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Please Help NOW! Re: Update 1/20/98



Subject: Please Help NOW! Re: Update 1/20/98: Defend the Mass. Burma Law!

lets work around the clock this weekend pumping paper out of their fax
machines, help now! I'm going to send fax to every state attorney and
mass people, friend in and out the state to do same, hope you all will
do the same, this is a make or break effort now, dawn star

Simon Billenness wrote:
> 
> NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE
> Update 1/20/98: Defend the Mass. Burma Law!
> 
> January 20, 1998
> 
> PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS!
> 
> ====================================================
> In This Action Alert:
> 
> 1. Update & Background on the Mass. Burma Law
> 2. What To Do If You Live Outside Massachusetts
> 3. What To Do If You Live in Massachusetts
> 4. List of State Attorneys General
> ====================================================
> 
> 1. Update on Lawsuit Against MA Burma Law - January 20, 1999
> 
> On January 22, the Indiana Attorney General's office will circulate an
> amicus brief to all state Attorney Generals. This amicus - or
> friend-of-the-court - brief will be filed in federal appeals court in
> support of the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law.
> 
> Short Deadline: January 29!
> 
> Your state's Attorney General has only until **January 29** in which to
> sign on to the amicus brief. It is critical that we continue to Fedex, fax
> and call our state attorneys general over the next week.
> 
> The Indiana Assistant Attorney General overseeing the amicus brief is John
> Laramore. Ask your state Attorney General's office to contact Asst. AG
> Laramore directly at (317) 233-4386. (Just give this number to your state
> AG's office. Don't call him yourself. He'll be very busy!)
> 
> Background
> 
> On November 5, 1998, Federal District Court Judge Tauro struck down the
> Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law. In his ruling, Judge Tauro
> concurred with the arguments of the corporate-funded National Foreign Trade
> Council (NFTC) that the Massachusetts Burma Law is unconstitutional.
> 
> Inspired by similar South Africa selective purchasing laws, 23 American
> citieshave enacted laws that bar municipal purchases from companies that do
> business in Burma. If the NFTC succeeds in its case against the

> Massachusetts Burma Law, it could render unconstitutional any selective
> purchasing enacted to support in human rights and the environment,
> including those already on the books with regard to Burma, East Timor,
> Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Tibet and the purchase of rainforest woods. It
> would devastate our rights as citizens to direct how our elected officials
> spend our tax dollars.
> 
> The Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has appealed Judge
> Tauro's ruling. Attorney General Harshbarger has also sent a formal request
> to the attorneys general of the other states asking them to sign on to an
> 
> amicus - or friend of the court - brief in support of the Massachusetts
> Burma Law. January 29 is the deadline for signing on to the amicus brief.
> 
> We can help defeat these attacks on selective purchasing laws by
> encouraging our states' attorneys general to strongly defend these laws.
> Please ask your state attorney general to sign on to the amicus brief in
> support of the Massachusetts Burma Law. Make sure you send your letter well
> before the deadline of January 29.
> 
> Please find a sample letter below and a list of state attorneys general and
> their addresses. Thank you for your support!
> 
> Simon Billenness
> * for the New England Burma Roundtable *
> Franklin Research & Development
> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
> (617) 423-6655, x225
> (617) 482-6179 - fax
> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
> 
> =========================================================
> 2. What To Do If You Live Outside Massachusetts: Write Your Attorney General
> 
> It is vital that we tell our state attorneys general to sign on to the
> amicus brief by January 29.  Please adapt the letter below and send it to
> your Attorney General.
> 
> ** Sample letter **
> 
> I am writing to urge that you defend one state's sovereignty, so that [your
> state] will continue to be able to exercise its ability to defend and
> protect our rights and values.
> 
> [Include a paragraph describing yourself and your roots in the local
> community.]
> 
> On November 5, Federal District Court Judge Tauro struck down the
> Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing arguing that it was an
> unconstitutional infringement on the federal government's foreign policy
> powers. Sponsored by state rep. Byron Rushing, the Massachusetts Burma Law
> effectively bars companies that do business with the Burmese military junta
> from receiving state procurement contracts.
> 
> How Massachusetts - or any state - spends its tax dollars is matter for the
> citizens of Massachusetts and their elected officials. It is a violation of
> state sovereignty and local democracy for the federal government or
> corporations to try to micro-manage state or local spending.
> 
> Inspired by the campaign against apartheid in South Africa, Aung San Suu
> Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the Burmese democracy
> movement, has called for economic sanctions on Burma to press the ruling
> military junta to restore democracy in that country. She has described
> selective purchasing laws - such as the one enacted in Massachusetts - as

