We attended the House Transportation Hearing for HB 727, our helmet Bill today. The hearing began at 8:00am heard one Bill and part of another one and then broke to go on the Floor. They returned in the afternoon and things moved a little more quickly after they finished the Bill they had been working on prior to the break.
Our turn finally came with only four of us still present. Rep Hopson laid out the Bill and then I was called to testify. Next came Henry and then Jerry. Dee was there but chose not to testify. Rep Hopson then got up to close at which time Rep Hill introduced an amendment to make it mandatory that we wear a pink vest if we ride without a helmet. Rep Hopson said if I would accept it that was fine with him. After everyone had a good laugh the motion died for lack of a second.
Rep Phillips expressed concern about the age being lowered to 18 and Rep Hopson told him we had just discussed that prior to the hearing and it was agreeable to us. Chairman Krusee told Rep Hopson to make that change and get it back to him and he would move it out quickly. We have won the first round on this one.
One of the ladies who testified against us on HB 1368 was there today. She said she was not going to testify against us because she had heard we had the votes to pass it. She also stated she had heard we had the votes to kill Senator Carona's helmet Bill, HB 1368.
It was a really fun hearing today with everyone in good spirits. It was like waking up in a new world. To bad you guys and gals missed the fun.
We finally gave you a choice as to who would be your new State Chair this year. Thus far we have received a lousy 44 votes with only 2 weeks to go for you to get your ballots in. You can do better than that. If you feel you can't afford a stamped envelope to mail in your ballot go ahead and send it in anyway. In the lower left hand corner put please refund my postage. A stamped envelope will be returned to you immediately.
The two things I would most like to see before you get a new chairman is the helmet law cleaned up and a high percentage of ballots turned in during an election. I'm busting my ass to give you the first. How about you helping out with the second.
Sputnik
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