President ~ Vince Consiglio

From the Prez:

Well the election is over in Michigan!!!  As of this writing not quite at the federal level.  It’s been over 40 years since the Dem’s have had a majority in the House and Senate in Michigan.  The margin of victory was close, but close only counts in horseshoes.  What does that mean to us? Well there is good and bad.  There will be a new chair in the Senate Insurance Committee.  There will be a new chair in the House Insurance Committee.  To me that means we might have a hearing on this INSURANCE BULLSHIT.  2 whole years and NO hearing at ALL!!   Little chance of a change if the Republican’s had won a majority.  Now it is up to us!!!  Find out who your Reps and Senators are and write or call them now.   We need to be visible and vocal in Lansing and with all the elected state officials.  We need to be prepared for possible mandatory helmet bill.  We need to use the Office of Highway Safety, OHSP stats which are in our favor.  9 out of 10 years more motorcyclists died wearing helmets.  I hope to have those stats on our website before the end of the year.  We don’t have time to cry in our beer if you were counting on a RED victory.  It’s a new day in Lansing and we have hope that YOU, and our members get off of dead center and make this Insurance AN ISSUE in Lansing.

Our 1st sponsor in the helmet repeal was a democrat, my representative, Representative Perry Bullard.  He was the chair of the Civil Rights Committee that the bill was assigned to and it looked good for us back in 1976.  But leadership in Lansing, on the day of the hearing December 6, 1976 that no bills passed that day or the rest of the year would advance in the process. It was a tough lesson and we have been through times with NO Progress on the Insurance issue.  Politics is not an easy business.  We have hope from this turmoil in Lansing.  It is up to YOU and all motorcyclists in Michigan to stand up and force the Insurance companies that pass this law to explain in public why we our stuck with the car driver choice for insurance coverage.  It will happen if we get you and all motorcyclists in Michigan to get involved.

There will be push back in Lansing.  Know the facts.  Motorcyclists in Michigan pay for the statewide Public Motorcycle Safety program with funds thru their motorcycle plate fee.  Secretary of State employee’s coordinate the safety program.  They are required to be a Rider Coach.  Key decisions are made by SOS bureaucracy who are not motorcyclists or involved in motorcycle safety.  There is no advisory board made up of motorcyclists to approve spending of the safety fund.  There are vast areas of the state with little or no service.  The Motorcycle Awareness fund is also paid for by Michigan Motorcyclists.  It has similar issues but is not as complicated as the hands on safety program.  We need both of these programs to be the best they can be.  It is tough to survive on a motorcycle in Michigan.  What we have is not the best but we need to be involved to make it better.  ABATE of Michigan has a scholarship for members who become coaches.  No members have become coaches in the past 2 years that I know of.  Its hard work, it should be, you are teaching someone how to ride a motorcycle.  It could be live or death, but if it is not fun that’s your fault.  I love riding motorcycles and like teaching motorcycling because it’s tough to survive on a motorcycle in Michigan and anytime you are on a motorcycle if you are not having fun do something else.

We got stuff to do.  Get involved and let’s get it done.  This insurance issue will get a hearing and get involved. Let’s make it happen.  Helmet choice may come up, we need to be prepared, focused, and involved.  Freedom wasn’t FREE.  I have enjoyed are freedom and I am proud of ABATE of Michigan.  It’s time to find out who your representative and senators are and make them aware of our issues.

Ride Safe and FREE,

Vince