Michigan Governor Vetoes Repeal of Helmet Law
http://www.aimncom.com/mc_news/cst2cst/2006/0706.html Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation that would have repealed the state's 37-year-old mandatory motorcycle helmet law, despite the measure having passed the Michigan State Legislature by a 2-1 margin.
Members of ABATE of Michigan accused her of caving in to pressure from insurers, who opposed repeal. ABATE legislative director Jim Rhoades said riders will make their votes count on Election Day.
It didn't take long for the motorcycle group ABATE to cast an endorsement for Granholm’s Republican challenger, Dick DeVos, who himself rides a motorcycle and said he would have signed the repeal.
Bikers are hoping they can sway the election. "With the passage of time, they have become much better organized, much more aggressive," said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics and a former state lawmaker. "They really go after people in primary elections," Ballenger said. "They've become much more of a force. The question is: Can they make a difference in the general election?â€Â
ABATE claims a high success rate in backing winning candidates. "We usually have about 85 percent voting," Rhoades told reporters. "In the last cycle, we supported 90 candidates and had a 92 percent success rate."
Granholm is currently trailing in the polls.
"This will not be over," said Rhoades.
