Legislative Update

We watched the Debate last night and I would hope that you did as well.
CNN had groups together all across the country to get their opinions electronically during the debate and get a final opinion after it was over They gave Obama much higher marks than they gave McCain. What did you get out of it.
I personally felt that they danced around the main issues For instance:
When asked how they would handle the financial situation they couldn’t say what they would do as president because they couldn’t know exactly how much income they would have based on how the bailout went.
As a candidate I would have said I will vote against any type bailout until the new congress convenes. The problem is something they will have to live with so they should make the decision. I would immediately establish a bipartisan committee of both House and Senate members and have them take a hard look at every agency doing doing business under the federal umbrella. Any of those agencies that are not specifically appointed to the federal government by the US Constitution would be disbanded and the authority for that action would be returned to the states if they deem it to be a necessary function.
We would then look at those agencies that remain who overlap to handle the same duties. Congress would be told to consolidate them to become more compact, less expensive and more successful.
And finally those constitutional duties assigned to the federal government would be reorganized as federal agencies under direct control of those elected by the citizens or appointed by those elected to serve the people. Of course the first to be re-federalized would be the Federal Reserve. We will then do what other action is needed if any. That would show me that "I want to be your President and I do indeed plan to make real change!"
As far as International Security John McCain stuck to his campaign rhetoric. He continually started sentences with Senator Obama doesn’t understand, but he was surprised at just how much Senator Obama did indeed know and what plans he put forth for dealing with Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and even Russia. He again received the highest marks on that from the groups across the country.
There were very few new ideas came out of the Debate. The electronic polling showed without a doubt that Americans are tired of bashing. There were continuous lines running across the screen showing how each part of the conversation was being taken. Each time either would begin to attack the other the lines would show a noticeable dip. The most surprising part of the night was when Obama’s running mate gave his opinion as to how Obama did but McCain’s running mate did not speak at the request of the campaign headquarters.
I can hardly wait for the VP Debate on Cctober 4th.

Sputnik

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

For Immediate Release

22 September 2008

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations, MRF
Email: jeff@mrf.org

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that HR 6908 is scheduled to be voted on by the US House of Representatives Tuesday, September 23rd.
According to HR 6809, if an insurance provider wants to be able to put limitations on payment for an injury from a specific source they must meet the following requirements.
+ "Make such limitations and restrictions explicit and clear; "
+ "If part of a group plan, must be disclosed to plan sponsor in advance of the point of sale of plan;"
+ "The plan sponsor and issuer of health insurance coverage provide a description that is easily understandable to the participant prior to enrollment."

This is a belt tightening bill for the insurance companies. Under HR 6908 if they want to limit payments for an injury they must spell it out ahead of enrollment in the plan, currently the insurance companies can exploit the loophole with out any prior notification.

HR 6908 was supposed to be considered by two other committees but they both waived all jurisdictions over the bill.

The bill will be considered under a suspension of the US House rules along with 36 other pieces of legislation. Suspension bills, as they are known, generally pass with out complication. The House is scheduled to adjourn at the end of this week along with the Senate. It's a solid bet that both the House and Senate will return after the election for a lame duck session.

Founder Mystical Riders M/C
NCOM Board of Directors/Codirector Region 2
Chairman NCOM Legislative Task Force
"LAWMAKERS M/C
Texas Confederation of Clubs
Texas Defender
Founder/State Chair
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association
I am beginning work on my fourth Booklet, this one aimed at taking back our country in 2 years, GUARANTEED!
The introduction to the Booklet is here now. PLease read it, pass it along and get ready for the total Booklet in less than 30 days.
This worked in Texas It can work for our country also.


Texas Motorcycle Rights Association
512-281-0537 - 275 Old Lexington Rd. Elgin, Texas 78621 www.tmra2.org

Winston Churchill ( During World War l )
Best Line: "You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy."

Martin Luther King Jr. ( I Have a Dream Speech )
Best Line: "We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy."

Lyndon Johnson ( The American Promise )
Best Line: "There is no moral issue. It is wrong — deadly wrong — to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote in this country. There is no issue of States rights or national rights. There is only the struggle for human rights. I have not the slightest doubt what will be your answer."

