Food safety bill could die (the one that already passed)

[underpants]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- A sweeping food safety bill that passed the House and Senate earlier this year before stalling because of a legislative technicality now will likely die because Republicans object to giving it quick approval in the waning days of the congressional session, Senate leadership aides on both sides of the aisle said Friday.

The bill, designed to increase government inspections of the food supply in the wake of recent deadly food borne disease outbreaks, originally passed with wide support in the both chambers. However, it needs approval again because it violated a Constitutional requirement that bills that raise revenue initiate in the House.

To pass it a second time, Democratic leaders attached it to a giant government-funding bill but Republicans blocked that measure Thursday, in part because it contained billions of dollars in earmarks.

Democrats then wanted to attach it to a narrower government-funding bill that is expected to pass Saturday but Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, warned he would object if they did. A GOP leadership aide told CNN it would be impossible to approve the food bill quickly unless all Republicans support doing so .



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/17/food.safety.bill/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

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Coburn apparently didn't check with his corporate owners THE FIRST TIME this bill passed.

:eyes:

[somone]

1. Tax cuts and tax breaks for rich people are more important

[FBaggins]

2. Why refer to a constitutional requirement as a "technicality"?

If the bill fails to pass, it will be because our leadership waited until the last
minute to advance it and couldn't be bothered to follow the rules.

[underpants]

3. Well.... yeah but,.....

it is my understanding that usually (in a normal world) in situtations like this intellectual honesty and the most basic standard of self respect would force people to vote the same way on the exact same bill that they voted previously. But I live with my head in the clouds I guess.

[FBaggins]

4. It has to come up again for people to vote the same way.

And if your procedural error leaves your opponent with the option of winning with a single vote... what would you expect to happen?

[Creative]

5. Is something wrong with our food?

Oh, I almost forgot. They don't like toys being included.

[underpants]

8. Yes

To better quantify the impact of foodborne diseases on health in the United States, we compiled and analyzed information from multiple surveillance systems and other sources. We estimate that foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Known pathogens account for an estimated 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths. Three pathogens, Salmonella, Listeria, and Toxoplasma, are responsible for 1,500 deaths each year, more than 75% of those caused by known pathogens, while unknown agents account for the remaining 62 million illnesses, 265,000 hospitalizations, and 3,200 deaths. Overall, foodborne diseases appear to cause more illnesses but fewer deaths than previously estimated.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no5/mead.htm

[Creative]

10. I must be lucky, for nothing I have ever eaten has made me sick.

However, we do eat a lot of fresh food. During the growing season, our garden and the farmer's market feed us. And during the winter, we still try to stay as fresh as possible; but it does cost more. And although we do eat quite a bit of chicken, we limit our intake of red meat.

Finally, there is no sugar (granules) in our house.

[underpants]

11. You have probably eliminated 80% of the problem

We, likewise, do the same thing to some extent.

[Recursion]

6. Corporate owners

Big industrial farms love this bill; it's the small farmers that are so against it.

[lunasun]

7. Exactly! I would be very happy if it does not pass

I have petitioned my congress many times asking them NOT to pass this
-must buy our food-
Local farming/ coops/organics being assaulted by big AG again under safety BS
It is big AG that has the E coli and sick animals go to market from their unnatural methods.

[bhikkhu]

13. s'what I've heard. The POS can die quietly. Fine.

[valerief]

9. Give those Republicans tainted Rolaids PLEEEEEZE!!!! nt

[bongbong]

12. New repig version of bill

Foods shall be classified as "safe" and "unsafe". If you can prove you are a billionaire, you will be entitled to the safe food, which we will label "Billionaire Chow". Everybody else will only be able to buy the unsafe food, which we will label "Patriotic Ultra-safe Wholesome Grub"

[jotsy]

14. I have heard the bill referred to as the Patriot Act for food.

What I find more troubling is that K Street has apparently sent relevant lobbyists up the hill to announce that clientele is ready to initiate discussion of legalizing marijuana. I am proponent of legalization, and happy to see it come back to the front burner as an issue, but...I've contended that when the PTB have figured out how to monopolize and milk a market, that's when they're on board.