> an effective means of supporting the Burmese democracy movement.
> 
> I urge you to contact Massachusetts officials and offer the support of your
> office in the fight to defend the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing
> law. I specifically urge you to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General
> to sign on to an amicus brief in support of the Massachusetts Burma Law
> that will be filed in Federal Appeals Court on January 29.
> 
> I look forward to your support on this critical issue. Please tell me what
> action you intend to take.
> 
> Sincerely,
> --------------------------
> 
> So that we can gauge the effectiveness of these action alerts, please send
> a copy of your letter to:
> 
> Simon Billenness
> New England Burma Roundtable
> Franklin Research & Development
> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
> (617) 423-6655, x225
> (617) 482-6179 - fax
> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
> ===============================================================
> 
> 3. What To Do If You Live in Massachusetts
> 
> It is important that the new Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly
> hear from Massachusetts voters who support the Massachusetts Burma Law. The
> Boston Herald urged Reilly to abandon the case. We need to ensure that he
> will defend the Massachusetts Burma Law with the same vigor and
> determination as the previous Attorney General Scott Harshgarger.
> 
> Suggestions for your letters:
> 
> -  Describe your deep roots in your community and tell him you vote!
> 
> -  You believe that elected Massachusetts legislators and officials should
> decide how to spend Massachusetts taxpayers money, not large corporations
> 
> -  Citizens of cities and states have the right to express their moral and
> political beliefs by denying taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that do
> business with dictators
> 
> - Note that the previous Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has mounted a
> strong defense of the Massachusetts Burma Law in Federal District Court
> 
> - Urge Attorney General Thomas Reilly to also strongly defend the
> Massachusetts Burma Law by following through with the appeal of Judge
> Tauro's decision
> 
> Attorney General Thomas Reilly
> Office of the Attorney General
> Commonwealth of Massachusetts
> One Ashburton Place
> Boston, MA 02108
> (617) 727-2200
> (617) 727-3251 - fax
> 
> So that we can gauge the response to this action laert, please send a copy
> of your letters to:
> 
> Simon Billenness
> New England Burma Roundtable
> Franklin Research & Development
> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
> (617) 423-6655, x225
> (617) 482-6179 - fax
> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
> =====================================================
> 4.  List of State Attorneys General
> 
> Alabama
> Honorable Bill Pryor
> Attorney General of Alabama
> Office of the Attorney General
> State House
> 11 South Union Street
> Montgomery, AL 36130
> PHO:(334) 242-7300
> FAX: 334-242-7458
> 
> Alaska
> Honorable Bruce M. Botelho
> Attorney General of Alaska
> Office of the Attorney General
> Post Office Box 110300
> Diamond Courthouse
> Juneau, AK 99811-0300
> PHO:(907) 465-3600

