ACTION ALERT contact Senate Referral Committee and ask them please to grant individual hearings rather than joint referrals for bills considering pesticides, GMOs and the right to regulate chemical companies producing GMOs in Hawaii. Heres the deal, Senate Rosalyn Baker is the Chair of Consumer Protection and if her past actions and relationship with the chemical companies is any indication, she will not be helpful on protecting us. Senator Clarence Nishihara, who the chemical industry trots around regularly, is the Chair of Agriculture (AGL.) If any of our bills are given a joint referral it means likely Nishihara and Baker will block key legislation. A joint referral between these two committees looks like this: CPN/AGL and it means we cant have a hearing unless both chairs agree. A double referral looks like this: CPN, AGL and means the committee hearings are separate. We need to ask for commas and individual referrals instead of slashes for joint referrals or there is a strong likelihood that Baker and Nishihara will work together to block key legislation as they have in the past. Nishihara and Baker have taken over $34k together from the chemical companies and lobbyists. Galuteria and Kidani have also received significant funding from chemical companies but we wont mention that to them right now, we need them to protect us through fair referrals. Good news is that Senator Ihara Jr. is one of the last 3 Senators to accept no campaign funding from the chemical companies. Make sure to tell them if you live in their district and keep it aloha and professional. Sample letter below: Email Referral Committee: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Sen Michelle Kidani: 808-586-7100 Sen Les Ihara Jr.: 808-586-6250 Sen. Brickwood Galuteria 808-586-6740 Ihara: 10th District - Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Maunalani Heights, Moiliili, Ala Wai Galuteria: 12th District - Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully, Mo‘ili‘ili Kidani: 18th District - Mililani Town, portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia Aloha Honorable Senate Referral Committee, Thank you for all that you do. I am deeply concerned about the committee referrals for GMO labeling, pesticide disclosure, regulation and protection of the ability to enact laws which regulate the chemical companies producing GMOs in Hawaii for both the County and State. Las year, the committee referred GMO labeling to Green/Baker/Nishihara and whenever the joint referrals indicate CPN/AGL or vice versa, it means a likely major roadblock to get a hearing. We know AGL Chair Nishihara and CPN Chair Baker have close ties with the chemical industry and have refused to allow a hearing for GMO labeling in the past and have failed to support many of the crucial needs of the community in regards to pesticides. Finally, in 2013 after citizens enacted Senate Rule 23 to force the bill to the Senate floor for a vote, a Monsanto lobbyist John Radcliffe, pressured the Senate President and the referrals were changed putting Baker as the primary. She finally agreed to a hearing and then killed the bill. We know the chemical companies avoid transparency and that we are dealing with industry pressure so are urging you to please give us a just and best case scenario start. We are concerned those two Chairs in particular, Baker and Nishihara, will be unfair to the public by preventing public hearings on the issues that are most crucial to thousands of Hawaii residents. The late policy legend Patsy Mink was incredibly passionate about GMO labeling, thank you Senator Kidani for honoring her on the Senate floor for opening day ceremonies. These issues are incredibly important to me and my family and friends. I am counting on you to give Hawaii fair referrals and I will support legislators that support the community on these issues instead of chemical corporation lobbyists assisting pesticide makers in genetically engineering crops to promote pesticide use. Thank you for everything and please grant us commas instead of slashed joint referrals to CPN/AGL for these important issues. Best Regards with Aloha, Xyz City phone number (optional)
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 03:07:53 +0000