The House came back from its week long recess on Monday. Both chambers were in session this week and will be in next week as well. Not a lot of substantial highway bill work, just some big picture hearings. The trust fund expires at the end of May; it looks more than likely that we will see a short term bill before then. President Obama continues to press Congress for his long term bill, the GROW AMERICA act; most in congress see his draft as DOA.
The Senate confirmed two National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) members this week: Chris Hart and Dr. Bella Dihn-Zarr. Hart will serve as chairman of the board, while Dihn-Zarr will serve as a board member. Hart has been acting chair for almost a year. It's a natural selection, as Hart has served on and off the NTSB since 1990. Dihn-Zarr might be a problem. She has served at NHTSA, AAA, and her last post was heading up the FIA Foundation. What is the FIA Foundation? It's one of the scariest safetycrat organizations in the world. Helmets are at the center of just about every motorcycle related project. Right now the FIA is giving free helmets to Chinese children. They also do motorsports projects. They have a program that is looking into developing special helmets for the kids that race karts. They also support globalization of safety equipment. But wait, there’s more! The FIA also promotes livability, the idea that you should, at the governments insistence, live near, or in, a city center. You need to do this, according to groups like FIA, to reduce your carbon footprint and save fuel, thus resulting in a more “livable” environment with cleaner air and water. Their funding list is a “who's who” of AAA-like groups from around the globe. I will be keeping a close eye on the NTSB newcomer.
Senator Vitter (R-LA) has introduced legislation that would force the new three-wheeled vehicles to comply with both motorcycle safety standards and passenger vehicle (under 10,000 pounds) standards. The bill creates a new class of vehicles to accommodate the new three-wheelers, such as the slingshot, iRoad and the Elio machines. The class would be known as autocycles.
Remember last week when I described the letter that the MRF joined and sent to the Congress from a number of highway user groups about devolution? This is the concept of removing the federal government from the transportation funding and giving it ro the states. It's an ill-conceived idea that would saddle the states with extra cost. The letter caused quite the stir in the transportation community, with leadership from both House and Senate making statements assuring the general public that devolution was roundly rejected as a solution to the funding problems plaguing the highway bill. Sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword!
The shocker of the week was Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) announcing his resignation. Schock is a 33-year old member of congress who was serving his 4th term. Schock is known as a bright up-and-comer with a preternatural fundraising ability. He was elected to the Illinois school board at age 19, to the State House at 23 , and then to U.S. Congress at the tender age of 27. Schock has always been more than friendly to the ABATE of Illinois and the MRF. Whether it was with assisting in setting up BITB or cosponsoring legislation, Schock was always helpful. When he announced his resignation early this week, it was alarming. He was, and still is, under investigation for recent use of campaign money, his lavish lifestyle, his private jet use, and misappropriation of campaign and official funds. What started the suspicion? Schock’s over the top Capitol Hill office. Supposedly he used private money and gifts to design his office to resemble rooms that would fit in an early twentieth century English aristocratic manor. The office suite stands out against a sea of beige halls and walls lined with men in dark suits. It did not take long for the press to notice and start sniffing around. All of those shirtless magazine covers (Mens Health), racy Instagram posts and a paid handsome man servant (personal photographer always at his side) did not help either. Schock let his ego get the best of him, is my theory. He burned bright for a short amount of time in the political world where his contemporaries averaged nearly twice his age. Of course I am not the judge, jury, and executioner so Mr. Schock is innocent until proven guilty.
With the sudden opening for a special election, the candidates are striking while the iron is hot. The likely next congressman for the 18th Congressional District? Darrin LaHood, son of former U.S. DOT Secretary and former Member of Congress for IL-18, Ray LaHood, a former MRF Champion. We expect the same from Candidate Darrin LaHood.