[OKC] FW: [ok-sus] Between the Lines of Animal Agri. Legislation

[Shauna Struby]

fyi

 

From: ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org
[mailto:ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org] On Behalf Of Harlan
Hentges
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:33 AM
To: ok-sus at lists.oksustainability.org
Subject: [ok-sus] Between the Lines of Animal Agri. Legislation

 

 Oklahoman's who live near feedlots are literally breathing manure dust
daily and literally drinking groundwater contaminated with nitrates from
manure.  I have personally breathed the dust and drank the water.
Meanwhile, some legislators are attempting to pass laws that those citizens
cannot seek help from their local governments or even the courts.  I believe
these efforts deserve condemnation in the strongest terms because they
damage Oklahoman's health and land purely for out-of-state economic
interests.   

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Don Armes

Capitol: (405) 557-7307

 

Committee Votes to Streamline Livestock Regulations

 

OKLAHOMA CITY - State lawmakers voted today to streamline regulation of
livestock operations in Oklahoma and prevent radical groups (LIKE FARMERS
WHO DON'T LIKE MANURE IN THEIR WATER AND MANURE DUST IN THEIR HOUSES AND IN
THEIR LUNGS?) from wreaking havoc with a vital state industry.

                House Bill 2151, by state Rep. Don Armes, would simplify
regulation of livestock producers by making the state (I THOUGHT POWER WAS
TO RESIDE IN THE PEOPLE NOT IN THE "STATE"? ) the single-source regulator in
Oklahoma (other than the federal government).

                The bill would eliminate the compliance problems created by
patchwork-quilt regulation (OTHER THAN MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES, HOW MANY
FARMS ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS?) while also
preventing fringe groups (LIKE CONSUMERS WHO DON'T WANT FOOD FROM ANIMALS
RAISED IN THEIR OWN FILTH?) from imposing excessive regulations through
local ordinances,  (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BEING MOST
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE?) Armes said.

                "Unfortunately, there's been a trend of over-reach by fringe
groups who don't know much about animals, agriculture production, or the
free market  (Hee, hee, hee, HE THINKS THAT A MARKET DOMINATED BE THREE
MULTINATIONALS IS  A "FREE MARKET"), yet still feel the need to impose their
version of 'animal Nirvana' on local farmers and ranchers through arbitrary
regulations," said Armes, R-Faxon. " This bill will simply ensure that
livestock regulations are developed by experts at the state level who know
what they're doing." (LIVE NEXT TO FEEDLOT WITH 20,000 HEAD OF FEEDER CATTLE
AND TELL ME HOW THAT's BEEN WORKING SO FAR?)

                One recent example of regulatory overload occurred last fall
in California, where a ballot question actually created new regulations on
the size of pens for egg-laying hens, veal calves, and pregnant sows.  (OH
NO !! DIRECT DEMOCRACY AT WORK.. WE CAN'T HAVE THAT)

                Armes noted many urban voters have little practical
knowledge of agriculture or animal welfare. (HE MIGHT WANT TO ACTUALLY VISIT
WITH SOME URBAN VOTERS INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THEY ARE IGNORANT)

                "Let's be honest: The majority of people in San Francisco
probably think the chicken just magically appears ready to eat next to the
arugula and tofu in the grocery aisle," Armes said.  (ANY EMPIRICAL DATA ON
WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY KNOW OR DID HE JUST MAKE THAT UP?)

 

 "In a place like Oklahoma, where there are literally more cattle than
people and agriculture production generates billions of dollars in gross
state product, it just makes sense to have trained experts making regulatory
decisions."  (PERHAPS ARMES DOESN'T RECALL THE WORDS OF RONALD REAGAN "THE
SCARIEST WORDS EVER SPOKEN ARE "I AM HERE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M HERE
TO HELP.)

                House Bill 2151 passed out of the House Agriculture and
Rural Development Committee today and now proceeds to the floor of the
Oklahoma House of Representatives.

                Similar legislation has also advanced in the state Senate.
(I HAD SO HOPED THAT WHEN The REPUBLICANS CAME TO POWER IN OK. THEY WOULD
BEHAVE LIKE LEADERS INSTEAD OF LIKE TEENAGERS WHO FOUND THE KEY TO THE
LIQUOR CABINET).

 

.

 Harlan Hentges

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