Hi everyone - After talking to Sharon earlier today (see her FML post), and getting the benefit of her information and thinking, I called Senate Ways and Means again and talked to Susan Paulson who is a staff person there. It would seem that most of the important stuff is out of the way, and none of us can find any controversy. The bill (to legalize ownership in Mass), should be moving again. Susan told me that at the present time the committee has close to 350 bills before it, and the schedule as to what is to be considered next changes daily as issues come up and priorities change. She herself has between forty and forty five on her desk. In response to my question as to what we could do next, and a vague suggestion that 'perhaps more frequent calling' might keep it nearer the top of the pile, she seemed a bit piqued and indicated that might upset the staff. They don't respond at ALL well to threats. <grin> Quite seriously, my reading of the situation is that the 'staff' at this point has a very real part in determining the future of this bill. To move on it and justify their actions, they need a thick file of letters in support. At the moment the file is a little thin and I am told that previous letters and other material are not included. They stay with the Senator or Representative to whom they were addressed. I suggested 'copies' of previous letters, pictures, testimony in support, cute stories, and other well reasoned arguments as helpful, and she said no. What they are really looking for now is LOT of just simple one page letters in support of H295 addressed to: The Honorable Senator Thomas F. Birmingham Chairman, Senate Committee on Ways and Means State House Boston, MA 02133 A letter that says simply in your own words that "I would like to see this bill made law" along with perhaps one (or two) reasons why, is perfect. If you can't think of any <smile>, send the letter anyway, or e-mail us for help. :-) Extra credit awarded if you can also get your Senator to send a letter to the Committee. We need this folks, and number counts here, not quality of the arguments(s), just an expression of support. Please and thank you from all the fuzzies. Bill, Susie, Rocky, Squeekers, Peaches, and Jack in Framingham. [Posted in FML issue 1321]