> FAX: 907-465-2075
> 
> Arizona
> Honorable Janet Napolitano
> Attorney General of Arizona
> Office of the Attorney General
> 1275 West Washington Street
> Phoenix, AZ 85007
> PHO:(602) 542-4266
> FAX: 602-542-4085
> 
> Arkansas
> Honorable Mark Pryor
> Attorney General of Arkansas
> Office of the Attorney General
> 200 Tower Building, 323 Center Street
> Little Rock, AR 72201-2610
> PHO:(501) 682-2007
> FAX: 501-682-8084
> 
> California
> Honorable Bill Lockyer
> Office of the Attorney General
> P.O. Box 944255
> Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
> PHO: (916) 445-4533
> FAX: 916-323-5341
> 
> http://caag.state.ca.us/
> 
> Colorado
> Honorable Ken Salazar
> Attorney General of Colorado
> Office of the Attorney General
> Department of Law
> 1525 Sherman Street
> Denver, CO 80203
> PHO:(303) 866-3052
> FAX: 303-866-3955
> 
> Connecticut
> Honorable Richard Blumenthal
> Attorney General of Connecticut
> Office of the Attorney General
> 
> 55 Elm Street
> Hartford, CT 06141-0120
> PHO:(860) 808-5318
> FAX: 860-808-5387
> 
> Delaware
> Honorable M. Jane Brady
> Attorney General of Delaware
> Office of the Attorney General
> Carvel State Office Building
> 820 North French Street
> Wilmington, DE 19801
> PHO:(302) 577-8600
> FAX: 302-577-6499
> 
> Florida
> Honorable Robert A. Butterworth
> Attorney General of Florida
> Office of the Attorney General
> The Capitol
> PL 01
> Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
> PHO:(850) 487-1963
> FAX: 850-487-2564
> 
> Georgia
> Honorable Thurbert E. Baker
> Attorney General of Georgia
> Office of the Attorney General
> 40 Capitol Square, S.W.
> Atlanta, GA 30334-1300
> PHO:(404) 656-4585
> FAX: 404-657-8733
> 
> Hawaii
> Honorable Margery S. Bronster
> Attorney General of Hawaii
> Office of the Attorney General
> 425 Queen Street
> Honolulu, HI 96813
> PHO:(808) 586-1282
> FAX: 808-586-1239
> 
> Idaho
> Honorable Alan G. Lance
> Attorney General of Idaho
> Office of the Attorney General
> Statehouse
> Boise, ID 83720-1000
> PHO:(208) 334-2400
> FAX: 208-334-2530
> 
> Illinois
> Honorable Jim Ryan
> Attorney General of Illinois
> Office of the Attorney General
> James R. Thompson Center
> 100 West Randolph Street
> Chicago, IL 60601
> PHO:(312) 814-2503
> FAX: 312-814-5024
> 
> Indiana
> Honorable Jeffrey A. Modisett
> Attorney General of Indiana
> Office of the Attorney General
> Indiana Government Center South
> Fifth Floor
> 402 West Washington Street
> Indianapolis, IN 46204
> PHO:(317) 233-4386
> FAX: 317-232-7979
> 
> Iowa
> Honorable Tom Miller
> Attorney General of Iowa
> Office of the Attorney General
> Hoover State Office Building
> Des Moines, IA 50319
> PHO:(515) 281-5164
> FAX: 515-281-4209
> 
> Kansas
> Honorable Carla J. Stovall
> Attorney General of Kansas
> Office of the Attorney General
> Judicial Building
> 301 West Tenth Street
> Topeka, KS 66612-1597
> PHO:(785) 296-2215
> FAX: 785-296-6296
> 
> Kentucky
> Honorable Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III
> Attorney General of Kentucky
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol, Room 116
> Frankfort, KY 40601
> PHO:(502) 696-5300
> FAX: 502-573-8317
> 

