Republican Ag Leadership Supports GE Alfalfa

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Jan 19, 2011 at 14:14:00 PM PST

Senate Agriculture Committee will get new leader next year

by: desmoinesdem

Tue Feb 02, 2010 at 11:44:32 AM PST

Assuming Lincoln loses, either to a Democratic primary challenger or to a Republican in November, the Senate Agriculture Committee will be needing a new chair in January 2011. Currently, Democrats are expected to retain a majority in the Senate, which would put Debbie Stabenow of Michigan in line to chair the Agriculture Committee. Republicans have a slim chance at winning enough seats to take over the Senate this November. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia would be the likely new chair, since is the ranking Republican on the committee now, but it's possible that the GOP caucus could shuffle things around.

Chambliss Comes Out as Pro-Animal Suffering?

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 13:40:12 PM PDT

Here's what Sunstein says about animals:

If we focus on suffering, as I believe that we should, it is not necessarily impermissible to kill animals and use them for food; but it is entirely impermissible to be indifferent to their interests while they are alive. So too for other animals in farms, even or perhaps especially if they are being used for the benefit of human beings.

The problem is that most of the time, the interests of animals are not counted at all--and that once they are counted, many of our practices cannot possibly be justified. I believe that in the long-run, our willingness to subject animals to unjustified suffering will be seem a form of unconscionable barbarity--not the same as, but in many ways morally akin to, slavery and the mass extermination of human beings.

So what is Chambliss' - pardon the expression - beef with Sunstein? These quotes from Sunstein's 2004 book Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions:

I will suggest that animals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives, to prevent violations of current law... Laws designed to protect animals against cruelty and abuse should be amended or interpreted to give a private cause of action against those who violate them, so as to allow private people to supplement the efforts of public prosecutors.

Chambliss says he will drop the hold after he has a chance to meet with Sunstein. Sunstein has already met with Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who he gave assurances that he would not promote burdensome animal rights regulations for farmers.

The fact of the matter is that we do NOT have very many laws that protect agricultural animals from suffering, and those that we do have are not well-enforced. And while the idea of a pig suing a human is absurd, I think it makes perfect sense for a human to bring a case against a human over cruel treatment of a pig. Given how well the Obama administration has done thus far on the rights of some humans (Guantanamo prisoners, gays and lesbians...) I doubt animal rights is at the top of his agenda. Truly, those who want to abuse animals legally have little to fear from the Obama administration. But that doesn't make the way we treat agricultural animals right, and we certainly should have more laws in place (like California's Prop 2) to protect animals from cruel treatment.

A Bad Food Safety Appointment Is Likely

by: Jill Richardson

Sat May 09, 2009 at 06:46:30 AM PDT

Let's start with who's behind his nomination: Saxby "I hate sustainable agriculture" Chambliss. Yes, the very same Saxby Chambliss who got his Senate seat by accusing the incumbent Senator, a war hero (who lost 3 limbs in Vietnam), of being for the terrorists. Plus several Senators from states with major factory farm interests. And then there's the details on Michael Doyle himself:

Doyle is currently Director of the Center For Food Safety at the University of Georgia, and a professor in the department of food safety and technology. His work at the land-grant university has been heavily funded by major meat industry concerns, and Doyle has won big acclaim for his industry-friendly policy wonking, in particular from the American Meat Institute, a huge pro-meat/low-government intervention lobbying force on The Hill. He's also received big funding and support from the National Chicken Council, another industry lobbying group.

Please, send an email to AgSec@usda.gov and tell Vilsack you don't want Doyle to get the nomination. He's got too much of a conflict of interest. Or, put another way, he's the fox and FSIS is the henhouse.

Saxby Chambliss Disses USDA Nominee For Loving Organics Too Much

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 13:22:17 PM PDT

Details below...

Sen. Harkin Rocks My Socks! (Child Nutrition Hearing)

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 10:30:06 AM PDT

UPDATE: If you want to express your thoughts to the Senate Ag committee, the committee # is 202-224-2035.