Rehberg (R-MT) wants 'downer' better defined | Bozeman Chronicle

[Ediacara]

Rehberg wants 'downer' better defined

By RON TSCHIDA, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thousands of head of cattle that would be banned under current regulations prohibiting the use of "downers" for food would be approved for processing under a bill introduced Thursday by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.

In December, after a single Washington state dairy cow was found to have mad cow disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture banned all downers -- animals that can't move on their own, either because of illness or injury -- from the food supply.

"At the time of the crisis, when things were at their hottest, the department made the right decision," Rehberg said in a teleconference Thursday afternoon.

More at the Bozeman Chronicle

[thexanman]

1. Cattle industry is disgusting. Do anything to maximize profit.

Including feeding calves their mothers' blood. Yeah, that's natural.

[truthseeker1]

2. Do you normally cruise the Boz Chron?

That's where my republican fundie family lives, and my brother is running for state assembly. I check the opinion page a few times a week just to make sure liberals are still speaking up. It reassures me that not everyone in Bozeman is like my family.

[Debi]

4. Hello fellow Bozemanite...

I grew up there - when did you live in Bozeman?

[Wetzelbill]

10. I'm a former Cut Bank resident

Live in Tucson now, but I believe I'll go back after I finish my degree(s) and run for some offices or something.

[truthseeker1]

12. I moved up after I graduated college - lived there only briefly

92-93

Here's more:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=967565&mesg_id=967679

[Ediacara]

5. I actually live in Bozo

And despite what you're family may lead you to believe :-) Bozeman is pretty darn progressive, and every legislator whos district is even partially within city limits are Democrats. In fact, that's the case with every city in Montana, but it's exagerated in Bozeman and Missoula because of the college town atmosphere.

The Bozeman Chronicle tries to be pretty balanced with its LTTE pages, although they seem to have liberal day, and conservative day, I guess because of space concerns.

In my opinion, they probably publish proportionally more conservative LTTE versus liberal LTTE, than they actually receive.

[Debi]

7. OMG

I seriously can't beleive that there are people from my hometown on this board. I know that the college is pretty progressive, but the town itself is rather conservative.

I realize I'm hijacking this thread to make it old home week, but hello to all you in Bozeman!!:hi:

[Ediacara]

8. Bozeman's changing :-)

It's grown to probably 40,000 people, and supposed to be 100,000 by the end of the decade. I had lived here in 96-97 and then moved back in 2001, and man, a complete world of difference. Much more progressive than it was even just in 1997, and it seems like it's twice as big.

Montana is going to go Dem sooner than most people think, starting with Schweitzer winning as governor in 04, and Kerry winning MT's EVs in 08 (maybe even 04). And Rehberg is going to lose his seat sooner than he thinks :-) although perhaps Velazquez might not kick him out, but it'll be much closer than Kelly-Rehberg in 02.

[Debi]

9. Sorry, once again, for the hijack...

But :wtf: ????

When did this happen - I lived in Bozeman from 1972 - 1986 and have been back to visit through 2002 (didn't make it last year).

The building I've seen is corporate and the houses are HUGE!! Are you telling me that LIBERALS with MONEY are the owners???

I must move back....I thought being First in the Nation was cool...maybe 'best for last' is better???!!!

[truthseeker1]

11. Thank God it's changing!

I hope you're right. My husband wants to move back there someday and I'm having a hard time imagining that. ;)

[truthseeker1]

13. You've probably seen a few barbs exchanged by my brother then

Page Lutes, running for assembly. He's got good intentions but he's a REpublican (really, more of a libertarian but he doesn't realize it).

[SemperEadem]

3. Gee, I wonder if Oprah will say anything about this on her show

This is inconscionable. I don't eat beef, but for those who do, I consider it to be foolish, greed-minded and evil that anyone would think that an animal who isn't fit to stand on its own 4 legs is fit to be eaten by humans. If they were processing for hyennas, wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopard, etc., then that's one thing--they're built to process sick animals. Humans aren't.

I would say that an amendment needs to be attached to it saying that if anyone gets sick from eating the meat of a downer bovine, they will be compensated without hesitation, without litigation and that the beef industry will have to sustain whatever hit it will receive and they have to sit tight and be quiet while they ride it out.

They have to give up something for this.

[Ediacara]

6. His opponent Tracy Velazquez has been hitting him hard on this issue

From her website:

Agriculture

Agriculture is a big part of Montana's heritage, and Montana's future. Tracy will work to make sure unfair trade agreements don't hurt our farmers and ranchers. She will look at ways to improve Montana's ability to market superior products. Her opponent was unable to get his fellow Republicans to implement Country of Origin Labeling in 2004, and took a stand last year against banning downer cows. This decision cost Montana beef producers our international market. On other issues that are important to Montana farmers and ranchers, such as transportation to markets, Tracy will represent our state, not national corporations and interests.
----
She has been even more outspoken in newspaper articles, although it'll take some digging for me to find em.