[Mrfnews] 08LR01 - MRF Leaders Report - January 2008

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

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 at mrf.org (e-mail)

January 22, 2008


CONGRESS RETURNS

The second session of the 110th Congress officially began last week. Both
bodies of Congress have much work to accomplish in this session, however
that seems highly unlikely when one considers that this is a
hotly-contested presidential election year, as well as the bitter partisan
mood of Congress and a troubled economy.

All of the legislation that is assigned a bill number for the first
session of this Congress stands for this second session of the 110th. That
means that the HIPAA loophole bills (HR 1076 and S 616) are still in need
of co-sponsors. Gathering co-sponsors for these bills will dominate the
busy spring lobby season for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and
motorcyclists nationwide.

SPEAKING OF LOBBYING

Now is a great time to start planning your trips to lobby your nation's
capitol for 2008. Haven't considered sending a group to DC? What's
stopping you? Every lobby trip to DC promises to be a life-changing event
for first- and long-timers alike. Don't hesitate to contact the Washington
DC office of the MRF for more information on organizing a trip to DC.

TRB ANNUAL MEETING

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) held its yearly Washington DC
summit last week. The event brings every aspect of transportation together
for a comprehensive review and presentation of what's happening with
regard to every form of transportation and the current research that is
taking place. This annual meeting, one of the largest each year in DC, is
perhaps the most comprehensive look into the world's foremost
transportation research.

The MRF Vice President of Government Relations has a seat on the
Motorcycle & Moped committee also known as ANF30 of the TRB. The committee
met, as they do each time the TRB convenes in Washington, to discuss the
research, emerging technologies, government studies, and international
issues.

One of the items that piqued a lot of interest was the discussion on
three-wheeled vehicles. Many states consider all vehicles equipped with
three wheels, no matter the configuration, a motorcycle. For years that
has not posed many problems. Until now. There has been an emergence of
many covered three-wheeled vehicles with two wheels in front of the
operator and one aft. These vehicles are often equipped with seat belts,
doors, steering wheel, climate controls, and windshield. For all intensive
purposes it's a car that's missing one rear wheel. Many of these vehicles
are powered by electricity and are being promoted as environmentally
friendly alternatives to gas guzzling cars. The issue with these covered
three wheeled vehicles is that they are not motorcycles. The key word here
is covered. We don't want to single out trikes, sidecars, or even the new
Piaggo MP3 (that's the funky motorcycle with two side-by-side wheels up
front). All of these are true motorcycles. Covered three wheeled vehicles
are sold as alternatives to cars with virtually none of the challenges of
motorcycles and all of the benefits. For instance, once classified as a
motorcycle these three-wheeled cars are allowed on HOV lanes, cheaper
insurance and licensing fees, and motorcycle parking. It may be that we
need to create a new classification for these new types of vehicles
instead of just lumping them in with a completely different class of
vehicle. That's what they did in Canada – it looks like our friendly
neighbors to north are in front of us on this one.

NHTSA QUARTERLY MEETING

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently held
it's quarterly motorcycle safety network meeting, and as always the MRF
was in attendance. This meeting was like most of its kind in the past. All
of the relevant government agencies had representation, as did
Harley-Davidson, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), the Motorcycle
Industry Council (MIC), the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), the
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), and the
National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA).

Vicky Sanfelipo from Wisconsin was granted a portion of the MRF's time
during the meeting to present about Accident Scene Management Inc. ASMI
prepares first responders in motorcycle-specific procedures. Many
emergency response agents have little or no training with regard to
motorcycles, which we all agree has its own set of characteristics from
any other type of vehicle mishap, and more education for our first
responders is key.

A significant difference with this meeting was that NHTSA Deputy
Administrator Jim Ports attended and led the entire 4.5-hour meeting. This
is not the first time a NHTSA honcho has attended, but it's the first time
any one of their leadership has stayed for the duration. No offense to the
past visitors, but they generally show up with just enough time to deliver
a canned speech and then leave. Ports showed a true dedication to
motorcycle safety that is sometimes hard to find. Jim Ports is himself a
motorcyclist and a strong ally with ABATE of Maryland, a former state
delegate for Maryland, former Maryland DOT administrator, and a friend of
the MRF. Thanks, Jim, for rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands
dirty with us. We appreciate it.

PRO Convention

The Public Relations Officers (PRO) convention was held last weekend
outside Philadelphia, PA and the MRF was given 30 minutes to present at
the general session. If you haven't heard of PRO it's an organization of
the public relations officers for sport bike clubs across the country. The
event draws over 1000 sport bikers each year. The MRF has been involved
for the past three years and has plans to continue supporting this event.
The sport bikers have many similarities with the cruisers and there are a
lot of issues that can be shared despite some obvious differences.

TUESDAY GROUP

Of final note was the MRF's attendance at a high-profile fundraiser last
week. You may not have heard of them, but the Tuesday Group is
Washington's latest faction of the House of Representatives to organize
and try to keep each other elected. The group (which, naturally, meets on
Wednesdays) is made up of House Republicans who are also known as
"moderates," Republicans who are not as conservative on issues as the
right wing of the party. With membership of the groups numbering in the
low 40s, an unpopular republican president, and a soft stance on things
like the environment, the Tuesday Group is becoming a force to be reckoned
with. When they can stick together and vote on issues as a block, they are
very effective and can sway controversial votes one direction or the
other.

MRF PAC chose to donate to this group because of the many supporters we
have that are also members of the Tuesday Group.


==========================================================
To subscribe or unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit
http://www.mrf.org/subscribe.php

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

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds
conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for
further details and registration information.

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.