ABATE of FLorida, Breaking news, state thinks money is wasted

OFF THE WIRE
Go to http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/2011/09/abate-of-florida-breaking-news-state.html  to see article or read below

ABATE of FLorida, Breaking news, state thinks money is wasted H/T CowgirlPosted: 9:15 AM Sep 30, 2011
Lawmaker: Review Motorcycle Safety Spending A state legislator will ask a joint legislative committee on to review how state-collected money that goes to a motorcycle safety group is being spent, saying he thinks it's being wasted.
Reporter: David Royse, The News Service of Florida HE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 30, 2011 - David Royse, The News Service of Florida


A state legislator will ask a joint legislative committee on Monday to review how state-collected money that goes to a motorcycle safety group is being spent, saying he thinks it's being wasted.

The joint Legislative Auditing Committee will discuss Rep. Bryan Nelson's request for an audit of the $250,000 that is collected in $2.50 increments from motorcycle riders when they renew their registration. Nelson said the money, which is given to a private group, ABATE, is spent on "trinkets" that he doesn't believe improve motorcycle safety.

The group's spending on the program was already reviewed by an independent auditor who said the company appears to be at least complying with its contract with the state.

The president of ABATE, James "Doc" Reichenbach, said pointed to that audit's finding, and while acknowledging the money does go to buy things like refrigerator magnets and key chains, he says the campaign is working, citing declining motorcycle crash deaths.
"That's exactly what it's used for," Reichenbach told the News Service. "We have key chains that say 'Watch for motorcycles.' We have magnets, same thing.

"We have to use (the money) for safety we cannot use it for lobbying, which we don't. But every penny is accounted for," Reichenbach said.

Nelson, however, doubts that such "trinkets" work to reduce motorcyclist injuries and deaths, and questions whether it is a good use of the money which is essentially a tax on motorcyclists is what Nelson wants to know. He is inclined to think not. He suggested that it may be a better idea to reduce the motorcycle fee by the $2.50.

"It's one thing if you want to do safety seminars, but when you're giving out trinkets and stuff, come on," said Nelson, R-Apopka. "Somebody must own one of those trinket companies.. It's a bunch of stuff that has no business being part of a government program."
But Reichenbach said the reminders do work and the evidence is in motorcycle crash data.


"Deaths have gone down every year," Reichenbach said. "They went down 24 percent three years ago."

ABATE got $250,000 from the motorcycle registration fees this year.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released a copy of the outside audit that was done on the ABATE program and sent to the agency in July. It doesn't address the actual effectiveness of the campaign, and doesn't address motorcycle crash outcomes.

But the audit does note that the contract with ABATE spelled out what the money could be used for, and one of those approved expenditures is for "material for promotion of biker safety."

"In my opinion, ABATE of Florida, Inc., has disbursed funds in accordance with the requirements of the contractual agreement," the auditor, Michael E. Steuer, CPA, wrote in the audit summary.

The contract with ABATE also specifically allows the money to be spent on "any other needs with the express purpose of promoting biker safety/training to include promotional products."

In addition to key chains, kickstand pads and magnets, the group also spends some of the money on billboards, radio ads, bus ads and other informational items, according to the audit and Reichenbach.

Reichenbach said he welcomed the scrutiny.
"Everything is on the up and up and we can prove it," he said.


Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com  

We are all over this and I posted in the Bolt Blog as well as Facebook.

I sent to media contacts as well.

 I will be contacting my representatives and also contacting those involved in this.

RC will be attending the meeting on Monday.

Also seeing that members of the legislature get the following ( see the article in attachments)

ABATE of Florida is better known for their parties and poker runs from bar to bar than their legislative accomplishments.

There are many versions of what the letters that make up the name means But a favorite is.

Always Bring Alcohol To Events.

I might even add something about is this the kind of organization the Florida Legislature wants to support by giving them tax payer money.

Feel free to share 

Rogue

Sturgis Freedom Fighters

Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005

http://www.bikerrogue.com/

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From: Irish Rider [mailto:IrishRider69@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 12:46 PM
To: Rogue Herlihy
Subject: Fw: FL-Lawmaker: Review Motorcycle Safety Spending

Subject: Fwd: FL-Lawmaker: Review Motorcycle Safety Spending

FYI  

From: nyfreedomriders-karen <nyfreedomriders-karen@stny.rr.com>
To: nyfreedomriders-karen <nyfreedomriders-karen@stny.rr.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 30, 2011 5:56 pm
Subject: FL-Lawmaker: Review Motorcycle Safety Spending

www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Lawmaker_Review_Motorcycle_Safety_Spending_130844

383.html

Posted: 9:15 AM Sep 30, 2011

Lawmaker: Review Motorcycle Safety Spending

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 30, 2011 -

David Royse, The News Service of Florida

A state legislator will ask a joint legislative committee on Monday to

review how state-collected money that goes to a motorcycle safety group is

being spent, saying he thinks it's being wasted.

The joint Legislative Auditing Committee will discuss Rep. Bryan Nelson's

request for an audit of the $250,000 that is collected in $2.50 increments

from motorcycle riders when they renew their registration. Nelson said the

money, which is given to a private group, ABATE, is spent on "trinkets" that

he doesn't believe improve motorcycle safety.

The group's spending on the program was already reviewed by an independent

auditor who said the company appears to be at least complying with its

contract with the state.

The president of ABATE, James "Doc" Reichenbach, said pointed to that

audit's finding, and while acknowledging the money does go to buy things

like refrigerator magnets and key chains, he says the campaign is working,

citing declining motorcycle crash deaths.

"That's exactly what it's used for," Reichenbach told the News Service. "We

have key chains that say 'Watch for motorcycles.' We have magnets, same

thing.

"We have to use (the money) for safety we cannot use it for lobbying, which

we don't. But every penny is accounted for," Reichenbach said.

Nelson, however, doubts that such "trinkets" work to reduce motorcyclist

injuries and deaths, and questions whether it is a good use of the money

which is essentially a tax on motorcyclists is what Nelson wants to know. He

is inclined to think not. He suggested that it may be a better idea to

reduce the motorcycle fee by the $2.50.

"It's one thing if you want to do safety seminars, but when you're giving

out trinkets and stuff, come on," said Nelson, R-Apopka. "Somebody must own

one of those trinket companies.. It's a bunch of stuff that has no business

being part of a government program."

But Reichenbach said the reminders do work and the evidence is in motorcycle

crash data.

"Deaths have gone down every year," Reichenbach said. "They went down 24

percent three years ago."

ABATE got $250,000 from the motorcycle registration fees this year.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released a copy of the

outside audit that was done on the ABATE program and sent to the agency in

July. It doesn't address the actual effectiveness of the campaign, and

doesn't address motorcycle crash outcomes.

But the audit does note that the contract with ABATE spelled out what the

money could be used for, and one of those approved expenditures is for

"material for promotion of biker safety."

"In my opinion, ABATE of Florida, Inc., has disbursed funds in accordance

with the requirements of the contractual agreement," the auditor, Michael E.

Steuer, CPA, wrote in the audit summary.

The contract with ABATE also specifically allows the money to be spent on

"any other needs with the express purpose of promoting biker safety/training

to include promotional products."

In addition to key chains, kickstand pads and magnets, the group also spends

some of the money on billboards, radio ads, bus ads and other informational

items, according to the audit and Reichenbach.

Reichenbach said he welcomed the scrutiny.

"Everything is on the up and up and we can prove it," he said. 

Here are links to YouTube Videos By Charlie Brechtel about Issues Rogue is having With ABATE of Florida. I do believe there are more coming.
Feel free to share and comment.



Florida Abate and Rogue : Charlie Brechtel YouTube


Part 1 with Mike Greenwald : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl01jwFaUfQ&feature=related 


Part 2 with Rogue : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhL5WWcuJ7w 


Part 3 with Rogue : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhL5WWcuJ7w 


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