On May 8, 1996, the following "update" was sent out to the ABATE of California Board of Directors, Deputy Directors and Local Presidents. The memo is attributed to Mike Osborn, ABATEPAC Chairman, and reads as follows:
AB 244 - Senate Transportation HearingThe Senate Transportation Committee voted down AB-244 Tuesday on a vote of 2-6 with 1 abstention. Voting Aye were Senators Monteith and Kelley. Against were Ayala, Boatright, Hayden, Johnston, Kopp and Russel, with Polonco abstaining.
The committee testimony was long and emotional, with all the usual suspects. They were lined up in force against us, and even had Steve Lambert admitting now that he wasn't head injured, but representing himself as a cost to the State. One bright light was Shannon Laughy, who told the committee of her helmet-induced broken neck. I hate to characterize a horriffic injury as a bright light, but there weren't many. One surprise was Richard Quigley appearing for the opposition. This caused some confusion to the panel, several of the Senators mistaking him for a biker due to the way he was dressed, and others thinking we stupid enough to use him as a ringer. Whatever their thoughts, Kopp played him like a trout, encouraging him to rant on with accusation after accusation, probably hoping Quigley would start seeing Black Helicopters next. Quigley left the room yelling, "Quintin Kopp, I love you!" The bikers in the room were left feeling embarrassed and causing, I'm sure, at least one of our votes to go south on us just because of the display.
Earlier in the day, the possibility of amendments came up. One was a health insurance clause proposed by Senator Polonco, another was a study proposed by Senator Ayala. An amendment that had been offered by us on Floyd's AB-7 of a registration fee was also discussed.
The rest of the memo had to do with subjects other than a report on the day at the Transportation Committee, and covered different areas which may or may not be suitable for review at some later time.
quig
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