We must never forget that this happened.

[Sustainer]

Reposting this because the information has become timely and relevant again:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/455298/mass-gov-replaces-supporters-of-formula-ban

[JudiAU]

Thanks for the post. I had never heard this story about Romney. What a tool.

[AdinaL]

Gosh, I remember reading this story, but had forgotten the specifics.  Thanks for posting!

[rnra]

Surely we don't know the whole story here.  I don't support formula samples either, but I think there is more going on (in several aspects) than meets the eye at first glance.

[Sustainer]

Here are some links if you want more details.

http://banthebags.org/27

http://mothering.com/breastfeeding/is-breastfeeding-in-trouble

http://massbfc.org/petitionIntro.html

[KBinSATX]

Wow. That's crazy. Pretty sad that our lives are ruled by whoever can pay for getting things done their way.

[Sustainer]

 for the convention

[tillymonster]

Yikes. Tool is putting it nicely. I mean seriously? BF is free, can't they give out good lactation consultants instead?  I mean wow, it'd even create more jobs right? I just don't get why anyone thinks hampering/undermining/sabotaging a mom's natural abilities is helpful, in any way, shape or form. 

Oh wait... I remember now. Money. 

UGH!

[Sustainer]

I wrote a blog post on this topic.  Am I allowed to link to it here?  http://truthfinder.blog.com/2012/06/05/why-mitt-romney-has-been-1-on-my-s-list-since-2006

I shared this blog post link on Facebook, and I invite you all to do the same.

Edited by Sustainer - 9/20/12 at 6:15am

[jessjgh1]

An important followup is that all hospitals in MA have not VOLUNTARILY "banned the bags" this summer.
http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2012/07/12/all-massachusetts-maternity-hospitals-now-ban-infant-formula-gift-bags/stcOXl9MRyWbSGLAzXdACO/story.html
 

This WAS sneaky and underhanded...

From the Time  article:

"With Romney seeking the presidency, breast-feeding supporters in Massachusetts now find themselves rehashing what transpired in early 2006, when the then-Governor reversed DPH’s decision to discontinue the free-formula practice; he replaced three Public Health Council members who expressed displeasure over the ban’s reversal. Then, within days, came an announcement from Bristol-Myers Squibb — whose Mead Johnson Nutrition unit makes Enfamil formula — that it would build a pharmaceutical plant in the state.

Did Gov. Romney put the kibosh on the formula ban in order to woo Bristol-Myers Squibb? Romney’s press team did not respond to requests for comment. But Michelle Nicholasen, a former Frontline producer turned freelance journalist, has spent six months investigating the chronology. “What caused the abrupt change in the administration?” says Nicholasen. “All signs point to Bristol-Myers coming to town.”

Bartick is even more blunt about her assessment of Romney, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. “We thought that Mitt Romney sold out the health of mothers and babies in Massachusetts to burnish his presidential resume,” she says."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/17/what-mitt-romney-has-to-do-with-breast-feeding-and-infant-formula/#ixzz26vb1tdBm

Here was an article by MA Breastfeeding Coalition regarding the Romney scandal

http://www.massbfc.org/press/PR052306C.html

"In a setback for Massachusetts families, the Public Health Council allowed hospitals to continue participating in formula company marketing campaigns. The decision comes in the wake of an eleventh-hour shakeup in which Gov. Romney replaced three Council members who supported marketing restrictions just before the Council’s scheduled meeting today.
 

Bartick (The chair of the Massachusetts breastfeeding Coalition) is quoted in the article saying "Gov. Romney has gone out of his way to protect the $8 billion a year formula industry. Not only did his administration block the proposed regulation, but then the Governor resorted to replacing a third of the Public Health Council just before the meeting."

"...Romney had initially overturned a regulation in February, arguing that limits on marketing gimmicks in hospitals forced mothers to breastfeed. In fact, the regulation would have protected all new mothers from aggressive marketing tactics that use hospitals to endorse high-priced brand-name formula"

"Romney has been increasingly isolated in his stance: he received letters opposing the hospital distribution of commercial bags from regional chapters of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, the American Public Health Association, and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. These letters join statements from the US Surgeon General, the Government Accountability Office, the Massachusetts Medical Society, and the World Health Organization, who all oppose this marketing practice."
 

The good news- voluntary ban   http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2012/07/12/all-massachusetts-maternity-hospitals-now-ban-infant-formula-gift-bags/stcOXl9MRyWbSGLAzXdACO/story.html

7/12/12
"In a welcome bit of news for state health officials and breast-feeding advocates, the last few maternity hospitals that were still offering free infant formula gift bags to new mothers have decided to ban the practice. All 49 birth facilities in the state have voluntarily eliminated the formula giveaways as of the beginning of July, making Massachusetts the second state to do so. Rhode Island hospitals ended the practice last November."
"Back in 2005, Massachusetts tried to end the free formula practice with a statewide ban instituted by the Public Health Council, but that decision was overturned several months later when then-Governor Mitt Romney replaced council members who were in favor of the ban."

[jessjgh1]

Originally Posted by rnra 

Surely we don't know the whole story here.  I don't support formula samples either, but I think there is more going on (in several aspects) than meets the eye at first glance.

The Time article hints at the 'real story' 

"Then, within days, came an announcement from Bristol-Myers Squibb — whose Mead Johnson Nutrition unit makes Enfamil formula — that it would build a pharmaceutical plant in the state."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/17/what-mitt-romney-has-to-do-with-breast-feeding-and-infant-formula/#ixzz26vbkaXUA

[Sustainer]

Thank you for the update, Jess!

[KBinSATX]

The one great thing about him is that he is so transparent. There's no doubt who has his interest/concern.

[Sustainer]

[Sustainer]

Election in one week.

[Sustainer]

We need to make sure that the small minority of us who are lactivists are not the only ones who know about this.  When Romney did this, he was counting on the fact that lactivists are a small group, lacking in resources, and that most people wouldn't hear about the step he took.  Let's show him that we do have a few resources.  We can communicate using social media and other internet avenues.  We can communicate via word of mouth.  Let's get this information out there.  Let's make sure all mothers hear about it.  Romney should not have been able to close the gender gap the way he has, considering his character as illuminated by this and other actions/positions.  Even if lactivism isn't a particular person's issue, this kind of behavior shows the kind of person he is and the kind of things he does.  Let's make sure that every American who thinks the health of babies and women is more important than formula companies' profits knows about this.  That every American who thinks that health care policies should not be based on whether or not a formula/pharma company wants to build a plant in your state knows about this.

[Sustainer]

Originally Posted by tillymonster 

I just don't get why anyone thinks hampering/undermining/sabotaging a mom's natural abilities is helpful, in any way, shape or form. 

I think this bears repeating.  

[Sustainer]

I just want to remind everyone that the First Lady, Michelle Obama, promoted breastfeeding as part of her campaign to reduce obesity.  

[Sustainer]

I'd also like to remind everyone that Obamacare covers breast pumps.  

[Sustainer]

Three days to the election!!  Does everyone know where their polling place is?  Mine was changed this year.

Talk to friends in swing states!