I recently attended the public hearing before the Board of Environmental Protection, which considered a proposed rule to phase out BPA from baby and toddler food packaging. I am very supportive of this initiative.

I was surprised and disappointed by my senator, Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, who submitted a letter that was read out loud at the hearing in opposition to the proposed rule for BPA-free food.

In the letter, Saviello dismissed the bipartisan process that brought about the Kid-Safe Products Act and the first ban on BPA in reusable beverage containers, cynically claiming that legislators only felt that they couldn’t vote against child safety in an election year.

I believe that Maine’s leadership on toxic chemical issues comes from a shared understanding by most Maine legislators that we need to protect our children, not chemical companies.

Another part of the letter that bothered me was Sen. Saviello’s assertion that parents who helped bring the citizen petition before the board are overstepping boundaries — that we were not respecting the political process by moving forward with a rule that would protect our children from BPA. That discounts the efforts of Maine parents who worked hard to collect the 800 signatures to initiate the rule.

As a constituent of Sen. Saviello, I am very disappointed in his public opposition to minimizing child exposure to BPA. He should be advocating for the health and safety of his constituents, not telling us that we can’t participate in our democracy.

Barrie Colbath, Fayette

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