Roberts on helmets
This is a request for a correction to the false and misleading
editorial printed on Oct. 16, “On helmets and pandering.” Once again the Herald-Standard has failed to report the facts but
instead reported an untruth. I am a co-sponsor of all four bills that I know of which deal with motorcycle issues and the helmet law.
I do not know where you got your information or to which bill you are referring, but I am a co-sponsor of House Bill numbers 568, 1239, 1291 and 1764, all of which are the most prominent bills motorcycles.
If there is another piece of legislation of which I am not aware, I
welcome you to identify it. I assure you I am a co-sponsor of the bills I identified and I do not know of any others dealing with the matter in question.
Rep. Larry Roberts
South Union
Editor’s note: Mr. Roberts is a co-sponsor of House Bill 1291.
According to the General Assembly’s electronic bill room, he is not listed as a co-sponsor of HB 1764, the only other bill regarding motorcycle helmets before this legislative session. The other two bills that he lists are for prior legislative terms.
Write to representatives
Each time an election rolls around, we hear the same frustrations that nobody votes anymore. It’s the lesser of two evils. I just don’t care.
What difference can I make? Sometimes we forget that we live in a democracy, governed by and for the people.
Obviously, voting is priority number one. But you can also make a
difference by writing letters.
There is an old adage that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you can write a cogent, thoughtful, respectful letter to a politician, you will get a response, and you will have made an impact on his or her policy. In turn, you’ll begin to think that you do indeed have a voice in your government.
As with most business letters, the more localized the target the
better. So if you are concerned with a problem on a local level, write you local representative – he or she is more accessible.
However, there are times and situations when it is just as important to write to senators, congressmen (women), governors, and even the president. By following the same guidelines, you too will be heard.
George Matich
Flatwoods