The members of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration recently created the 2008 Motorcyclist Road Conditions Survey. The purpose of the survey is to help state and federal highway administrators better understand and plan for the needs of motorcycle riders.

All riders are encouraged to take the 10-minute survey before August 1, 2008, by going online to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=33Z5UlnCC9iyOS8X9fngX8hgj9epd7vOPp1cyxhqdWo%3d&
 

Fran Bents
Westat
1650 Research Boulevard, RW3535
Rockville, Maryland 20850
phone: (240) 314-7557
fax:  (301) 610-5128
 

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

Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)

07NR05 - HIPAA Loophole Fix UPDATE

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that legislation to close the loophole that allows insurance providers to discriminate against motorcyclists when it comes to fully funding benefits is beginning to gain some momentum. The House bill (HR 1076) has 45 co-sponsors, while the Senate bill (S 616) has 3 co-sponsors. As a rule, Senators don't co-sponsor legislation as frequently as their House counterparts. However, that certainly does not mean we should not ask them at every opportunity.

"The impressive part of the list of House co-sponsors is that over half of them are Representatives from states that sent SMRO grassroots lobbyists to DC this year," said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). "A huge thanks goes out to all
of our SMRO partners and dedicated individuals" he added.

Over the past few months MI, WA, WI, NM, NY, NJ, OH, PA, CO, IA, AK, MN, and IL have all sent representatives from their respective State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations to Washington DC to lobby for the advancement of this issue.  Those visits resulted in over 200 individual, sit-down office meetings with Senators, House Members and staff.

US Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX), the bill sponsor, had this to say, "No one should be denied health insurance benefits because they prefer to drive a motorcycle. It is essential to provide health care
benefits to those who have slipped through the loophole by protecting their access to substantive health care."

The legislation would close a loophole in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that denies health care benefits for those who participate in legal transportation and recreational activities. In January 2001, a rule was issued that was intended to ensure non-discrimination in health coverage in the group market. That rule prohibits health plans and issuers from denying coverage to individuals who engage in certain types of recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling. However, because of the way the rule was written, it has allowed insurers to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injury that results from participation in these
activities.

"Now is the time to take this ground swell of support to the next level," said Jeff Hennie. He adds, "Phone calls, e-mails and personal visits with your members of the US House and Senate are needed to keep the push on Washington."

You can find contact information for your US Senators and Members of the House of Representatives at the following websites: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov or by phoning the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

==========================================================
Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
 

f you haven't already, be sure to sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation motorcycle class.  This class teaches you how to ride a motorcycle, all the way from getting onto the bike to performing emergency maneuvers such as braking and swerving.  A motorcycle, helmet, and classroom materials are supplied for you!

If you're already a rider, you will learn valuable skills to ensure that all of your rides are safe and enjoyable.  There is also an experienced rider course where you get to ride your own motorcycle while learning valuable skills.

Important points: These classes are managed by IDOT and will be less expensive then taking a private class.  Also, during these classes you will be administered the written and riding evaluations.  If you pass both during the class, you do not have to take another test at the DMV!!  If you're contemplating taking a private class, ask if they actually administer the tests as part of the class.

Online registration begins soon at the various state facilities.  Check out these sites for more information:

NIU: www.outreach.niu.edu/mcycle

SIU: www.siu.edu/~cycle

CHICAGO 6/22/06 - The following was released today by ABATE of Illinois: A recent court battle between ABATE of Illinois and the Blagojevich administration serves to underscore the depth of the state fiscal woes. In a landmark decision, a Sangamon County circuit court ruled that Governor Blagojevich overstepped his constitutional authority by raiding special trust funds to make up for shortfalls in the state budget.

The litigation was sparked when Blagojevich was caught draining over $350,000 from the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund and the Recreational Trails Fund.  Each of these funds is supported by surcharges on motorcycle license and registration fees.  These two special funds were set up to promote motorcycle safety and environmental stewardship in off-road areas.

In response to Blagojevich’s actions, ABATE successfully sought a temporary restraining order against the governor that barred his tapping into the motorcycle-related funds. However, the judge ruled that Blagojevich could continue to raid dozens of other special funds.