Ronald Reagan ( At Brandenburg Gate )
Best Line: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
I have chosen the best lines of four of the greatest speeches in history that changed the world in their time. I shall show you how each can be translated to cover the problems we each face today. Then I shall outline a plan to take back our country within two years. It will require participation of all American citizens.

Let’s begin with Winston Churchill: He was speaking of fighting the Germans when he said "to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime." He could very easily have been speaking of fighting the deplorable tyranny to which our federal government has sunk. A government hell bent on taking the most successful Republic Nation in the world, placing it in the hands of private corporations( from our currency to our defense and all points in between ) with the intent of creating a single world government run by the largest International Corporation CEOs. This is indeed a more lamentable human crime than any war because then we knew the enemy and fought to defeat them.

Martin Luther King Jr : Hit the nail on the head even today when he made his statement about the fierce urgency of now. "This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism." When the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association was formed it was pointed out that we had a small window of time to save our state through the political process. We have been somewhat successful in our efforts but the window is gone and there is no time to waste. We get only one more concerted effort to save the entire Nation and that time is NOW.

Lyndon Johnson : When Johnson said "It is wrong — deadly wrong — to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote in this country". He was of course talking about Black Americans and you notice I did not say African-Americans. There is no such thing. There are Americans of African descent.

Today he could have added "and have those votes counted". The voting machines, manufactured in foreign countries and run by their agents have been proven to change the vote count to come out with a preconceived winner. We filed a law suit as one of our members with three degrees in computer programming,( the same programs used by these machines), was present during his Democrat Primary and showed them what was happening.
Unfortunately he hired a Republican Attorney who just happened to miss the deadline for filing by one day. We have to eliminate these machines and have our votes done on paper and counted by hand.

Ronald Reagan : " Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall." Today Reagan would say "Mr. President and all elected and appointed officials, tear down that wall of secrecy between the federal government and the citizens who elected you to represent them". He would have told them to read all Bills and Amendments on public television and place them in the public along with the vote on each. No more of this passing Bills with "without objection so ordered". Give us record votes. No more secret Executive Orders or Presidential Directives. Each must be issued on prime time TV and Congress must then vote whether to accept them or not in a recorded vote on Prime time TV and be printed in the Congressional Record

NOW YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT SOME OF THE GREATEST MEN OF OUR TIME SAID IN THEIR DAY AND HOW THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE RESPONDED TO OUR SITUATION TODAY.

If someone could come up with a plan to save our nation and return it to a Republic, run by the people, with a limited central government would you be willing to do your part which would be simple and cost you nothing? To have the Constitution be reinstated as supreme law rather than have a President who calls it a God Damned piece of Paper joined by Legislators, both Federal and State who have no qualms about setting aside the Constitution at will for the sake of expedience.

If you are such a person then this message is for YOU ! It is to be passed along to your friends and neighbors and to their friends and neighbors etc. etc. etc…..

In less than 30 days you will receive a simple plan that can not fail, if you do your part!


Just one more true AMERICAN to hear from before we get down to the meat of all this. Patrick Henry was there when the country was being founded.
Let’s see how his words still ring true today


"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"
Patrick Henry
March 23, 1775
After Patrick Henry made this famous speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses at St. John's Church, his resolution to organize the militia of Virginia and to put the colony of Virginia on a war footing was unanimously adopted in that colony.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MR. PRESIDENT: It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.
We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth -- and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation -- the last arguments to which king resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.

Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned -- we have remonstrated -- we have supplicated -- we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained -- we must fight! -- I repeat it, sir, we must fight!! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts, is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come!! I repeat it, sir, let it come!!!

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! -- I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Beautifully spoken words by one of my favorite Patriots. I have Liberty or Death Tattooed on the left side of my head. Of course I have a Mohawk haircut so it is easily visible.

