Three weeks from this Thursday (i.e., August 1st), the MA Legislature will go on break for the rest of the year.
That means that it’s crunch time: all of the policymaking that should have already happened over the pats 18 months will happen in just over three weeks.
That also means that it’s especially important for your legislators to hear from you so that our priorities can cut through the noise.
Read on for an email to your state rep and an email to your state senator to send this week and share.
Thank you for all you do.
In solidarity, Jonathan Cohn
Policy Director
Progressive Massachusetts
Tell Your State Rep: MA Wants Bold Climate Action
This summer has already seen some heat records broken, and we should expect more. Climate change isn’t just an issue for the future; it’s here today, and it’s urgent that our elected officials act with the urgency the situation requires.
On June 25, the Senate passed Bill S.2838, An Act Upgrading the Grid and Protecting Ratepayers. While the bill makes some strides towards dismantling the gas system, it left out key demands of Environmental Justice communities across Massachusetts such as:
- A robust cumulative impact analysis tied to siting approval
- Ending the expansion of large gas pipelines
- Clean indoor and outdoor air
And here’s more: Join the MA Youth Climate Coalition and Mass Power Forward coalitions for a climate justice rally this Saturday at 1 pm at the Boston Common Bandstand.
Tell Your State Senator: Strengthen Privacy Rights
Currently, there is no law in Massachusetts or federally to prevent the sale and purchase of cell phone location data. Every day, companies collect and sell sensitive location information from cell phones, revealing information about where we live, work, and socialize.
Here’s just one example: Politico recently reported that a data broker company tracked people’s visits to nearly 600 Planned Parenthood clinics in 48 states, including Massachusetts. The company sold that data to inform one of the largest anti-abortion ad campaigns targeting specific individuals. If anti-abortion extremists can use cellphone location data to target abortion seekers with ads, they can also use that data to target, harass, or threaten patients and providers in our state.
There is a bill to fix this: the Location Shield Act, which would ban the sale of cellphone location data to protect the privacy and safety of all Massachusetts residents.
The MA House is planning to vote on a narrowed version of this bill this week. It’s vital that the Senate take up the Location Shield Act so that MA can be a leader on protecting privacy rights.
