FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!
SUPPORT OUR PAC
Are you wondering how Pennsylvania motorcyclists gained freedom of choice for their state and how New York motorcyclists can also, one day, ride free? In the immortal words of Frank Zappa; “You’ll be totally free only if you want to be.”
There are 600,000 motorcyclists in Pennsylvania. 6,000 of those bikers are dues paying members of ABATE. Each member is encouraged to support the BIKEPAC (Political Action Committee). Not all do, but participation is high. In the first six months of 2003, the PAC made $23,891.00 in campaign contributions. In addition to these contributions, ABATE of Pennsylvania employs a paid lobbyist, whose expenses run $2,500 per month. FREEDOM ISN’T FREE.
There are 217,000 + registered motorcycles in N.Y. State and 3,500 dues paying members of ABATE. We also have a Political Action Committee. Ours is called the R.R.F. which stands for Riders Rights Foundation. That is where the similarities end.
Support for our PAC is something that hasn’t been forthcoming from all members and we really need that support. Perhaps they just don’t get it.
ABATE can not, by law, contribute to political campaigns. The sole purpose of our PAC is to contribute money on our behalf, to the campaigns of those legislators that support our issues in Albany.
Think of the PAC as our Legislative ‘Christmas Club’. We deposit money into our account and use it when needed, to attend political fundraisers for supporters and those who might some day become supporters. The process is simple and straight forward. Contributions are sent to the RRF and accounted for in regular reports to the N.Y. State Board of Elections Your money does not go to anything but legitimate contributions. You can check those figures on the Board of Elections web-site by clicking on Campaign Finance, or, go directly to:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A07248. This page is our RRF Pac Report.
A few years ago, Butch and I were asked to join a ‘Friends of Congressman Boehlert’ thing at a cost of $325.00. We had to decline, due to limited resources. Later, we learned that we could have requested a check from the RRF and it would have been in the mail the next day. Coincidentally or not, I have not been able to schedule an appointment with Congressman Boehlert, though I’ve tried several times.
Resolve to support your PAC. There are necessary costs associated with running an ABATE chapter. Over and above those costs, we may feel the need for a monetary ‘cushion’ of sorts to tide us over the months when no events are held and no revenue is realized. Anything more than that cushion, sitting idle in your chapter bank account is a missed opportunity to further our quest for freedom of choice in New York State. Pennsylvania’s members got it. FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!
ABATE of Massachusetts got it too. They’ve merged with the MMA (Massachusetts Motorcycle Association). The ABATE PAC (political action committee) will remain with new officers. It is expected the PAC will get a boost of activity and donations from MMA members in supplementing legislative efforts, especially enactment of their adult helmet choice bill, presently in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Under state law, the MMA, as a not-for-profit organization, may contribute to a PAC to lobby officials. Plans are underway with both organizations to boost revenues to the ABATE PAC as a result of this merger. Are you getting it yet?
MY 10 STEPS TO FREEDOM or YOU’LL be Free Only if you want to be
Another Opinion on How to End Helmet Laws