Again these words spoken over 200 years ago bear semblance to our plight of today. There are those who have done their best to take away our arms, the fruit of our labors and the very document upon which this once great nation was founded. High taxes were one reason for the revolution against the Kings law. If all the taxes at every level had to be paid each time we made a purchase today the average citizen would be stunned into taking immediate action against them. Take the time to read the Constitution, State or Federal and you will be amazed at the discrepancies between what it says can be done and what is actually taking place.

545 men and women are elected to represent the people at the federal level. Each has a particular role to play and those roles are designated by the constitution. Congress is made up of two bodies, the House and the Senate. These two bodies make the laws which in turn can be signed or vetoed by the President. All monetary Bills must originate in the House of Representatives. Though the President can put forth a proposed budget, only the Congress can pass a fiscal budget. The President can then sign or veto the Bill. Any Bill vetoed by the President can have the veto overturned by a 2/3 majority vote of both Houses and it then becomes law.
So you see there are checks and balances covering every Bill throughout the process of becoming law. Unfortunately, passage for many of these Bills, are hidden from public view so you have no way of knowing how a particular Bill becomes law. The favored way is to have very little if any debate then have the Speaker say "without objection so ordered" and another Bill has become law with no recorded vote. They can also call for a voice vote and again there is no record of how your legislators vote.

Presidential Directives and Executive Orders are the way a President slips their desires past the public. They can simply issue the directive or order and unless they are overturned by the congress they become law. This has become a simple way of turning our government functions over to the private sector with very little fanfare. By using this method individuals are put in charge of committees that should not even exist without a vote from anyone. They are all simply appointed to carry out duties in a fashion to suit themselves and those who put them into that position. Each such instance moves government a little farther from the scrutiny of those it is meant to serve.

That is where we find ourselves today. We have grown so accustomed to candidates lying while seeking election that we don’t pay attention any more. We simply go in and vote for a name we recognize, generally the incumbent, without giving it a thought. That is if we even bother to vote at all. We have become slaves to a group of men and women, many of whom should be in prison rather than in charge of our welfare. Before I tell you what can be done to rectify this dilemma let me first tell you a little about my credentials. I dislike using the word I when speaking of the association. None of our accomplishments would be possible if WE had not all done our part. The success of this endeavor will also depend on each of us doing our part.

My name is Sputnik. Yes, only one word, in this world today that causes concern and my plane tickets have been marked more than once for special searches. I just quit flying. I am a Biker and proud of it. In our world a man’s word is his bond. You are loyal to family and friends, fiercely independent and willing to fight for our God given rights and the Liberty to practice those rights. In my younger days I just wanted to be left alone. Like anyone else I voted and went home considering my job to be done for another two years. I didn’t much care what laws were passed. If they were redundant laws I just figured do what you want to the other people but don’t try to make me go by those laws and we will get along.
Push me and I will push back harder.

I have no problem with Peace Officers or Police Officers. I have no use whatsoever for Law Enforcement Officers or Cops. In days of yore a Peace Officer’s job was to keep the peace with the least amount of intrusion into your life. Today that has changed. They are now called Law Enforcement Officers and their main concern is to pad the coffers. Cops are people who belong behind bars, not behind a badge and a gun.

IN 1992 I attended my first National Confederation of Motorcyclist in New Jersey. Thanks to US Senator Dave Durenberger, I realized that I had sold my grandkids into slavery to a totalitarian government by not being more involved in the political arena. After discussing the Pros and cons with my wife I decided to see what I could do about the situation. I founded the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association and began teaching other bikers how the political process really works and how to use it.

My first booklet was "Revolution The Real Solution". It explained the different meanings given to revolution in the dictionary and then called for a political revolution. The second booklet, which has been spread across the country was "Five Steps To Freedom" (one step at a time). It began with register to vote, get acquainted, work campaigns, vote in the Primary, become a State Delegate to your Party and finally run for office.
AT that time I asked the Texas Riders to do just one thing, become State Delegates to the Party of their choice during the next Primary election. I explained that they need not be concerned about the big picture that I had that figured out. If they would do just that one thing and we were successful in taking back our state it would be thanks to them. If we weren’t successful it would be my fault because I hadn’t looked at the big picture properly. They did that one thing and it worked beyond even my expectations.

I complained about why we weren’t taught politics in school. When it became time to print a new Government Text Book for College I received a call to do an interview. When the new text book came out we had 7 pages in it. Besides doing seminars for biker groups I began getting calls to speak to college classes. It gives one real satisfaction to see a student’s eyes light up when they realize they are hearing something they haven’t been told prior to your visit. It is doubly satisfying to meet students at the capitol that you have spoken to their class and have them acknowledge their thanks by asking for an autograph. We now have a TV Show in Austin called "Texas Politics Biker Style". Our shows can be viewed on the internet at our website by the same name. I am recognized most anywhere I go by someone.

The next booklet was "Run for Office and Win" (with very little money.)
This booklet explained that name recognition was the best way to win an election. If you have a large dedicated staff of volunteers to make your name become a household word then you will win regardless of how much money your opponent spends. Again this training aid became a success and we began putting bikers into office. That gives you some idea how I have spent the last 16 years. It is my contention that "Politics is the best game in town". So enough about me let’s get ready to play the game, the right way.

#3 AIG

CEO: Robert Willumstad (former CEO Martin J. Sullivan was fired in June 2008, and is expected to receive as much as $68 million, despite leading AIG to record losses over his three-year tenure—2007 compensation $14.3 million)
HQ: New York, NY
Profits: $6.2 billion (2007)
Assets: $1.06 trillion48

The world’s biggest insurer, AIG has a long history of claims-handling abuses for both individuals and business clients. AIG executives have also come under fire for opportunisticly seeking price increases during catastrophes. Now the company has been labeled "the new Enron" because of charges of multi-billion dollar corporate fraud.
AIG has long had a reputation for claims-handling abuses. Part of the reason for that reputation is AIG’s reliance on underwriting results.
Nearly every other insurance company relies on the income it makes from investing its policyholders’ premiums. AIG has always focused on turning a profit on underwriting—in other words, taking in more money in premiums than it pays out in claims. To do that, the company has had to be extremely parsimonious about the claims it pays.

Former AIG claims supervisors have alleged in litigation that the company used all manner of tricks to deny or delay claims, including locking checks in a safe until claimants complained, delaying payment of attorney fees until they were a year old, disposing of important correspondence during routine "pizza parties," and routinely fighting claimants for years in court over mundane claims. In 1999, after discovering AIG was losing as much as $210 million on auto-warranty claims, CEO Greenberg installed a new team that began to systematically reject thousands of claims, even when its own claims-handling contractor recommended they be paid. Richard John, Jr., a vice-president at the contractor, testified that the company used any excuse to deny a claim, including ruling that installing manufacturer-approved tires was a "modification" that invalidated the warranty.

After an AIG-insured Safeway burned down in Richmond, Virginia, the supermarket was confronted with damage claims from nearby residents who had been affected by the fire. AIG denied the claims saying that the damage was caused not by fire but by smoke, which qualified as a form of air pollution and as such was not covered. In fact, in a series of high profile cases, AIG or its subsidiaries fought claims on tenuous bases, building its reputation as one of the most aggressive claims fighters in the industry.

In 2005, AIG was sanctioned by a federal judge in Indianapolis for attempting to unfairly block discovery in an environmental case. AIG’s lawyers went so far as to give instruction not to answer 539 times during one deposition of an AIG executive. In January 2008, AIG agreed to pay $12.5 million to several states after state insurance commissioners found that the company had conspired with other insurance brokers to submit fake bids in order to create an illusion of a competitive bidding process in commercial insurance markets. Businesses and local governments ended up paying artificially inflated insurance rates. Even other insurance companies got the treatment. In 2007, an AIG reinsurance unit was forced by an arbitrator to pay more than $440 million to five insurance companies who alleged the AIG unit tried to rescind their contract when it was time to pay, and then continued to refuse payment even after several courts had ruled against rescission.

AIG is not alone in using strategies such as deny-delay defend to enhance its bottom line at their customers’ expense. What sets AIG apart, however, is the way it has so callously sought to take advantage of its policyholders’ misfortunes.

