From Kari Johnson

There is a bill pending in the Massachusetts state legislature that would prohibit the use of the guide and tethers on elephants. These are the husbandry tools used to train and work with elephants and that allow veterinarians to give them the best possible level of care. (This bill is similar to the Connecticut legislation that was stopped earlier this year.) Senate Bill 2002 is sponsored by Senator Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth). Click this Link to view Bill 2002 (pdf format). MA SB 2002 would prevent elephants from visiting the state of Massachusetts for any type of fair, circus, film, parade or production. A press conference was held on January 21, 2007 by Senator Hedlund and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) to garner support for the bill. The bill was assigned to the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. Thanks to all of you who have already written a letter. Now it is time to deluge them with phone calls and e-mail. A newspaper article says that 700 e-mails have already been received in opposition to the bill. We can do much better than that. A hearing on SB 2002 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 1:30PM in room A-2 at the State House in Boston. Please contact the Committee members with letters, e-mails or phone calls before the October 17 hearing to respectfully ask the Committee members to OPPOSE this legislation. Be sure to put OPPOSITION to SB 2002 on the subject line of your e-mails. The contact information for the Committee members is listed below. Senators: Senator Brian A. Joyce (Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth) - Chair E-mail: Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1643 Senator James E. Timilty (Bristol and Norfolk) - Vice-Chair E-mail: James.Timilty@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1222 Senator Michael W. Morrissey (Norfolk and Plymouth) E-mail: Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1494 Senator Pamela P. Resor (Middlesex and Worcester) E-mail: Pamela.Resor@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1120 Senator Dianne Wilkerson (Second Suffolk) E-mail: Dianne.Wilkerson@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1673 Senator Richard R. Tisei (Middlesex and Essex) E-mail: Richard.Tisei@state.ma.us Phone: (617) 722-1206 Representatives: Representative Eric Turkington (Falmouth) - Chair E-mail: Rep.EricTurkington@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2015 Representative Ellen Story (Amherst) - Vice-Chair E-mail: Rep.EllenStory@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2575 Representative David Sullivan (Fall River) E-mail: Rep.DavidSullivan@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2230 Representative William Pignatelli (Lenox) E-mail: Rep.SmittyPignatelli@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2582 Representative Brian Wallace (Boston) E-mail: Rep.BrianWallace@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2013 Representative John D. Keenan (Salem) E-mail: Rep.JohnDKeenan@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2396 Representative Willie Mae Allen (Boston) E-mail: Rep.WillieMaeAllen@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2460 Representative Angelo Puppolo (Springfield) E-mail: Rep.AngeloPuppolo@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2011 Representative Rosemary Sandlin (Agawam) E-mail: Rep.RosemarySandlin@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2400 Representative Susan W. Gifford (Wareham) E-mail: Rep.SusanGifford@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2090 Representative Todd M. Smola (Palmer) E-mail: Rep.ToddSmola@Hou.State.MA.US Phone: (617) 722-2240