Guest Report July 2025

Bikers Inside The Beltway

By LeeAnn Ruegg

Let me introduce myself, I'm Lee Ann Ruegg, assistant state MRF Rep and formerly Legislative Rep. for ABATE Region 8A, member, and strong supporter of both. I live in Gays Mills, WI. and Necedah, WI. I'm proud to say I had the privilege of fighting for Motorcyclists Rights as well as OUR rights as CONSUMERS in Washington DC on May 20th, 2025.

From my location in WI, it was 1023 miles one way then back again for a total of 2046 miles made on my motorcycle to and back from Washington DC for MRF's Bikers Inside the Beltway fighting for the Freedoms of all Motorcyclists. From my area in WI., we met with Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Glenn Grothman, and Congressman Derrick Van Orden.

The strange thing is that most of you who have never had the desire to ride a motorcycle and ended up with other modes of transportation used for recreation, a hobby, or a livelihood... such as a UTV, ATV, Boat, Jet Ski, Snowmobile, Antique Auto, etc. as well as ordinary everyday life... like a work/family car, lawnmower, chainsaw, weed trimmer, snowblower, etc... We inadvertently fought for your freedoms to use these items now and into the future.

Over 250 motorcyclists from across the country met with all of our Federal Legislators on DC's Capitol Hill. It wasn't playtime like most would like to think. They were serious meetings with ALL of our legislators to either thank them for their support in the past on issues directly affecting us as Motorcyclists, consumers, or constituents wanting their support on upcoming issues affecting not only Motorcyclists, but myself, as a consumer.

The possible bills below were discussed:

-Updating a nearly 60-year-old Definition of a Motorcycle... making sure that a motorcycle is either 2 or 3 wheels that you straddle and have handlebars for steering

-Right To Repair... Making sure that we have the tools, parts, and sharing of technology from manufacturers for either the consumer, any Dealership, OEM Shop, or Independent Repair Shop to service and repair our Motorcycles, Cars, and any other device, (lawnmowers, chainsaws, Autos, etc.), 10 years or older requiring service and or repair.

-Making sure that E10 or less fuel is available at the pumps across the nation/country to fuel our Motorcycles, Autos, lawnmowers, chainsaws, as well as recreational vehicles such as... UTVs, ATVs, Boats, Antique Autos, etc...

-Autonomous Vehicles, (Driverless, Teslas), software issues that make them unsafe where Motorcycles are concerned. Why?... they don't recognize a motorcycle. We are not even programmed in the software which makes it impossible for them to even see a motorcycle. There have been 4 or more fatalities that I'm aware of because of this so called "glitch." They just fail to stop and run Motorcycles over.

-They would like to BAN ALL Combustion Engines by 2035 whereas we are asking to RETAIN the Right (FREEDOM) of Consumer Choice relating to Combustion or Electric Engines. It should be the choice of the consumer as what best suits their specific needs when it comes to combustion or electric engines.

These were just a few of the topics we are fighting for. So, if you are truly interested in learning more or joining OUR cause please join ABATE of Wisconsin and the MRF, because we are ALL fighting for the life of combustion engines and OUR way of life as a CONSUMER. For more information, please visit us at www.abatewis.org or www.mrf.org. Come join our fight by supporting ABATE or MRF.