Pandemic Response Bill

" We'll bring -- here. -- But we like -- so much yesterday in the movie outbreak we wanted to bring it back again today. But that's what kind of scene that critics are warning could be around the corner in the commonwealth. Of Massachusetts a bill making its way through the legislature there gives police the power to forcefully quarantine. Vaccinated. Fine and even throw in jail people who do not comply. With the law. Republican state senator Bob Hedlund did vote for the bill he's my guess now at a Newton Massachusetts good morning to you Sarah. And you voted for at least on the Senate side why did they get a good idea."

" Or had a bill that would update our response to -- pandemic type emergencies on the books now since March 1919. And the public health committee did report -- out. In 2001. The original bill was reported out and we did have a previous vote in the Senate. It didn't it didn't pass the legislature he didn't get a lot of attention that was done after the anthrax scare. The bill was -- refile the session and I did rip did receive I should say initial approval in the Senate which I did support. But there's been a lot of scrutiny since then we've heard from constituents will want to ask you concerns. And concerns it this concerns about double what is a good idea right. Well I do think that what the act committee intended to do to update. Our response to these types of emergencies was it was a well intended effort. Some of the things that we've discovered in ramifications it. Could be here as a result of this bill I do have some concerns with -- and women who have expressed those concerns of the house we hope that this from changes made."

" Because he comes back because there -- no me just mention a few of those -- audience knows forceful quarantined by the state. Mandatory vaccinations you -- controversial madness. Allow local entry hang on how loud forceful entry into home. Put people in jail they don't cooperate and fun of a thousand bucks today they don't cooperate. -- seems severe."

" It didn't. In the bill there are no forced vaccinations in the bill they can be steps taken later someone refuses a vaccination if in fact they pose. A public health threat I don't like that I don't like. Some of the expanded abilities of government. To do investigations on private property and just the definitions. Alone in this bill. As to what is deter what determines a public health threat I think needs to be tightened up most of some of the concerns we -- Chris let me get to the -- to tighten the bill what about the whole idea of just expanded government power and I think that's a good idea. No I'm someone who fights the expansion of government power every day why -- hill Massachusetts. Well we have this bill come up again we we vetted this bill through the members that we have and our caucus. On. On the health care committee and quite frankly I do think that this thing could fly under the radar of many many people. To be honest we -- we did this bill at a time when we would discussing the state budget we had a number of ethics reform bill's pension reform bills. And quite frankly I do think that leadership took this up at a time when these schedules rather heavy and I think that this did not receive the scrutiny. That it did that it warranted and would give it a second look this did you read the bill. -- we look at the bill as best we could at the time. The key leadership released the bill and put the bill out on the floor again the had been built kicking around since 2001. In response to the anthrax scare that -- you know what was then known as the scrutiny of this bill the scrutiny of this bill was not. As thorough as it should have been on what I legislative what do you think enacting some of this would be necessary. Short of the the second coming of the bubonic plaque. Well that's that's when the original bill that we have on the books was an act of 1990 who have had something on the books. At that time I don't believe that it's being misused. At any time since 1919. In our public Calvert and we do what many cases for instance win -- aliens coming across the border illegal aliens for instance. They're bringing certain health threats the United States of America we don't do a good job of screening now so if anything maybe maybe we should do a better job. Of screening for communicable diseases. I think it's a safeguard we do need but this bill very well in fact may go too far more to take you wrote back senator. But I probably -- without the safeguards I talked about the a lot of good things in the bill it's a very very far. Ranging bill in some areas most of which. Updates are 1919 law that is good I've gone on record as saying with all the changes that I have and others have suggested that the House of Representatives take up. We will voter I will vote. Against. Final version comes back to."

" So horrible -- advances in the end Bob Hedlund thank you for your time appreciate you coming on at least face the music on this. Forceful quarantine is forceful entry into her face the music and set forth back there are meant to give a lot of people. Thank you sir from Massachusetts to thank you."