Beacon Hill: Bottle Bill Bottled Up?

Beacon Hill has allowed the Bottle Bill to be bottled up, is spite of overwhelming support. It's time for Beacon Hill to represent the best interests of the residents they represent and pass this important legislation.

We're all in this together and it's time for Beacon Hill to do what's right and work to save municipalities money.


MASSPIRG offered the comments below --

It’s common sense, and I’d estimate nine out of 10 citizens are completely in favor of the idea: Putting a $.05 deposit on all beverages not covered by the current Bottle Bill. It will help clean up litter, increase recycling, and save cities and towns money in disposal costs.

So why has the updated Bottle Bill stalled in the Massachusetts Legislature for more than a decade? The answer is three simple words: powerful special interests.

That’s why I have a request, also in three simple words: special holiday contribution.

Last week, I got a copy of a letter from the Massachusetts Beverage Association and other special interests. It was sent to state legislators and it called the updated Bottle Bill, among other things, a "tax." There's an undisputed difference between a deposit and a tax, if only the special interests were interested in facts.

But it will take more than a dictionary to defeat these powerful special interests. Help us get started.

Updating the bottle bill is just one example of how MASSPIRG is promoting common-sense, broadly supported solutions to public problems. We come up against the narrow, self interested lobbying forces that will stop at nothing to thwart our efforts. The chemical industry pushes back against safer alternatives. The banks balk at consumer protections and transparency. The list goes on.

Click here to help MASSPIRG defeat the special interests and win common sense laws for the rest of us.

Thanks.


Janet S. Domenitz
MASSPIRG Executive Director

P.S. The majority of our income is from citizen donors like you, and funds our campaigns to protect consumers from big banks, health insurers, agribusiness and other special interests. Please consider making a year-end contribution to MASSPIRG today.