In 1992, on the day Hurricane Andrew landed in Florida, AIG Executive Vice-President J.W. Greenberg, son of then-CEO Maurice Greenberg, sent a company-wide memo saying, "We have opportunities from this and everyone must probe with brokers and clients. Begin by calling your underwriters together and explaining the significance of the hurricane. This is an opportunity to get price increases now. We must be the first and it begins by establishing the psychology with our own people. Please get it moving today."

Similarly, the September 11th terrorist attacks were to most people a terrible tragedy. To Maurice Greenberg, the "opportunities for his 82-year-old company have never been greater. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, prices for insurance soared by what Greenberg described as "leaps and bounds." "It’s a global opportunity," the CEO said at the time. "It’s not just in the United States, but rates are rising throughout the world. So our business looks quite good going forward." Greenberg also said of the increased awareness of the need for insurance that the attacks prompted, "AIG is well positioned—probably as well as it's ever been in this marketplace."

AIG executives are unapologetic about their reputation for opportunism.
"We’ve always been opportunistic. When we see opportunities, we will never change. At AIG it’s part of our culture." AIG’s opportunism has also crossed the line into fraud. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), insurance fraud totals more than $40 billion and costs the average family as much as $700 per year. However, while the insurance industry only talks about fraud committed by its policyholders, what interests the FBI is the increase in corporate fraud by the insurance companies themselves, leading the agency to establish it as one of its top investigative priorities. No company is a better example of this kind of fraud than AIG.

In 2006, AIG paid $1.6 billion to settle charges of a variety of financial shenanigans that had commentators describing AIG as "the new Enron." Two years later, five insurance executives were found guilty of fraud. The fraud accusations were traced back to longtime CEO Maurice Greenberg, who was ousted from the company he had led for 38 years. Greenberg was identified by prosecutors as an "unindicted co-conspirator," and notified that the Securities and Exchange Commission, which had already fined the company $126 million, was likely to pursue civil charges against him for two separate incidences of fraud. AIG was also fined millions of dollars by state insurance regulators, and faces charges that they bilked pension funds out of billions of dollars. But that was not the end of the AIG fraud saga. Greenberg, who once described civil justice attorneys as terrorists," launched an epic battle of lawsuits and countersuits with his former company.

Suddenly, the $1.6 billion AIG paid to settle claims of fraud seemed to pale in comparison to the charges being exchanged between those who knew better than anyone the true extent of the fraud. AIG now claims Greenberg "misappropriated" $20 billion, and Greenberg in turn says AIG concealed $4 billion in
losses.

In 2006, AIG was implicated in the manipulation of local government bond issues. At least $7 billion worth of "phantom bonds," which were intended to aid the poor and supply computers to inner city schools, have instead only benefited companies such as AIG. In one such "phantom bonds" case in Florida, an AIG unit conspired with other financial services firms to extract fees from a $220 million bond issue that was intended to promote affordable housing for low income families. Unbeknownst to the local government agency involved, AIG’s deal meant the less money that actually went to affordable housing, the more money AIG and its fellow companies would make.

AIG and its co-conspirators eventually took $12 million in fees. Not a penny went to the affordable housing. The deal also violated U.S. tax laws, which would eventually force AIG to settle with the IRS.

AIG was involved in similar deals in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

And this company of honesty and virtue have just received $ 85 billion of taxpayer money to reward them for their actions.
Thanks to George Bush others will receive the same treatment.
Crime does indeed pay in this country with this administration

Sputnik

ABC has a test at the below address to see who's campaign statements, McCain's or Obama's, you agree with most. They don't tell you who made the statements, of course, but a statement made by each candidate on the same topic (economy, immigration, judiciary, etc.) will be side by side.
You just pick which statement you agree with and, after selecting all 13, you'll find out which candidate's philosophy you support.

Try it at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MatchoMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

For Immediate Release
17 September 2008
Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations, MRF
Email: jeff@mrf.org

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce today passed legislation that would make it illegal for insurance providers to exploit what is known as the "source of injury exclusion" loophole, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) reports.

