Massachusetts-Martial Law Bill S18

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MassLPA.Org Puts State Senators on Notice

Thirty-Six MA Senators Voted for Sweeping Legislation Without Reading the Bill

AGAWAM – May 5, 2009
MassLPA, a political watchdog group has put 36 Massachusetts
Senators on notice for their unanimous 36-0 vote in favor of Senate
Bill No. 2028: An Act Relative To Pandemic And Disaster Preparation And
Response In The Commonwealth.

On Thursday, April 30, 2009, the senate bill, sponsored by Senator
Richard T. Moore (D), Worcester and Norfolk District was passed in the
senate, containing language that violates the Constitutional Rights of
Massachusetts citizens. 
Susan Allen, (I) 2008 challenger to Barney Frank's congressional
seat wrote to Senator Moore pointing out the dangers of such
legislation. Senator Moore, Chairman of the Health Care Financing
committee, responded in writing: “You have been completely....misled by
someone who simply doesn't understand the bill.”

The most egregeous items in the bill evidence forced vaccinations,
quarantine and warrantless searches with provisions for fines and/or
imprisonment for up to six months. 
 The bill also provides for the appointment of a non-elected,
unnamed Health Official and would strip the Speaker of the House of his
power.
It is passage of Bill 2028, which would create emergency conditions.
MassLPA members are currently petitioning each of the State Senators
who voted in favor of this legislation asking them to reconsider their
vote as well as visiting each of the State Representatives offices on
Beacon Hill with notice of this bill.

MassLPA President, Laura Jackson added that, “Of course we all want to
believe that our legislators have our best interests and safety in mind
when urged to pass health legislation, but we want them to read the
bill first. This bill contains language that provides for, among other
things warrantless searches and that language is unacceptable.”
Massachusetts already has quarantine and isolation mandates in
place.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 300.000)
supports Using the Local Administrative Process to Enforce Isolation
and Quarantine.
The bill will now go the House where it will be voted on after the finalization of the state budget.
http://www.masslpa.org/node/428

Massachusetts--Martial Law Bill S18

h/t to Degrees of Moderation for this article:

While
Massachusetts residents were sleeping our Legislature rushed through a
bill- in response to the recent Swine flu outbreak. This bill has been
on the shelf but our state government felt this was the perfect time to
slip this bill through. What is the big deal about the bill- S18? It
gives the Governor power to authorize the deployment and use of force
to distribute supplies and materials. It gives local authorities the
permission to enter private residences for investigation and to
quarantine individuals. Basically during an "emergency" our state can
and will declare martial law; you lose your Constitutional rights. 

This bill has many disturbing facets.

http://massachusettsforhuckabee.blogspot.com/2009/04/massachusetts-martial-law-bill.html

Read the full bill here
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st00pdf/st00018.pdf