Changes are on the way. No matter who you supported in the last election, the winners will make changes. On the federal side, one pick that may affect motorcycling is the President-Elect Trump's choice of a new Secretary of Transportation. His choice is Elaine Chao. Ms. Chao is the wife of Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the Senate majority leader. I really don't know much about her attitudes toward motorcycles, but it is something to keep an eye on.
On to Indiana. One thing is certain the Governor-Elect Eric Holcomb, in the past, has been friendly to ABATE of Indiana and Indiana's motorcyclists. In the past we have always had good communication with Governor-Elect Holcomb.
Republicans again have a super majority in the Indiana Legislature, so not much has changed there. We have had a lot of good working relationships with many of the Senators and Representatives in our Government. I look forward to much of the same for the coming General Assembly.
Please don't forget ABATE Day at the State House is January 17th. Registration begins a 8:00 in the morning in the rotunda. This year it will be very important to have your voice heard by our legislators.
As I hope you have read in the December issue of Hoosier Motorcyclist, thing will be changing for our Motorcycle Safety Division. Riders Education will take on some new curriculum and that will bring challenges.
There is going to be a new bill concerning OHV safety issues, particularly ATVs. What I hear is that Representative Lloyd Arnold (R- 74) will be the author of the bill. As I write this I am still waiting to read the language of the bill. Representative Arnold is a friend of ABATE.
No matter how you voted or who won we must keep our eyes and ears open. REMAIN VIGILANT.
So RIDE far, RIDE safe and RIDE FREE to ABATE Day at the State House on January 17th.
Later,
Mike Meyer
State LINC Director
