A few dedicated bikers stormed the statehouse yesterday May 19th. These freedom loving individuals met in Columbia to go over some strategies on House Bill 3347.

 

Senators Grooms and Knotts introduced Senate Bill 775 on April 30th. We were afraid that this bill wouldn't get passed this year since the first part of this session ends May 22nd and we didn't want the people that ride trikes have to wait till next year. So Senator Grooms who's Chairmen of the Senate Transportation Committee tacked it on 3347 as an amendment and since 3347 had already passed the House and the Senate this put it on the fast track to be passed. All the House had to do was concur with the amendment. So 6 Freedom Fighters made plans to hit as many Representatives as we could starting with the sponsor of 3347 Rep. Clemmons,  to make sure he had no qualms about our bill being put into his bill. Another Rep on our "hitlist" was Phil Owens Cahirmen of Education and Public Works which includes the House sub-committee on Transportation and Roadways and the sub-committee on Motor vehicles.

Representative Clemmons had no problem with it as we caught him going into the session, we also caught Phil Owens before he went in. Phil was against it until we explained the amendment to him and he was all for it. We were very lucky but everyone we talked to was very receptive to what we had to say. Just to name a few that we talked to were Reps. Nikki Haley who's running for Governor, Tommy Stringer, who helped with the ATV bill, Davey Hiott, whom I've known for years, Nelson Hardwick, and Mac Toole, just to name a few. On another note Dennis Welborn our previous Legislative co-ord was with us. It was good to see Dennis there. I strongly encourage more people to get involved and try an recruit new members to help us in the fight.