The Bottle Bill Still in Play!

Let's Get it Across the Finish Line

Contrary to some news reports about the Massachusetts House of Representatives' budget deliberations yesterday, the Updated Bottle Bill WAS NOT voted down during the budget debate.

While the Updated Bottle Bill was among 800 amendments to the budget filed last week, it - as well as the vast majority of those amendments - was among those never considered by the members of the House of Representatives.

The Updated Bottle Bill (H890/S1650) is, however, still pending in the Telecom Utilities and Energy Committee. The committee gave the bill an extension (June 15) - exactly what was done last session. In the meantime, the beverage and bottling industries continue to spread misinformation about the impact of the Bottle Bill in the public and at the State House. Click here to see the claims and facts that refute them.  

Action on this bill has been delayed by the Legislature for over 14 years and the public is understandably impatient.

The Updated Bottle Bill enjoys the support of 77% of the public (Jan 2011 MassINC poll). The Massachusetts Municipal Association and 208 cities and towns have endorsed it, as have 375 small businesses. The bill needs to be released from the Telecom Utilities and Energy Committee and brought up for a vote now.

How can we make that happen? Keep up the pressure! The Coalition in Support of the Bottle Bill sent a letter to every legislature in the State House, excepting the Speakers, asking them to clearly state their position for the Updated Bottle Bill with a simple "Yes" or "No". Those who do not respond will be listed as DNPP - Did Not Provide Position. The deadline for a response has been extended to Friday April 27th.

To date, 92 legislators have signed on as supporters, 4 have said "No" and 100 or so have yet to respond. We need to hear from those missing 100 legislators! Please check the DNPP list here. If your legislators are on the DNPP list, we ask you to call them by end of day tomorrow, August 27th, and urge them to move to the "Yes" column. To find your legislators and contact information click here. Feel free to send them the cover letter and endorsement forms linked below for some immediate reinforcement!

Contact Launa Zimmaro to let her know how your legislator responds.

To see the current status list, click here.  

For a copy of the sample letter sent to all legislators, click here.

For a copy of the endorsement form, click here.    

To find your legislators and their contact information click here.   

Click on the video below to get some inspiration from LWVMA members who lobbied their way into the Speaker of the House's office at our annual Day on the Hill event yesterday, Wednesday, April 25th.  

LWVMA Members Lobby for the Bottle Bill to the Speaker of the House at the State House