Helluva meeting going on.. Got some reports from Austin, tonight.. Everybody sure missed a good meeting.. Not many showed up, but what a crew.. The Chairman has been meeting himself coming around corners at the Capitol.. He says that he's never seen a Session as wild as this one has been.. The governor has gotten involved real deep in this Session, so the Chairman went after him.. When he finally managed to talk to him, Governor Perry reportedly assured Sputnik that he was not opposed to our Bills or something to that effect.. Even though he'd sent members of his staff to confront our own Norma Chavez .. as well as some of the other legislators.. The impression of the picture I'm getting is that some of the opposition to our Bills are preparing to nail our Bills with amendments and riders to piggyback their own agendas.. Our Failure to Yield Bill and the Insurance Bill are being negotiated, as I see it.. The insurance Lobbyists are decidedly trying to salvage their little caveat in the HIPPA Act which they can deny a claim by the claimant being involved in risky behavior.. This is their full intent and unless we prevail, the public can expect to see this practice by the insurance companies . soon.. TMRA II has held the position that this is bad policy for all consumers.. The insurance company has gestured that perhaps they could exclude motorcyclists from their risky behavior conditions .. So far . TMRA II hs warded off this attempt by the companies.. but it is getting very close and tense as the end of the Session get closer..From what I understand . the insurance companies have already denied claims because of this risky behavior thing . At least one of those claims was made by survivors of a pilot in one of those light plane kind of clubs.. He got killed in an accident more than two years ago.. His family has never collected a dime from the policies they'd paid for, all those years.. Consumers of all stripes better hope that TMRA II can hold on and get the co-operation and support they need to win this fight.. Who knows .. when it comes down. maybe motorcyclists will be the only ones standing who will get their money's worth from those damned companies in event of an accident.. Not too many people realize that TMRA II is the only advocacy group in Texas .. that has fought long and hard for rights that affect all consumers..ABATE has worked hand in hand with TMRA II with every issue that benefits all of us.. I found out tonight that TMRA II has been in existence for fourteen years and was the first of it's kind in our State.. The Failure to Yield Bill is coming up along with the Insurance Bill .. so I am planning to attend the Committee hearing on the one Bill next Tuesday.. We hope to put at least twenty riders on the road to Austin.. Mike Alvey, the Preacher and me will probably go down on Monday, since I still am not up to a one day turnaround to Austin.. We'll spend the night, be at the Legislature opening at eight o'clock in the AM on Tuesday and return to the metroplex later that day.. Anyone who'd like a ride along with us is welcome.. It's time for all the Welfare Bikers to get off center and support this bunch of Warriors.. Since January.. we are all tired and pretty frazzled .. Fresh faces would help.. Your Friend in Irving Bill Walker
