FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 15, 2009  A Brief Note from Cosponsor Hawaii Senator Mike Gabbard

 It’s true that SB 576 will die next week if Senator Ige doesn’t pass it out of committee. I’ll do what I can on that one.  Senator Mike Gabbard Phone: 808-586-6830


Even if there is still time, Senator Ige’s attitude and that of his staff, recalling from last year, are profoundly disturbing. Last year, eminent physicians from the Eastern 48 called and were asked by his staff “Why do you care about what happens in Hawaii?” One discussion with Senator Ige included someone else’s remarks that “these aspartame opponents are just into internet junk science,” and this resulted in no hearing on the Resolution.

This will again happen this year, without your personal intervention, your calling and emailing Senator Ige to ask that he schedule it in his Health Committee, and your asking him above all to support this legislation, both the Resolution and the Bill to Ban, which I assure you constitutes together some of the most advanced and far-reaching consumer protection legislation in the United States at this date.

Senator Ige, I am told, consumes Diet Cokes himself; perhaps he may see this entire effort in some personal manner having nothing to do with the impetus and momentum behind it coming from the Hawaiian victims of aspartame poisoning, of which there are hundreds of thousands with numerous unattributed or misdiagnosed symptoms.

These two important bills, SB576 and HB669, should not be subject to the interference nor the obstruction from one Senator nor the phalanx of corporate lobbyists already lined up against them from Coca Cola, Retail Grocers, Soft Drink Association, etc. These are the same kind of opponents who objected to consumer protection efforts against Thalidomide, Asbestos, Vioxx, Celebrex, you name it….I am sure you have heard them before, and will certainly hear them again.

Thousands more die or become afflicted will avoidable illnesses, while legislators listen to these corporate lobbyists. However, if you want to protect the Health of Hawaiians from a dangerous neurotoxic and carcinogenic poison, please move this legislation ahead by speaking at your earliest convenience with Senator Ige and Representative Yamane, asking them to schedule and to support both the Resolution and the Bill to Ban Aspartame.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I encourage you to send your testimonial letter supporting both the ban bill and the Resolution as Testimony, which will help force that there be a hearing, a short, to-the- point letter to Senator David Ige and to Rep Ryan Yamane, but also a copy thereof, sent to:

HLTTestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov  Must Reference HB669

Testimony for the Senate may be emailed to Testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov or it may be faxed to 586-6659 (Neighbor Islands: 1-800-586-6659) Must Reference SB576

Respectfully,

Stephen Fox, Consumer and Political Editor New Mexico Sun News Santa Fe, NM
505 983-2002
______________

Bill sponsor: J. Kalani English
Bill Number: SB576

Resolution Sponsor: Suzanne Chun Oakland Senate Resolution: SR13

______________________________________
David Y. Ige, Chairman
16th Senatorial District
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 215
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-6230; fax 808-586-6231
E-mail sendige@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Josh Green, M.D., Vice Chairman,cosponsor of both Bill To Ban and Resolution 3rd Senatorial District Hawaii State Capitol, Room 223
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-9385; fax 808-586-9391
e-mail sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov

______________________________________________________

Ryan I. Yamane, Chairman of House Health Commitee 37th Representative District Hawaii State Capitol, Room 419
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-6150; fax 808-586-6151
E-mail repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Scott Y. Nishimoto, Vice Chairman, House Health Committee 21st Representative District Hawaii State Capitol, Room 441
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-8515; fax 808-586-8519
E-mail repnishimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov