As we head into May, S.1486 remains in the Senate Ways and Means committee. Senators on the committee opposed to the bill have said the bill has not been discussed. H.2505 remains in Joint Committee on Health Care Financing with a reporting date set for June 15th. We hope it will die there when the date passes, but they could vote to table it (which kills it for this session) or extend the deadline. Of course either committee could send it to the floor.
During a recent event, the Speaker of the House Ron Mariano and the President of the Senate Karen Spilka were asked about the assisted suicide bills. Both expressed ongoing division on the issue in their respective chambers. Neither were willing to have it come to the floor unless that changes. (See Mariano, Spilka share insights on major legislation from the State House News Service.)
This information illustrates the significance of expressing its opposition to your legislators – it is preventing this bill from moving forward. Talking with friends, families, and colleagues about the inherent dangers of assisted suicide and asking them to contact their legislators will increase the legislative leadership’s reluctance to advance it to the floor for a vote. Talk with family, friends, and colleagues as many people are unaware of the issue and its pending threat in Massachusetts.
Nature and dignity 