fatalities.  Is it safer to ride in Michigan than Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois?   Heck no.  Is insurance cheaper than other states than in Michigan?   Heck no. With business hurting across the state we will continue to lose $$$ from cyclists that surround Michigan.

Back to the rally. Our support was down.  But those who came were on a mission.  We packed the gallery in the House.  It was full.  I was working the outside of the chambers with members and couldn’t get in because the sergeants had closed the gallery.  The democrats went into caucus.  Why? The floor leader didn’t want to vote on the bill that day.  He feels that we shouldn’t be able to pressure the vote.  Of course, he is a NO vote.  Speaker Dillon promised us a vote and he prevailed in the caucus meeting.  That took about an hour.  Our members would not be denied.  The gallery was still packed.  The debate was short and then the vote.  The vote normally takes 1-2 minutes.  It lasted over 20 minutes.   Some house members were at a Senate meeting and they held the board for the vote.  It was hot outside of chambers but we worked the floor by calling out legislators as they voted.  Finally they closed the board, and it passed with a 70 yes and 38 no.  I saw Tim Hughes, the governor’s legislative person working the floor.  They were pressing to get No votes.   Honestly, I was hoping for more.   We had 2 yes that were not present.  We need 74 to override a veto. When you are reading this the VETO has more than likely happened.  So now what? 

1^st, we must analyze the list.  We must check the vote and re-check the vote and see who didn’t vote with us.  We are currently looking at the override strategy.  So when was the last override?  There was one in Governor Engler’s reign that he didn’t oppose.  It was a revenue sharing bill that he didn’t want to support because of a tax increase.  His office let it be known that he wouldn’t oppose an override.   This is not the case with us.  The other was when Governor Swanson was the governor in the ‘60s.  What does that say to us?  The politics of an override are very different than a vote on an issue. During Governor Granholm’s term, even with a Republican house and senate in her 1^st term, no bills were overridden.  It is an unusual process that is very difficult.    The Democrats may stay with the governor although our sponsor is a democrat.  Timing on that vote and getting the votes in order is a must.

2^nd, as Jim always says, we must remain relevant.  We cannot lose the votes we have and must be there and be active in the election cycle.

 3^rd, we have many legislators that are term limited.  We must contact the yes votes and work with them in what ever else they have going. 

Lastly, we must decide we will not allow one person to deny our freedom of choice.  We’re not leaving Michigan.  She is in 2010.

Ride FREE somewhere,

Vince

PS Thanks, demo licensing riders, Mark Reutter, Paul Consiglio, Brian Yinger, Randy Moffett, Billy Moffett, and Chris Brooks.

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