David Durenberger: “almost 2 years have passed since we enacted the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Included in…”

“almost 2 years have passed since we enacted the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Included in that bill were provisions which required States to enact laws mandating safety belt and helmet use. States which did not enact such laws as of October 1, 1993, would be required to shift already scarce transportation funds to section 402 safety programs. That date has come and gone--but even in the face of the penalties laid out by the section 153 provisions, only 2 States have complied. The Minnesota Legislature considered several bills that would have implemented some type of mandate on helmet use, including one that would have required helmets for riders under 21 years of age. None of these bills even made it out of committee. At least 11 other States have rejected mandatory helmet laws this year, despite the sanctions that will be imposed upon them by the Federal Government. Right now, 26 States--more than half of the country--will be penalized for not responding to what amounts to blackmail by the Federal Government.”