HARTFORD, CONN. — Colchester, Conn., antiques dealers Arthur Liverant and Kevin Tulimieri are urging their colleagues in the trade to join them at the State Legislative Office Building (LOB) at 12:30 pm on Friday, March 4, for a public hearing concerning Raised S.B. No. 227, “An Act Concerning Cecil’s Law.” The act includes a total ban on any object containing ivory with no antiques or institutional exemptions. The text of the bill can be read at https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00227&which_year=2016#.
The signup for the public hearing begins at 8:15 am in the First Floor Atrium of the LOB. Written testimony can be submitted to envtestimony@cga.ct.gov, PDF format is strongly preferred.
Liverant and Tulimieri also urge colleagues to share the comments of Dr Daniel Stiles, the leading scholar on the global ivory market, provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr Stiles states in no uncertain terms that a ban on ivory will not help the situation and may indeed make matters worse. His comments can be found here http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-HQ-IA-2013-0091-0415.
A recent article featured in the Antiques Trade Gazette is also important to this discussion. California is facing legal action against the ivory ban scheduled to take effect this year. The law is challenged on a variety of issues and details can be found at: http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2016/jan/15/california-collectors-take-on-the-state-over-ivory-ban/
Said the dealers, “Please write to your state representatives and senators today to voice your opposition, share Dr Stiles research and make sure they are aware of the California situation.
“And please join us on Friday at the public hearing, a strong presence is critical to our efforts.
For questions, contact Liverant and Tulimieri at 860-537-2409; web www.liverantantiques.com.
Here is a list of the members of the Environment Committee meeting who will be deliberating on Friday. If you live in their district, we are urging you to contact them and let them know your opposition to the bill.
Co-Chair: Kennedy, Ted, representing Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison and North Branford, 1-800-842-1420; no email listed but there is a link on form on his website.
Co-Chair: Albis, James, representing: East Haven contact: 1-800-842-826; email: James.Albis@cga.ct.gov
Vice Chair, Moore, Marilyn, representing Bridgeport, Monroe and Trumbull, 1-800-842-1420; no email listed-must link to form on her website.
Vice Chair: Arconti, David, representing Danbury, 1-800-842-8267; email: David.Arconti@cga.ct.gov
Ranking Member, Chapin, Clark J., Representing: Brookfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren and Winchester, (800) 842-1421; no email listed-must link to form on his website.
Ranking Member Shaban, John T., representing Redding and Weston, Easton, 1-800-424-1423; email: john.shaban@housegop.ct.gov
Byron, Gary, representing Newington, 1-800-842-1423; email: gary.byron@housegop.ct.gov
Carney, Devin R., representing Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, 1-800-424-1423; email: devin.carney@housegop.ct.gov
Case, Jay M., representing: Colebrook, Goshen, Winchester, Torrington, 1-800-842-1423; email: jay.case@housegop.ct.gov
Demicco, Mike, representing Farmington, 1-800-842-8267; email: mike.demicco@cga.ct.gov
Dillon, Patricia A., representing New Haven, 1-800-842-8267; email: Patricia.Dillon@cga.ct.gov
Dubitsky, Doug, representing Canterbury, Chaplin, Franklin, Lebanon, Lisbon, Hampton, Norwich, Scotland and Sprague, 1-800-842-1423; email: doug.dubitsky@housegop.ct.gov
Gresko, Joseph P., representing: Stratford, Lordship, Stony Brook, Contact: 1-800-842-8267; email: Joseph.Gresko@cga.ct.gov
Hennessy, John “Jack” F., representing Bridgeport, 1-800-842-8267; email: Jack.Hennessy@cga.ct.gov
McGorty, Ben, representing (D122) Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, 1-800-842-1423; email: ben.mcgorty@housegop.ct.gov
Megna, Robert W., representing (R97) New Haven, 1-800-842-8267, email: Robert.Megna@cga.ct.gov
Miller, Philip J., representing Chester, Deep River, Essex & Haddam, 1-800-848-8267; email: Phillip.Miller@cga.ct.gov
Miner, Craig A., representing Bethlehem, Litchfield, Morris, Warren, Woodbury, 1-800-842-1423; email: craig.miner@housegop.ct.gov
Mulligan, Gayle J., representing Andover, Bolton, Hebron, Marlborough, 1-800-842-1423; email: gayle.muligan@housegop.ct.gov
Mushinsky, Mary M., representing Wallingford, 1-800-842-8267; email: mary.mushinsky@cga.ct.gov
Piscopo, John E., representing Burlington, Harwinton, Litchfield, Thomaston, 1-800-842-1423; email: john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov
Ryan, Kevin, representing Bozrah, Montville and Norwich 1-800-842-8267; email: Kevin.Ryan@cga.ct.gov
Scanlon, Sean, representing Branford, Guilford, 1-800-842-8267; email: sean.scanlon@cga.ct.gov
Stafstrom, Steven, representing: Bridgeport,1-800-842-8267; email: Steve.Stafstrom@cga.ct.gov
Tong, William, representing Stamford, Darien, 1-800-842-8267; email: william.tong@cga.ct.gov
Tweedie, Mark, representing Manchester, Glastonbury, 1-800-842—1423; email: mark.tweedie@housegop.ct.gov
Urban, Diana S., representing North Stonington, Stonington, 1-800-842-8267; email: diana.urban@cga.ct.gov
Willis, Roberta B., representing Kent and Sharon, 1-800-842-8267; email: Roberta.Willis@cga.ct.gov
Ziobron, Melissa H., representing Colchester, East Haddam and East Hampton, 1-800-842—1423; email: melissa.ziobron@housegop.ct.gov
