Thank You -- and Plea For More Help on Toxics Bill

by: Elisa Batista

Thu Sep 10, 2009 at 11:50:02 AM PDT

I just want to thank this community for its support of Sen. Mark Leno's bill (SB 772) to get rid of a state de facto rule requiring toxic flame retardants in baby products. (Thank you, Brian, for promoting the diary!)

Unfortunately, that bill died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee -- by a mere 2 votes. Despite intense lobbying by the chemical industry and its front group "Citizens for Fire Safety" we lasted 5 rounds to that point.

Nonetheless, many of us have dusted ourselves off and we are intensely working on the same Assemblymembers to pass another bill, SB 797 sponsored by Sen. Fran Pavley, that would ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby products like bottles and formula cans. Other states like Minnesota and Connecticut already have passed similar bills.

EDIT by Brian: Take Action over the flip.

Chemical Industry Trying to Influence CA Assemblymembers -- Please Help!

by: Elisa Batista

Mon Aug 24, 2009 at 11:01:17 AM PDT

Who am I? I am a 32-year-old mother and activist who lives in Berkeley, California. I run a progressive mothering blog called MotherTalkers and I am currently a contractor for the family organization MomsRising.org.

I wouldn't already be bugging you if the issue I was working on did not pertain to California families and was not important. I wanted to let you know that a bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Leno that would help rid certain baby products of toxic flame retardants is about to die a silent death unless we pick up the phone and call our Assemblymembers.