The U.S. House voted by a fairly hefty margin Thursday to block states from doing what Vermont seeks to do: require labeling of genetically modified foods.
Does the bill have the legs to make it through the Senate, and would the president sign it into law? That is unclear, but Thursday’s vote generated posturing on both sides of the polarized debate.
The House vote was 275-150 for the bill, which is backed by GMO seed manufacturer Monsanto. Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voted against it.
“If Monsanto is so proud of its product, then why on Earth is it waging an all-out war to hide it from families who simply want to know what’s in their food? The message to consumers in this bill is very clear: It’s none of your business,” Welch said on the House floor Thursday.
A 2014 Vermont law would make the state the first to require labeling of genetically modified foods, starting next July. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents some of the largest food producers in the world, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the law.
Gov. Peter Shumlin, who on Sunday welcomed a $100,000 pledge from rocker Neil Young to help Vermont pay its legal bills in the case, on Thursday accused Monsanto of buying influence in Congress. “Monsanto and their corporate food allies have millions of dollars to dedicate to this fight, and today’s vote shows that they are quite skilled in using those vast resources to buy votes in Congress,” Shumlin said in a statement.
Shumlin spokesman Scott Coriell said that didn’t mean Shumlin was accusing members of Congress of accepting money from Monsanto for their votes. “It means that they are very good at using their significant and vast resources to influence the outcomes of the legislative process in Congress,” he said.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association applauded Thursday’s House vote in a statement, saying the legislation “protects the consumer from a costly and confusing 50-state patchwork of labeling laws by ensuring that the federal government retains its authority at the top of America’s food safety pyramid.”
David Carle, spokesman for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), predicted there could be interest in legislation in the Senate. Leahy would oppose a bill, he noted.
It’s also unclear what President Barack Obama would do if a bill reached him. The Associated Press reported that Obama has been silent on the bill, but his administration has voiced interest in voluntary, rather than mandatory, food labeling.
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Shumlin is ridiculous. People should check the actual record. He OPPOSED GMO labeling legislation until he couldn’t anymore, then suddenly became its champion? Are you kidding me? And now this desperate man is using Monsanto as a convenient punching bag to garner media attention to himself? Is there any craven depth to which this sad used car salesman will not stoop?!
This is just ducky. ‘Knowyourassumptions’ is correct in that our dear leader did oppose the GMO thing and yep, when it looked liked he was about to score another fail, he caved and joined ‘the fight’. Of all the budget issues and real needs of Vermonters, why in the world are the taxpayers funding the GMO legislation. Remember our budget deficit? It did not magically disappear, and all those budget cuts, and jobs lost…)
Did anybody in ‘Mont-spend-lier’ have any clue that Congress might just take this Federal matter under consideration? No heads-up here from Bernardo, St. Patrick or Pistol Pete?
If the dear leader in DC signs this, then what? Do ya think if Vermont folds, we’ll hear how much the taxpayers paid to fund this fiasco. Never fear, if we fight it, our crack attorney Billy Sorrelly will demonstrate his best Perry Masonite. And poor Neil Young, just pissed away $100K. “Look at mother nature on the run…”, for sure.
Point is, there is a cost to be the ‘first’ at the latest and greatest. Just look at the bottomless pit called VT Health Connect — that damned nothing burger…
Legacies on the line here!
The democrats aren’t always on the wrong side of an issue, but when they are, they support GMO labeling.
The Pete and Billy Lawsuit Show
With Peter Shumlin “it is all about the theatrics” with his signature windbag bullying of vaporous villains.
Unfortunately, the GMO lawsuit gig carried out with his fellow bad actor, Attorney General William Sorrell, will wind-up being a costly performance at the expense of the citizens of Vermont who are expected to cover the legal fees totaling up to over $10 million (or more). Fortunately, this Congressional action will preclude Pete and Billy from taking their lawyerly adventure to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) – where the really big bucks are spent and Bill has a losing “batting average” of no hits and no runs !
Another Costly Adventure from the Legal Fools who brought Vermonters failed suits against Entergy and IMS Health – embarrassing failures that played out before SCOTUS.
knowyourassumptions
You are being unkind, if not cruel, to all of the used car salesmen (and saleswomen) out there. They are all far more honest and reputable then our shady governor, Putney Pete !