> Louisiana
> Honorable Richard P. Ieyoub
> Attorney General of Louisiana
> Office of the Attorney General
> Department of Justice
> Post Office Box 94095
> Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4095
> PHO:(504) 342-7013
> FAX: 504-342-8703
> 
> Maine
> Honorable Andrew Ketterer
> Attorney General of Maine
> Office of the Attorney General
> State House Station Six
> Augusta, ME 04333
> PHO:(207) 626-8800
> FAX: 207-287-3145
> 
> Maryland
> Honorable J. Joseph Curran Jr.
> Attorney General of Maryland
> Office of the Attorney General
> 200 Saint Paul Place
> Baltimore, MD 21202-2202
> PHO:(410) 576-6300
> FAX: 410-576-7003
> 
> Massachusetts
> Honorable Tom Reilly
> Attorney General of Massachusetts
> Office of the Attorney General
> One Ashburton Place
> Boston, MA 02108-1698
> PHO:(617) 727-2200
> FAX: 617-727-3251
> 
> Michigan
> Honorable Jennifer Granholm
> Attorney General of Michigan
> Office of the Attorney General
> Post Office Box 30212
> 525 West Ottawa Street
> Lansing, MI 48909-0212
> PHO:(517) 373-1110
> FAX: 517-373-3042
> 
> Minnesota
> Honorable Mike Hatch
> Attorney General of Minnesota
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol
> Suite 102
> St. Paul, MN 55155
> PHO:(651) 296-6196
> FAX: 651-297-4193
> 
> Mississippi
> Honorable Mike Moore
> 
> Attorney General of Mississippi
> Office of the Attorney General
> Department of Justice
> Post Office Box 220
> Jackson, MS 39205-0220
> PHO:(601) 359-3692
> FAX: 601-359-3441
> 
> Missouri
> Honorable Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
> Attorney General of Missouri
> Office of the Attorney General
> Supreme Court Building
> 207 West High Street
> Jefferson City, MO 65101
> PHO:(573) 751-3321
> FAX: 573-751-0774
> 
> Montana
> Honorable Joseph P. Mazurek
> Attorney General of Montana
> Office of the Attorney General
> Justice Building, 215 North Sanders
> Helena, MT 59620-1401
> PHO:(406) 444-2026
> FAX: 406-444-3549
> 
> Nebraska
> Honorable Don Stenberg
> Attorney General of Nebraska
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol
> Post Office Box 98920
> Lincoln, NE 68509-8920
> PHO:(402) 471-2682
> FAX: 402-471-3297
> 
> Nevada
> Honorable Frankie Sue Del Papa
> Attorney General of Nevada
> Office of the Attorney General
> Old Supreme Court Building
> 100 North Carson Street
> Carson City, NV 89701
> PHO:(775) 687-4170
> FAX: 775-687-5798
> 
> New Hampshire
> Honorable Philip T. McLaughlin
> Attorney General of New Hampshire
> Office of the Attorney General
> State House Annex, 25 Capitol Street
> Concord, NH 03301-6397
> PHO:(603) 271-3658
> FAX: 603-271-2110
> 
> New Jersey
> Honorable Peter Verniero
> Attorney General of New Jersey
> Office of the Attorney General
> Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
> 25 Market Street, CN 080
> Trenton, NJ 08625
> PHO:(609) 292-4925
> FAX: 609-292-3508
> 
> New Mexico
> Honorable Patricia Madrid
> Attorney General of New Mexico
> Office of the Attorney General
> Post Office Drawer 1508
> Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
> PHO:(505) 827-6000
> FAX: 505-827-5826
> 
> New York
> Honorable Dennis C. Vacco
> Attorney General of New York
> Office of the Attorney General
> Department of Law - The Capitol

