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More information on the Monsanto rider. Also Democratic budget supports labeling.
Center for Food Safety Denounces Dangerous "Biotech" Earmark in Senate-passed Spending Bill
Center calls rider “corporate welfare” for Monsanto and other biotech companies
(March 20, 2013) The Center for Food Safety (CFS) condemns the inclusion of a dangerous corporate earmark, the “biotech rider,” in the Senate-crafted Continuing Resolution (CR), which passed today on the House floor. The rider undermines the federal courts’ ability to safeguard farmers and the environment from potentially hazardous genetically engineered (GE) crops. Moreover, the rider represents an unprecedented attack on U.S. judicial review of agency actions and is a major violation of the separation of powers, an essential element of U.S. constitutional governance and law.
While there are no definite fingerprints for whoever is responsible for the rider, the earmark was allowed under the direction of Senator Barbara Mikulski, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee (D-MD). Congress has held no hearings on this controversial biotech rider and many Democrats in the Committee were unaware of its presence in the CR. Additionally, Mikulski and the Senate Appropriations Committee failed to bring this rider in front of the Agriculture or Judiciary Committees, disregarding their expertise and jurisdiction and in blatant violation of common practice.
“In this hidden backroom deal, Senator Mikulski turned her back on consumer, environmental, and farmer protection in favor of corporate welfare for biotech companies such as Monsanto,” said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety. “This abuse of power is not the kind of leadership the public has come to expect from Senator Mikulski or the Democrat Majority in the Senate.”
Once the bill takes effect on March 28th, the rider will only be in effect for the life of the 6 month CR. CFS intends to launch a major campaign to make sure this deception is not included in the next round of appropriations bills. CFS and its allies are confident that the food movement will ensure that this abusive rider is absent from any future legislation.
CFS applauds Senator Tester and his co-sponsors Senators Boxer, Gillibrand, Leahy, Begich and Blumenthal for their efforts to pass an amendment stripping the biotech rider and other corporate “pork” earmarks from the CR. Despite receiving calls and emails from tens of thousands of citizens opposing the industry-driven rider and supporting the amendment to strike it, the amendment was ultimately not successful. CFS calls on all Senators to join with Senator Tester and his co-sponsors to ensure that this egregious form of corporate welfare is not included in any future Appropriation bills.
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http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1906/center-for-food-safety-denounces-dangerous-biotech-earmark-in-senate-passed-spending-bill
Center calls rider “corporate welfare” for Monsanto and other biotech companies
(March 20, 2013) The Center for Food Safety (CFS) condemns the inclusion of a dangerous corporate earmark, the “biotech rider,” in the Senate-crafted Continuing Resolution (CR), which passed today on the House floor. The rider undermines the federal courts’ ability to safeguard farmers and the environment from potentially hazardous genetically engineered (GE) crops. Moreover, the rider represents an unprecedented attack on U.S. judicial review of agency actions and is a major violation of the separation of powers, an essential element of U.S. constitutional governance and law.
While there are no definite fingerprints for whoever is responsible for the rider, the earmark was allowed under the direction of Senator Barbara Mikulski, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee (D-MD). Congress has held no hearings on this controversial biotech rider and many Democrats in the Committee were unaware of its presence in the CR. Additionally, Mikulski and the Senate Appropriations Committee failed to bring this rider in front of the Agriculture or Judiciary Committees, disregarding their expertise and jurisdiction and in blatant violation of common practice.
“In this hidden backroom deal, Senator Mikulski turned her back on consumer, environmental, and farmer protection in favor of corporate welfare for biotech companies such as Monsanto,” said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety. “This abuse of power is not the kind of leadership the public has come to expect from Senator Mikulski or the Democrat Majority in the Senate.”
Once the bill takes effect on March 28th, the rider will only be in effect for the life of the 6 month CR. CFS intends to launch a major campaign to make sure this deception is not included in the next round of appropriations bills. CFS and its allies are confident that the food movement will ensure that this abusive rider is absent from any future legislation.
CFS applauds Senator Tester and his co-sponsors Senators Boxer, Gillibrand, Leahy, Begich and Blumenthal for their efforts to pass an amendment stripping the biotech rider and other corporate “pork” earmarks from the CR. Despite receiving calls and emails from tens of thousands of citizens opposing the industry-driven rider and supporting the amendment to strike it, the amendment was ultimately not successful. CFS calls on all Senators to join with Senator Tester and his co-sponsors to ensure that this egregious form of corporate welfare is not included in any future Appropriation bills.
- more -
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1906/center-for-food-safety-denounces-dangerous-biotech-earmark-in-senate-passed-spending-bill
U.S. Senate Passes Amendment in Favor of Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Fish
Center for Food Safety applauds passage of the Begich amendment in Senate Budget Resolution
(Washington, DC) March 22, 2013—The Center for Food Safety (CFS) applauds the passage of an amendment offered by Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) to the Senate budget resolution in favor of labeling genetically engineered (GE) fish. The amendment, passed by voice vote, modifies the budget resolution to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the labeling of GE fish.
“Passage of the Begich amendment serves as a clear statement that the Senate supports the labeling of genetically engineered fish,” said Colin O’Neil, Director of Government Affairs for the Center for Food Safety. “The American people have spoken loud and clear that genetically engineered fish must be labeled and today the U.S. Senate agreed with them.”
In his speech on the Senate floor today, Senator Begich reiterated that over 60 countries currently require the labeling of GE foods including Japan, Australia, Brazil, China, Russia and the European Union. He further noted that this week several major grocery retailers, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and others representing more than 2,000 stores across the United States, committed to not sell genetically engineered seafood if it is allowed on the market.
<...>
While the Senate Democrats’ budget plan is non-binding, and reconciliation with the GOP-lead House version is unlikely, passage of the Begich amendment will further increase the pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to require the labeling of GE fish, if approved.
- more -
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1975/us-senate-passes-amendment-in-favor-of-mandatory-labeling-of-genetically-engineered-fish
Center for Food Safety applauds passage of the Begich amendment in Senate Budget Resolution
(Washington, DC) March 22, 2013—The Center for Food Safety (CFS) applauds the passage of an amendment offered by Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) to the Senate budget resolution in favor of labeling genetically engineered (GE) fish. The amendment, passed by voice vote, modifies the budget resolution to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the labeling of GE fish.
“Passage of the Begich amendment serves as a clear statement that the Senate supports the labeling of genetically engineered fish,” said Colin O’Neil, Director of Government Affairs for the Center for Food Safety. “The American people have spoken loud and clear that genetically engineered fish must be labeled and today the U.S. Senate agreed with them.”
In his speech on the Senate floor today, Senator Begich reiterated that over 60 countries currently require the labeling of GE foods including Japan, Australia, Brazil, China, Russia and the European Union. He further noted that this week several major grocery retailers, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and others representing more than 2,000 stores across the United States, committed to not sell genetically engineered seafood if it is allowed on the market.
<...>
While the Senate Democrats’ budget plan is non-binding, and reconciliation with the GOP-lead House version is unlikely, passage of the Begich amendment will further increase the pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to require the labeling of GE fish, if approved.
- more -
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1975/us-senate-passes-amendment-in-favor-of-mandatory-labeling-of-genetically-engineered-fish
Given that there was an effort to strip the provision, claims that Senators had no clue that the rider was in the bill are nonsense.
The Monsanto bill is a perfect example of focusing on a Presidential veto FAIL
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022575349
14 replies
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I hate this shit, I know Obama can't veto parts of a bill, it's all or nothing.
But now that it's there, what is the plan to block or end it?
But speculative outrage gets all the attention. Wonder why that is?
Sid