Another surprise today in Jefferson City. Every year that I have served in Jefferson City I have been on the transportation committee. Every year we have heard this bill that removes the requirement to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle in the State of Missouri.
Right now we are debating the bill on the floor. The surprise is that the bill was sent to the Homeland Security committee where it passed 7-0. What isn't a surprise is that Rep. Dusenburg, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, is also the sponsor of the bill.
The bill requires anyone under the age of 21 to wear a helmet but makes it optional for those over the age of 21. The debate is now turning towards dangerous behavior on the roads. Rep. Page has just offered the amendment banning cell phone use while driving.
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We broke for lunch with Rep. Page's amendment pending. Rep. Page is against the bill so it will be interesting to see what happens if he stays aways from the house floor when he suspects the bill may be taken up. Some would argue that the bill would not be able to move forward unless he is present to move his amendment forward. Other's argue that if a member is not present when his amendment is pending the amendment becomes that of the House. My opinion is that when a member offers an amendment that amendment is his/hers and no other member should be allowed to move that amendment forward or witdraw it from consideration.
Well, we went back to the bill and Rep. Page was at his microphone. His amendment failed on a roll vote. To clarify, by the time all of the amendments were offered what we were finally voting on was: if your riding a motorcycle without a helmet, and at the same time using a cell phone, the state is not financially responsible for your hosptial stay if you are in an accident.
The bill passed the house on Thursday and will now go to the senate.
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