Upcoming Events:
April 6: Chapter Meeting 6 pm (Campbell Hill Rec Room, winter schedule)
May 4: Chapter Meeting 6 pm (Campbell Hill Rec Room, winter schedule)
June 1: Chapter Meeting 6 pm (Campbell Hill Rec Room, winter schedule)
June 3: A.B.A.T.E. of PA Rights Rally! Staging at Fort Hunter Park, kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. More to come, location info here.
June 14-16: Hazen! A.B.A.T.E. of PA State Party. Rain or Shine! More info here.
Legislative Update from the State Office (3/27/19):
Note – Popcorn wants you to know that she just did not change the 2018 to 2019 for the group listing – she has updated the email addresses.
Yesterday, Tuesday, March 26th while I was leaving a breakfast fundraiser I was talking to a long time lobbyist and we were discussing how much things have changed at the capitol in the past thirty years – yes I have been there over 30 years. First of all there is the me to movement which has reached out and sent a number of legislators to an early retirement. Now I find out that the lobbyist are going to have to attend a class on sexual harassment, as if I have time for such things at this point in time. That was just the beginning of an exciting week.
I just happened to be watching the opening prayer in the House of Representatives delivered by Republican State Representative Stephanie Borowicz. She stepped up to the rostrum to deliver the opening prayer. At the same time seated in the House was our new and first Muslim Representative Johnson-Harell, along with 55 family members and guests. Rep. Borowicz delivered what appeared to be a Christian prayer attack. I was surprised that the Speaker of the House Mike Turzai did not put a stop to it, he looked uncomfortable and looked as if he was going to do something, but then someone from the House floor shouted “Objection.”
I have seen some weird things happen on the House floor but this was the biggest I ever saw. The Legislature today is very different than it was ten years ago.
Here is what is happening legislatively with ABATE bills.
HB 26 introduced by Rep. Pam Snyder to include motorcycles in the PA Auto Lemon Law has already passed the House 168-6. Interest is heating up in the Senate where the bill is now in the Consumer Affairs Committee. The question is can we get the Committee Chairman, Senator Tomlinson to give the bill a fair hearing which he was unwilling to do in the last session.
HB 384 introduced by Representative Kail will increase the penalty from $25 to $200 for not having the proper endorsement on your license. That bill passed the House 193-0. It is now in the Senate Transportation Committee. Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with the Committee Chairman Senator Kim Ward and I found out that the bill is scheduled for a committee vote in April or May. I am also going to be meeting with Senator Ward in the near future to discuss motorcycling issues that may come before her committee this session.
HB 634 introduced by Rep. Mark Keller deals with motorcycle processions and has presently been referred to the House Transportation Committee.
There is also a bill being drafted that will deal with motorcycle lane filtering. More on that as it develops.
Also our bill for motorcycle profiling is sitting in Rep Garth’s Everett’s office and we are looking for a new prime sponsor. Rep Everett has championed this bill in the last two sessions but does not share our enthusiasm any longer and wants to give the bill to someone else who is interested in it. I have not found any one so if you think your Representative would be interested in taking up this cause, let me know.
The next biggest thing is going to be the June 3 Motorcyclists Rights Rally at the State Capitol. Check out your April newsletter to read about the demise of Freedom Weekend and also see where we will be meeting to ride into the capitol on rally morning at 10:30 AM.
Charles Umbenhauer