Under current law, insurance providers can refuse to pay for treatment of an injury based solely on the source of the injury, with no prior notice of denial of benefits for that source of injury simply by pointing to the "source of injury" law that exists today.

Some sources of injury that can be used as a reason by insurance providers to refuse payment of medical bills are motorcycling, snow skiing, ATVs and horse back riding.

This new legislation, HR 6809, known as the Health Insurance Source of Injury Clarification Act, does not entirely replace HR 1076. Where HR 1076 makes it illegal to deny benefits for any injury that occurs during legal transportation or recreation, this bill does allow for limitations of payment if the provider follows some rules.

According to HR 6809, if an insurance provider wants to be able to put limitations on payment for an injury from a specific source, they must meet the following requirements.

+ "Make such limitations and restrictions explicit and clear;"
+ "If part of a group plan, must be disclosed to plan sponsor in advance of the point of sale of plan;"
+ "The plan sponsor and issuer of health insurance coverage provide a description that is easily understandable to the participant prior to enrollment."

To summarize the legalese, your health insurance provider can limit payment for an injury sustained on a motorcycle so long as it is spelled out to you in simple terms, well in advance of you joining the plan.

"HR 6908 is not a touchdown, but it's moving the ball a good way down the field", said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. "Considering the fact that the Federal government just bailed out one of the giants in the insurance world to the tune of $85 billion, I don't think Congress is in any mood to mandate insurance to cover anything, even transportation."

"I do believe this is a very positive step forward on this issue and one for which the motorcycle rights community should be very proud", he added.

MRF Vice President, Michael Kerr had this to say when hearing the news:
"The MRF applauds Dr. Burgess' efforts to bring honest disclosure and openness in the wording of major medical insurance policies. We also thank Chairman Dingell for his leadership in guiding this legislation through his committee. That being said, the MRF remains firmly committed to the passage of HR 1076. We will continue to advocate for closing the HIPAA loophole, once and for all. We stand fast in fighting discrimination by insurance companies against anyone engaged in a legal form or transportation, such as motorcycling."

The bill's primary sponsor, US Representative Michael Burgess, had this to say: "Congress is charged with making laws to protect people and when they have the opposite effect, we also have a responsibility to work together to fix them. The time has come to fix this loophole in the HIPAA law and this bi-partisan bill does just that."

Closing the loophole entirely and mandating that insurance companies must cover all injuries from legal motorcycle use has always been a lofty goal.
It is still the goal, and it is still lofty, but HR 6908 at least backs insurance into a corner and doesn't allow them to hide behind regulation, rather than being honest up front and that's a good start.

This committee hurdle is the first of many. There are still two other House committees that have some jurisdiction over this bill and they need to vote the bill or waive jurisdiction. Then, onto the House Rules Committee and the House floor. The bill must then navigate the Senate committee and floor process and ultimately the President will sign into law. That's a lot of ground to cover before Congress adjourns in the next few weeks.


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Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF's Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit
http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

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16 September 2008

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations, MRF
Email: jeff@mrf.org

HIPAA UPDATE
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to report that HR 1076 will be marked up by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce tomorrow September 17th at 10 AM. The legislation to close the loophole that allows insurance companies to refuse payment for an injury that happens on a motorcycle will be marked up in open session along with ten other bills in the Rayburn House Office Building.

HR 1076 is expected to pass favorably, however anything can happen in a markup. In order to ensure swift clean passage we are asking you to contact your Member of Congress IF they are a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. That list follows this email.

This Committee action is the most important legislative activity since the full Senate passed a version of this bill in late winter, 2005. We thank Chairman Dingell, HR 1076 sponsors, co sponsors and their staff for their attention to this very important matter.
The MRF will keep you informed on any future developments of this legislation.

House Energy and Commerce Committee
John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman

DEMOCRATS
Henry A. Waxman, CA
Edward J. Markey, MA
Rick Boucher, VA
Edolphus Towns, NY
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Bart Gordon, TN
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
Bart Stupak, MI
Eliot L. Engel, NY
Gene Green, TX
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair
Lois Capps, CA
Mike Doyle, PA
Jane Harman, CA
Tom Allen, ME
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Hilda L. Solis, CA
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX

REPUBLICANS
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Ralph M. Hall, TX
Fred Upton, MI
Cliff Stearns, FL
Nathan Deal, GA
Ed Whitfield, KY
Barbara Cubin, WY
John Shimkus, IL
Heather Wilson, NM
John Shadegg, AZ
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Vito Fossella, NY
Roy Blunt, MO
Steve Buyer, IN
George Radanovich, CA
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Lee Terry, NE

NCOM Region 2
Hello, Friends--

As I continue to observe the widespread destruction and rescue efforts post-Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, I continue to pray for the well-being and recoveryof the victims in Texas and Louisiana--as I did for my Brothers and Sisters in Iowa and elsewhere along the Mississippi this past Spring.
I'm sure all of you are doing the same. There must be a number of bikes at the bottom of Galveston Bay after that catastrophe.

I'm especially distressed after the hospitality shown me by members of the Texas Confederation Of Clubs based in Houston, when we held the very successful NCOM Convention down there this past May. Please pass along my sympathies and respects, Sputnik and Rick, and let your fellow riders down there know that we in the Sooner State wish them all the best--as our Lone Star compatriots have looked in on us in the past during tornado season.

In Solidarity,
Tiger Mike
ABATE of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Confederation

This bill would end health care discrimination for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities like motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, ATV riding, etc.
Please call and write, your two US Senators and respectfully ask them to support S. 616, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act" and tell them why they should.

We are required to carry medical insurance to ride without a helmet but they are not required to pay benefits if we are injured on our motorcycle.
Our medical insurance from our company policy is not required to pay benefits if we are injured on our motorcycle even if we are wearing a helmet.

This was not the Legislative Intent of the HIPPA Law.

Senator John Cornyn
Room 517
Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone 202-224-2934

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Room 284
Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone 202-224-5922

Please do not delay to do both.
Thanks
Sputnik
State Chair
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association

Here is an article about the new red memorial crosses and the bikers trying to make awareness important to drivers. Thanks to all those in Denton ABATE for getting the media involved.

This is from an article in Suds & Butterfly newsletter.

Just read a report in the Daily Texan news publication. It is suggesting that with all the new inexperienced riders switching from cages to scooters, mopeds and motorcycles that the insurance rates could rise because, the average claim payment for lighter vehicles was $5,554 - 14.3 percent higher than the average claim for heavier vehicles.

Got this from the Suds & Butterfly newsletter. Worth reading and thinking about.

In Richardson, More Motorcycles, More Traffic Fatalities

Police say one big reason for the surge is that there are more motorcycles on the road these days. ... But inexperienced motorcycles don't bear all of the blame. ...


http://tinyurl.com/6htw73

NOTE FROM SUDS -
Just an FYI, these articles seem to be popping up all around this great state of ours. Funny how all of these guys get an idea at the same time to write articles about how motorcycling is going to cause insurance rates to go up. Methinks something's rotten in Texas with the media being used as a propaganda tool to get the non riding public to side with the move insurance companies seem intent on making. This is getting to be one expensive chess game. Thanks to Jerzey Bill for sharing this. Jerzey Bill is part of the Coalition Of Independent Riders (COIR) Division of Texas Defenders.
We need more of y'all soon...Respect,
-Suds
Secretary; Texas Defenders/COIR Division


NOTE FROM JERZEY BILL -
This article was in the Dallas Morning News yesterday concerning an increase in accidents, and relating it to the increase in Motorcycle's on the road. They also bring up things like helmets.

Scott Gates called me and stated that NBC was conducting a online poll.

"Do motorcyclists make Texas highways more dangerous?"

Currently the poll shows 59% have voted yes.

I am posting here for anyone who wants to click on the buttons and get the poll in our favor.
Vote No to bring the count back down.

The poll is located 3/4 down the page. Its between the Most Popular and DFW Scene.

http://www.nbc5i.com/

Remember to vote early and vote often.