> 2nd Floor
> Albany, NY 12224
> PHO:(518) 474-7330
> FAX: 518-473-9909
> 
> North Carolina
> Honorable Michael F. Easley
> Attorney General of North Carolina
> Office of the Attorney General
> Department of Justice
> Post Office Box 629
> Raleigh, NC 27602-0629
> PHO:(919) 716-6400
> FAX: 919-716-6750
> 
> North Dakota
> Honorable Heidi Heitkamp
> Attorney General of North Dakota
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol
> 600 East Boulevard Avenue
> Bismarck, ND 58505-0040
> PHO:(701) 328-2210
> FAX: 701-328-2226
> 
> Ohio
> Honorable Betty D. Montgomery
> Attorney General of Ohio
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Office Tower
> 30 East Broad Street
> Columbus, OH 43266-0410
> PHO:(614) 466-3376
> FAX: 614- 644-6135
> 
> Oklahoma
> Honorable W.A. Drew Edmondson
> Attorney General of Oklahoma
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol, Room 112
> 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105
> PHO:(405) 521-3921
> FAX: 405-521-6246
> 
> Oregon
> Honorable Hardy Myers
> Attorney General of Oregon
> Office of the Attorney General
> Justice Building
> 1162 Court Street NE
> Salem, OR 97310
> PHO:(503) 378-6002
> FAX: 503-378-4017
> 
> Pennsylvania
> Honorable Mike Fisher
> Attorney General of Pennsylvania
> Office of the Attorney General
> Strawberry Square
> Harrisburg, PA 17120
> PHO:(717) 787-3391
> FAX: 717-787-8242
> 
> Rhode Island
> Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse
> Attorney General of Rhode Island
> Office of the Attorney General
> 150 South Main Street
> Providence, RI 02903
> PHO:(401) 274-4400
> 
> FAX: 401-222-1302
> 
> South Carolina
> Honorable Charlie Condon
> Attorney General of South Carolina
> Office of the Attorney General
> Rembert C. Dennis Office Building
> Post Office Box 11549
> Columbia, SC 29211-1549
> PHO:(803) 734-3970
> FAX: 803-253-6283
> 
> South Dakota
> Honorable Mark Barnett
> Attorney General of South Dakota
> Office of the Attorney General
> 500 East Capitol
> Pierre, SD 57501-5070
> PHO:(605) 773-3215
> FAX: 605-773-4106
> 
> Tennessee
> Honorable Paul G. Summers
> Attorney General of Tennessee
> Office of the Attorney General
> 500 Charlotte Avenue
> Nashville, TN 37243
> PHO:(615) 741-6474
> FAX: 615-741-2009
> 
> Texas
> Honorable John Cornyn
> Attorney General of Texas
> Office of the Attorney General
> Capitol Station
> Post Office Box 12548
> Austin, TX 78711-2548
> PHO:(512) 463-2191
> FAX: 512-463-2063
> 
> Utah
> Honorable Jan Graham
> Attorney General of Utah
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol, Room 236
> Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0810
> PHO:(801) 538-1326
> FAX: 801-538-1121
> 
> Vermont
> Honorable William H. Sorrell
> Attorney General of Vermont
> Office of the Attorney General
> 109 State Street
> Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
> PHO:(802) 828-3171
> FAX: 802-828-3187
> 
> Virginia
> Honorable Mark L. Earley
> Attorney General of Virginia
> Office of the Attorney General
> 900 East Main Street
> Richmond, VA 23219
> PHO:(804) 786-2071
> FAX: 804-786-1991
> 
> Washington
> Honorable Christine O. Gregoire
> Attorney General of Washington
> Office of the Attorney General

> P.O. Box 40100
> 1125 Washington Street, SE
> Olympia, WA 98504-0100
> PHO:(360) 753-6200
> FAX: 360-586-8474
> 
> West Virginia
> Honorable Darrell V. McGraw Jr.
> Attorney General of West Virginia
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol
> Charleston, WV 25305
> PHO:(304) 558-2021
> FAX: 304-558-0140
> 
> Wisconsin
> Honorable James E. Doyle
> Attorney General of Wisconsin
> Office of the Attorney General
> State Capitol
> Post Office Box 7857
> Suite 114 East
> Madison, WI 53707-7857
> PHO:(608) 266-1221
> FAX: 608-267-2779
> 
> Wyoming
> Honorable Gay Woodhouse
> Attorney General of Wyoming
> Office of the Attorney General
> 123 Capitol Building
> Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
> PHO: (307) 777-7841
> FAX: 307-7776869
> ===============================================