We are very pleased that the judge ruled in our favor, said Dan Harper, Legislative Coordinator for ABATE of Illinois.  Motorcyclists pushed for these special accounts and we agreed to the fees to fund them.  After all the hard work that went into setting up and administering these programs, we weren’t about to stand by and let the governor use these two funds as his election-year piggybank.  If the governor thinks these funds would be better spent someplace else, we challenge him to debate
that assertion before the General Assembly.  Of course, he won’t, because he doesn’t have the stomach for it.

Although the court’s ruling on the fund raids was a victory for Illinois motorcyclists, it brings attention to a bigger problem facing all Illinois citizens, continued Harper.  The fiscal ineptitude of the Blagojevich administration has left the state virtually living from paycheck to paycheck.  The deepening financial crisis has forced Blagojevich to take desperate measures. Dipping into the special funds to keep the government operating is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Despite the vigor of the national economy, Illinois is at its breaking point - with nobody to blame but Governor Blagojevich.  We hope that
our court action against the governor will cast some much-needed light on the states pending financial collapse.

On Saturday at the BOD meeting George Tinkham spoke on recent developments in the lawsuit ABATE of Illinois has filed against
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich,.  Some money has been transferred out of other special accounts, but due to a temporary restraining order obtained by ABATE, both The Off-Highway Vehicle Trails fund and Cycle Rider Safety Training fund have been frozen.  ABATE legal services filed a brief on Tuesday to stop transfers from all special funds, but the court ruled that ABATE of Illinois Inc. could only represent the two motorcycle funds and set a hearing date of July 10.  Out of the seventy-seven (77) funds being transferred into the general state account this year, only ABATE has been successful in getting a restraining order to stop the transfer.  George Tinkham recommends that ABATE members who belong to any of these groups whose funds are being raided, encourage that group to join with ABATE to protect all these funds.


Fund Name:
Transportation Regulatory
Financial Institution
Illinois Veterans' Rehabilitation
State Boating Act
Military Affairs Trust
Agricultural Premium
Aeronautics
Il. State Pharmacy Disciplinary
Public Utility
Firearm Owner's Notification
Subtitle D Management
Facility Licensing
Hansen-Therkelsen Memorial
Explosives Regulatory
Aggregate Operations Regulatory
Coal Mining Regulatory
Regulatory CPA Administration& Disciplinary
Weights & Measures
Reg. Limited Liability Partnership
Illinois School Asbestos
IPTIP Administrative Trust
DCFS Childrens' Services
Illinois Health Facilities Planning
Emergency Public Health
State Police Vehicle
Optometric Licensing & Disciplinary Board
Illinois Affordable Housing Trust
Fertilizer Control
Used Tire Management
Guardianship & Advocacy
Working Capital Revolving
IL. Prescription Drug Discount Program
Public Health Services Revolving
Provider Inquiry Trust
Securities Audit and Enforcement
Drug Treatment
Feed Control
Appraisal Administration
Small Business Environmental Assistance
Regulatory Evaluation & Basic Enforcement
Police Training Board Services
Trauma Center
Unclaimed Property Trust
Department of Corrections Reimbursement
Health Facility Plan Review
LEADS Maintenance
Public Pension Regulation
Pawnbroker Regulation
School Technology Revolving Loan
Pesticide Control
Off-Highway Vehicle Trails
Capital Litigation Trust
Horse Racing
Motor Carrier Safety Inspection
Municipal Economic Development
Airport Land Loan Revolving
Assisted Living & Shared Housing Regulatory
Whistleblower Reward & Protection
Illinois Clean Water
Home Inspector Administration
Metro-East Public Transportation
Dram Shop
Il. State Dental Disciplinary
Natural Resources Restoration
Cycle Rider Safety Training
Health Insurance Reserve
Natural Resources Information
DHS Recoveries Trust
Insurance Producer Administration
Illinois State Podiatric Disciplinary
Local Tourism
Insurance Financial Regulation



Dan Harper
Legislative Coordinator
ABATE of Illinois
Danimal1500@hotmail.com
 

SB14 is a bill currently in front of our legislators for a vote.  It basically allows Governor B to take money from special funds (including the cycle rider training fund) for use in other areas.  This means there is less money for the Motorcycle Safety courses that are currently being offered for minimal costs in Illinois.

Please get on the phone and tell Representative Madigan to vote NO on this bill!!!  OK people we have certain legislature's ears, now we need everyone's help.

To bring you up to date, SB14 was passed from committee by a 5 to 4 vote. Both John Bradley who was rated A+ and Lisa Dugan who was rated A voted against ABATE of Illinois on this bill.

