To support Kansas dairy farmers and consumers, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed legislation concerning the labels on milk products! The bill, HB 2121, faced massive opposition from dairy, consumer, health, animal welfare and environmental organizations across the country; nearly 30 of which wrote a letter to Governor Sebelius, President Obama’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, urging her to veto HR 212.
The controversial bill passed by the Kansas State Legislature would have required an additional disclaimer on labels for dairy products produced from cows not treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH or rbST), a genetically engineered, artificial hormone that induces cows to produce more milk.
The Governor’s office sent out a press release late this afternoon, explaining why she vetoed the bill:
“...the Bill before me...provides for changes in dairy labeling that could make it more difficult to provide consumers with clear information. The milk labeling provisions negatively impact a dairy producer’s ability to inform consumers that milk is from cows not treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBST).”
“Supporters of the bill claim it’s necessary to protect consumers from false or misleading information. Yet there has been overwhelming opposition by consumer groups, small dairy producers and retailers to this proposed legislation. Therefore, pursuant to Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I veto HB 2121.
You can read the entire press release here.
3 comments:
Hallelujah! I'm glad to see this bill stopped in OK just as it was in PA. I want you to know, Phelan, that I signed an online petition for Sebelius, even though I didn't think my voice should count, since I'm not one of her constituents. Maybe, just maybe these repeated failures to enact this sort of shitty legislation will make big dairy think again before trying this in the next state. One can only hope.
These bills are just asinine!
Retaliation for not putting artificial things in it by labeling it as if that were bad? Please. What next? Labels on wheat that say, "This flour wasn't made by spraying wheat with roundup and consumers should beware a lack of pesticide!"
Gag me.
I think we should all cheer or something... :D
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