[Mrfnews] 070709 - Leaders Report - July

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Immigration reform and motorcycling?

After six intense weeks of negotiations, parliamentary maneuvering and
White House entreaties, the Senate rejected President Bush's vision of an
immigration overhaul last Thursday, likely killing the legislation until
after the 2008 elections.

On a crucial procedural move requiring the support of 60 senators to
advance the bill to a final vote, backers of the bill failed to get even a
majority.  The 46-53 vote against ending debate on the bill (S 1639) all
but ended Bush's chances of winning the sweeping domestic policy
achievement he campaigned on as far back as 2000.

Supporters said determining exactly when and why the momentum slipped away
could be difficult, but they began to sense trouble early Thursday when
Senate switchboards lit up.

Hours before the demise of the complex and highly contentious bill, a
deluge of phone calls from constituents, mostly clamoring for the
measure's defeat, tied up the lines to several Senate offices.

The vote came down to a group of 18 senators — 12 Republicans and six
Democrats — who voted to resume debate June 26 but switched Thursday when
pushed to move toward finishing up. The Senate parliamentary procedure
requires a "cloture" (or motion to end all debate and vote on the measure)
vote to pass with a super majority (60 votes out of possible 100). When
that failed to happen the immigration reform package was all but dead on
the table.

So what does this have to do with motorcycles you ask? Well nothing, and
everything. This immigration package has been a serious issue for almost
10 years and arguably longer. There are millions of people who want
something to change and millions more who need something to change. We are
hemorrhaging money through our borders on the backs of illegal aliens. You
would think that at this point any immigration policy is better then what
we have now and therefore an easy legislative lift for the Congress.

No matter what side of the fence you are on (no pun intended) when it
comes to immigration policy you must admire one thing, the grassroots
efforts of those impacted by the proposed reform. Considering just how
desperately we need some sort of reliable, workable immigration policy the
grassroots efforts stopped what would have changed the lives of millions
of people.

My point is this, if a small group of Americans decide that the Congress
is going in the wrong direction, pull them back and change the direction
of the United States government. We as active motorcyclists can forget
this from time to time so remember, it is all about staying educated and
motivated in order to agitate.

Enjoy your Fourth of July week

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(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.