Lisa Dugan has called certain chapters to plead her case.  Call her at (815) 939-1983 or (217) 782- 5981 and ask her to vote no on SB14 with it comes before the full house.

Talking points:

This money wasn't just sitting there, the cycle rider training program is purposely under appropriated by the Governor so he can raid this fund.

This isn't a one time thing.  It's been done before and the governor is trying to do it again.

This is money put in voluntarily by motorcyclists when they pay their licensing fees, not by tax money.

You are hurting education since with less funding the cycle rider training program has to turn away students every year. You can see this by going to the four University web sites and seeing that all the classes are filled this year.

We would still like her to be our friend, So vote no on SB14 But more importantly do not support any budget that takes any money from the Cycle Rider Training Fund or The Off Highway Vehicle Grant Fund.

Don't let CYCLE Rider training be the Governors PIGGY BANK

(for your own information)
There is one Million Dollars scheduled to be swept from cycle rider training fund  and two hundred thousand from OHV.

Dan Harper
Legislative Coordinator
ABATE of Illinois
Danimal1500@hotmail.com

Also, make that second call to your representative and ask them to also vote no when this bill comes to the floor for vote.
 

CycleFocus magazines are located in racks in numerous Chicagoland locations such as Jewel, Dominick's, Blockbuster, 7-Eleven, Bally's Health Club, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and other participating restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores. They cover the metropolitan Chicago area as well as the following counties: Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Kenosha County.

Get a copy now and check out your group!

Here's a brief summary of the movie:

The true story of a man who never gave up on his dreams of doing something big -- and doing it very, very fast -- provides the basis for this engaging comedy-drama. Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) was born in 1899 in Invercargill, New Zealand. From childhood, Munro had a passion for machines that moved fast, and when he was 21 he bought his first motorcycle, an Indian model with a 600cc engine. Motorcycles became an obsession that stayed with Munro for the rest of his life, as he constantly tinkered with his beloved Indian machine, modifying the engine and frame, determined to see just how fast he could make it run. In 1967, Munro decided it was high time he proved to himself and the world just what he and his machine could do, and he booked passage for the United States, with the goal of breaking the world's land speed record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. As Munro made his way across America to Utah, he discovered not everyone took his dream seriously, but some did, and he made a handful of friends along the way, including Ada (Diane Ladd), a widow who fell for Munro's rough charm, and Fernando (Paul Rodriguez) a car dealer who offered to help him. However, when he finally arrived at Bonneville, Munro was told his machine was unsafe to participate in the time trials, and -- far worse -- he was too old to ride. It took some intervention from a ranking American driver, Jim Moffett (Chris Lawford), before Munro was given his chance to ride the famous Salt Flats.

The British are coming!!  The British are coming!!

It's true!  The Triumph Demo Truck will be visiting MCC the weekend of May 20th!!  Put the date on your calendar so that you can participate in the demo rides and check out all of the Triumph models up close and personal.  And if you can't wait until May, then go ahead and visit MCC since they have a variety of demo bikes available for you to take for a spin.

ABATE of Illinois just learned that in the 11th hour of session, Governor Rod Blagojevich's Budget Implementation Bill was amended to include taking 1 million dollars from the Cycle Riders Training Fund.  Many of you may recall that this fund was raided by former Governor Edgar in the late '80's, early '90's and that ABATE of Illinois was successful in passing legislation that would take the fund out of the State Treasury and place it in a trust fund. This legislation safeguarded the fund from Governors using it at will.

However, included in Blagojevich's multiple volume Implementation Bill was language that said this particular raiding of the fund superceded any other laws protecting it. With Illinois current fiscal desperation, we were not the only ones that took a hit. The list of those funds raided was very inclusive as the Illinois OHV Grant Fund program was also tagged for $100,000. One of the biggest raids was numerous Illinois Road Funds, combined the road funds will see a hit of $750,000 million this year. Illinois Legislators remain in their district until veto session in November so please call them and ask for their support of the over ride of SB-1804 & SB-1521. The votes on these were very good and over riding them is doable. Post cards to legislators will be available at the October board meeting.

As always we are exploring ALL options to make sure that something like this never happens again, unfortunately, legislatures can always make law.

Cheryl Pearre, Legislative Coordinator

ABATE of Illinois

2403 Susan Curve

Cortland, IL 60112

815-758-0517

cheryl.il@verizon.net

http://www.abate-il.org/

www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp