There's a fight going on in the legislative halls of Minnesota right now, thanks to the Herculean efforts of the people at Healthy Legacy. Thank you to Lisa Wolf for this information. As some of you may remember, the Minnesota Legislature took the important step of voting on and passing a bill that would outlaw BPA and phthalates from children's products sold in Minnesota. While the federal government has outlawed phthalates and lead, the FDA has not declared BPA harmful in any way, and so there has been no move to ban it from baby products on a nationwide level. Thankfully, many manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to simply phase it out and eliminate the chemical from their processes altogether. This is because parents and other concerned citizens spoke with their dollars and stopped buying BPA-containing baby bottles, for example. (However, BPA remains in a number of other products, including canned food linings.)
Minnesota citizens didn't want to wait for the federal government, so legislators, under pressure from their constituents, passed this important bill with bipartisan support. Then our governor, Tim Pawlenty, vetoed it. Why? For a long time, it was unclear. But then the other day, Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher referenced Pawlenty's letter to the legislature explaining his veto. It was chock full of incorrect information and read like an American Chemistry Council press release. NOTE: Lisa Wolf kindly pointed out to me that BPA was no longer on the bill when Pawlenty vetoed it--BPA was taken off the bill in committee because legislators thought it would give it a better chance to pass without it. Phthalates and deca-BDE remained on the bill. And so Pawlenty did not actually veto a BPA-ban.
It is inexcusable and frankly unforgivable that a poltician at Pawlenty's level relies on industry science to make decisions like this. Is it incompetence? Is it collusion? Deviousness? Any of these options are terrifying. So, with this as background, the legislature is gearing up again to reconsider this issue, and this time we need a veto-proof majority. That's where Healthy Legacy is coming in again. The organization has been tireless in rallying around this issue, and has come up with a strategy to make sure the bills (The BPA-Free Baby Products Act and the Toxic Free Kids Act) are passed this time, regardless of Pawlenty's reliance on the ACC's "research" and his own veto power. Below, take a look at these strategies. If you don't live in Minnesota but care about this issue, why not implement some of the strategies yourself, looking up the information for your local representatives, and sending letters. As you can see, municipalities and states across the country are taking it upon themselves to regulate harmful chemicals since the federal government, up to now, has been incapable or unwilling to do so themselves.
Here is our recipe for success:
1. We need massive constituent pressure. If you have any membership, family, or friends in these areas please have them call their legislator as soon as possible. Every call counts!
Folks we need to talk to:
Sen. James Metzen (DFL 39) CHAIR- West St. Paul, Mendota, Inver Grove Heights 651.296.4370http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1037&ls=85
Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL 56) VICE CHAIR- Woodbury, Lake Elmo, Oak Park Heights 651.296.4166
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1114
Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL 05)- Iron Range 651.296.8017
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?leg_id=10669
Sen. Thom Bakk (DFL 06)-North shore, Grand Marais, Ely, Babbitt, Duluth 651.296.8881
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?leg_id=10027
Sen. Geof Michel (R 41)- Edina 651.296.6238
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?district=41
Sen. Julie Rosen (R 24) Fairmount, Blue Earth 651.296.5713
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?leg_id=10803
Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL 27) Albert Lea, Austin 651.296.9248
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?ls=85&mem_id=1062
2. We will be hosting regular staff and volunteer phonebanks in the next few weeks and I will email out the schedule soon. So, any volunteers or staff that could dedicate some time in the evenings would be great!
3. We will need massive turnout to this committee hearing but alas we don’t have a schedule yet. Another reason to CALL Senator Metzen.
4. Letters to the Editor in any local papers would be phenomenal.
Simple Sample Constituent Phone Call:
Hi Senator________,
My Name is __________ and I am from _____________. I am calling because I am concerned about toxins in children’s products. That is why I am counting on you to support the Toxic Free Kids Act and the BPA Free Baby Products bill. Thank you,
More in-depth call:
Hi Senator_______________,
My Name is __________ and I am from _____________. I am calling because I am concerned about toxins in children’s products. Bisphenol A and other chemicals are turning up in baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula cans, teething rings and baby’s bath products. Health impacts include diabetes, cancer, hormone disruption and much more. Safer alternatives exist and frankly, we have not met our potential for jobs in Minnesota through the manufacture and sale of safe plastics and green chemistry. That is why I am counting on you to support the Toxic Free Kids Act and the BPA Free Baby Products bill. These bills will phase out harmful toxins from children’s products while opening the door to a new sector of the economy in Minnesota.
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