[Atmob-announce] Light Pollution Bill

[Bern Kosicki]

Mario,

I was shocked as you were about Marzulli's fall in the past week.  Very sad 
state of affairs.

Regarding possible sponsors of a LP bill, I think that Pam Resor 
(Concord/Acton) would listen to this- she has a very good environmental 
record.

However, she is retiring from the Senate this fall, so her support may not 
prove to be decisive (??).  Let me know if you want me to contact her about 
this.

Bernie

At 10:19 AM 6/7/2008, Mario Motta wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>     For those that have been following the news, I am sure you are as 
> shocked and saddened as much as I am with Sen Jim Marzilli's recent 
> exploits. In the past when we have met, he always seemed like a very 
> responsible and great guy to know.  This puts our light pollution bill in 
> some jeprody, as Mraxilli is the sponsor of the bill. I , as well as Dan 
> Green and Kelly Beatty, have been frustrated for some time now with Jim, 
> as he has been absolutely non responsive to our calls and e-mails. In my 
> current position as president-elect of the Mass Medical Society, I now 
> have very good access to the State House politico's, and have been in 
> Speaker DiMasi's office just a few weeks ago, Rep Robert DeLeo (chair 
> ways and Means) office last month, and Rep Brian Dempsey (chair joint 
> comm on energy) few months ago and inaddition to discussing health care 
> issues, bring up the light pollution bill. In each case, they all state: 
> sounds like a great idea.. no one has spoken to them about it yet.. will 
> discuss with sponsor and discuss further.
>
>    Well,   now that Jim Marzilli has dropped out of the re-election race, 
> and is in a Psych hospital, it appears they will never hear from him at 
> all. Every 2 years, 7,000 bills get filled, only about 200 actually pass. 
> If a sponsor is not actively pushing a bill, it has essentially little 
> chance of passing, I think we are dead this year as a result. This is 
> very frustrating, as I have made quite an effort to meet with the house 
> and senate leaders and and felt I greased the wheels for the bill to 
> pass. The one person who I have NOT met with this past year was Marzilli 
> himself. I have even stopped by his state house office twice, and he 
> "could not meet". He has not responded to phone calls, or e-mails as he 
> had promptly in the past, frustrating myself as well as Kelly. I think 
> something medically is wrong with him to have such a dramatic turn around 
> in behavior, and to go around accosting women in public places.
>
>      So, that leaves us with a problem, where do we go from here. For 
> those that do not know, I am currently president-elect of the Mass 
> Medical Society, and next May will be President. This gives me great 
> access to politicians both at our state house, and nationally. In two 
> weeks, I will be at the AMA meeting in Chicago, and I have been nominated 
> to be on the AMA Science and Public health Council. That would allow me 
> to have a voice on national scientific issues that affect public health. 
> (Light pollution just might creep into the discussion if I have my 
> way).  Not certain at all of course, have to be elected, but my main 
> opponent is a psychiatrist from Illinois... you would think a 
> cardiologist with a large telescope should be able to beat out a 
> Psychiatrist, but... will let you know. The point is, I think I have a 
> golden opportunity to use the power of my office to push the light 
> pollution bill. When I show up representing the medical society they 
> actually listen to me.. (I am shocked actually). In addition, the MMS has 
> 2 part time lobbyists who I have already instructed to track the bill and 
> push whenever appropriate.
>
>     The main issue is now with Marzilli's public fall from grace, we need 
> a new sponsor if we are to get a light pollution bill. Jim is essentially 
> a non person now at the State House, and too late for anything to do 
> about it. I will continue to push the bill, but I have my doubts this year.
>I think I now know enough about how to get a bill passed, but will need 
>ATMOB help. If you guys want this, we all need to work for it.
>
>1. We need a new sponsor. I am sure I could get Sen Tarr from Gloucester 
>to sponsor, as I have already spoken to him, and he supports, but.. he is 
>a Republican in a democratic state, and may not be best move. I will 
>however ask him to be a co-sponsor, thus making it "bi-partisan" 
>legislation, always a smart move.
>I will sit down with the MMS people and decide which legislators have real 
>power to get this through, then will propose those names to ATMOB. We then 
>need members in those districts to meet with that legislator and ask they 
>sponsor for next cycle. This I can not do alone, need a local constituent 
>to be there as an ask. I want to find some one who will be committed and 
>will actually work for the bill.
>
>2. I want all ATMOB to make sure they meet with or send notes to ask that 
>we have plenty of co-sponsors. Bills with many co-sponsors always have a boost.
>
>3.Bills get filled in December for the next legislative cycle. Miss that, 
>and you are swimming upstream. So.. will get all this arranged this 
>summer, and pushed in the fall. Be ready for the filling in early December.
>
>4. Make an effort to get to state House during committee meetings.
>
>5. We have a ready built argument that many towns and cities have already 
>passed their own light pollution law. This has been a very powerful 
>argument when I have discussed at the State House. Need a full list in 
>NELPAG, so we can sway the legislators, so... need this soon. Can everyone 
>check their local town, and at the next meeting give me a list of all 
>towns that have passed a form of light pollution control? Pass notes to me 
>with your name and your towns status. If you know the town bill statute 
>number all the better. I will pass this into NELPAG and build our database 
>and our argument for state passage becomes very strong.
>
>To Virginia, If we could have a few moments at our June meeting to start 
>this discussion? Maybe after the club elections.
>And by the way, let me be the first to thank you for a great 2 years as 
>president, you have worked tirelessly on our behalf, and I think have been 
>one of the best presidents we have ever had, great job. Steve Beckwith 
>will have large shoes to fill.
>
>To all, I think I have an opportunity to get this passed, but... not worth 
>the effort unless we do the above and everyone helps. Are you all on board??
>
>Mario Motta
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