Defeat of SB 2535 (under 18 motorcycle helmet bill)

OFF THE WIRE
I think Hannibal Smith on the "A Team" television show said it best: "I love it when a plan comes together!" This week, all the planning and work of A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois came together in an impressive vote by the Illinois Senate defeating Sen. Donne Trotter's under 19 helmet bill (SB2535) 32-19, with 6 voting "present" and two "not voting." SW Coordinator and PAC trustee Bob Myers and our lobbyist Todd Vandermyde did a fine job working the Capitol. Our chapter legislative officers and the members of their chapters did a wonderful job of convincing their senators to defeat this bad bill. My cadre of volunteers and I even put in a few hours coordinating this effort. Ours was a good plan and it came together beautifully.

The vote summary on SB2535 can be found at: http://www.ilga. gov/legislation/ votehistory/ 96/senate/ 09600SB2535_ 03182010_ 031000T.pdf

For those who cannot wait to look it up, here is a copy of that web page:

State of Illinois
96th General Assembly
Senate Vote
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _______
Senate Bill No. 2535
THIRD READING

Mar 18, 2010

19 YEAS 32 NAYS 6 PRESENT

N Althoff P Delgado Y Hunter P Martinez N Rutherford
N Bivins N Demuzio N Hutchinson N McCarter P Sandoval
N Bomke N Dillard N Jacobs NV Meeks Y Schoenberg
N Bond N Duffy Y Jones, E. N Millner Y Silverstein
N Brady N Forby N Jones, J. N Muñoz Y Steans
N Burzynski N Frerichs N Koehler N Murphy N Sullivan
N Clayborne Y Garrett Y Kotowski Y Noland N Syverson
Y Collins P Haine N Lauzen N Pankau Y Trotter
N Cronin Y Harmon Y Lightford Y Radogno P Viverito
Y Crotty Y Hendon NV Link Y Raoul P Wilhelmi
N Dahl N Holmes N Luechtefeld N Righter Y Mr President
Y DeLeo N Hultgren Y Maloney N Risinger

The highlighted names are the senators that did not vote for Sen. Trotter's full helmet bill (SB1351) last year, but voted for the under 18 bill this year. It is not surprising that a minor-based helmet bill would get more votes than a helmet bill aimed at everyone. These changed votes do tell us, however, where we need to work harder.

Right now, we need to thank the senators who voted against SB2535 and others who voted "present" or not at all so they would not vote against us. Please tell both their district office and their Springfield office "Thank you." They need to know we appreciate them. If you have trouble finding your legislator and their phone # / address, please go to www.abate-il. org and use the tool in the upper right hand portion of the page. Of course, you can ask your chapter legislative officer or ask me.

A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois did good this week, but the battle is not yet over. Senator Ira Silverstein's bicycle helmet bill (SB2627) may be called for a vote next week. When you call or send a note to your senator thanking them for their vote on Thursday, please ask them to vote "NO" on SB2627 if it is called. A.B.A.T.E.'s position paper on SB2627 is attached. Use it as a talking point guide if you wish. Please report back to your chapter legislative officer on the response you receive when you ask for a commitment to vote "NO" on SB2627.

George Tinkham
A.B.A.T.E. State Legislative Coordinator
"Helping Democracy Work"