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VAEH Newsletter #41February 2007 Dear Supporter of the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, As expected, the proponents of legalization of physician-assisted suicide in Vermont have introduced another bill in both the House(H-044, with 5 sponsors --- William Aswad, Richard Hube, Betty Nuovo, David Zuckerman, Daryl Pillsbury; text available at http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/intro/H-044) and in the Senate (S-063 with 11 sponsors --- Susan Bartlett, James Condos, Ginny Lyons, Diane Snelling, Claire Ayer, Hinda Miller, Jeanette White, Ed Flanagan, Peter Shumlin, Douglas Racine, Richard McCormick). We have been successful in keeping similar bills from getting out of committee for the past 4 years. We anticipate this year to be the "big push" by proponents. They have several factors on their side this year: (1) major financial backing from national "Death With Dignity" organizations such that they have hired several lobbyists, (2) significant changes in the VT legislature, (3) media bias in favor of PAS, and (4) fatigue on the part of those of us who oppose this measure. Their lobbyists have been able to put on TV ads and orchestrate multiple letters to the editor in various Vermont newspapers. The VAEH is planning several ways to educate new legislators, including one-on-one meetings with key individuals, providing books to pertinent committee members, and providing DVD's with "Vermont Voices" to all new legislators. But the real need is for a loud grass-roots voice to be heard by everyone (via letters to the editor) and especially by legislators (by personal contact, letters, e-mails, phone calls). We cannot afford the expensive measures taken by proponents of PAS. So we rely on you to do this work for us. I expect you all know the reasons we oppose legalization of PAS, but if you need a refresher, visit our website: www.vaeh.org. At this point, the key legislators who need to hear our concerns are all the sponsors and Representatives on the House Human Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee (see below), regardless of whether you are in their district. And your own state Representatives and Senators need to hear from you; contact information can be found at: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm. 2007-2008 Legislative Committees HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES (Room 46) Representative Ann Pugh (D) of S. Burlington, Chair 67 Bayberry Lane , South Burlington, VT 05403 863-6705 W - University of Vermont , Department of Social Work , Burlington, VT 05405 656-8800 E-Mail: apugh@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Michael Fisher (D) of Lincoln, Vice-Chair 364 Cobb Hill Road , Lincoln, VT 05443 453-5517 W - Addison County Parent Child Center , Box
646 , Middlebury, VT 05753 388-3171 Rep. Patsy French (D) of Randolph, Clerk 886 Harlow Hill , Randolph, VT 05060 728-9421 Rep. Margaret Andrews (D), 82 Jackson Ave. , Rutland, VT 05701 747-6916 Rep. Anne Donahue (R) of Northfield 148 Donahue Drive , Northfield, VT 05663 Rep. Bill Frank (D) of Underhill 19 Poker Hill Rd. , Underhill, VT 05489 Rep. Sandy Haas (P), P.O. Box 25 , Rochester, VT 05767 767-4751 Rep. Norm McAllister (R) of Highgate McAllister, Norman H. , 712 Hanna Road Rep. Mary Morrissey (R) of Bennington, 228 Dewey Street , Bennington, VT Representative Michael Mrowicki (D) of Putney 299 South Pine Banks Rd. , Representative Scott Orr (D) of Charlotte, 20 Baldwin Rd. , Charlotte, VT HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (Room 30) Rep. Grad of Moretown, Vice-Chair 301 Paddy Hill Road , Moretown, VT 05660 Rep. Kathy Pellett (D) of Chester, Clerk Rep. George "Ron" Allard of St. Albans Town Rep. Allison Clarkson (D) of Woodstock18 Golf Ave. , Woodstock, VT Rep. Andy Donaghy (R) of Poultney P.O. Box 95 , Poultney, VT 05764 Rep. Peg Flory (R) of Pittsford Rep. Avis Gervais (D) of Enosburg, PO Box 524 , Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 933-4794 E-Mail: agervais@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Willem Jewett (P) of Ripton PO Box 129 , Ripton, VT 05766 388-0320 Rep. Patti Komline (R) of Dorset P.O. Box 781 , Dorset, VT 05251 Rep. Richard Marek (P) of Newfane P.O. Box 476 , Newfane, VT 05345 Even if (especially if) you know your representative favors this legislation, he or she needs to hear your genuine concerns. If you hear back that individual legislators are uncertain how they will vote, let us know (info@vaeh.org) so we can focus our educational efforts. Please help out in this way. Bob Orr, president |
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