No downers in California.

[flvegan]

Downer cattle law signed

Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday to crack down on the sale of downed cattle for human consumption in response to the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

"I am committed to ensuring California's food supply is safe and secure," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement after signing Assembly Bill 2098.

"With today's action, we are strengthening California's food safety laws and sending a message that violating these laws will not be tolerated."

Assembly Bill 2098, by Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian of Burbank, makes it a misdemeanor to buy, sell, process or butcher a non-ambulatory animal for human consumption.

The bill stemmed from the February recall of 143 million pounds of beef from Westland/ Hallmark Meat Co. after the Humane Society of the United States surreptitiously videotaped aggression against downed cattle at the Chino facility.

http://www.sacbee.com/capolitics/story/1102428.html

Oh, California, you get better to me every day.

[LeftyMom]

1. Enforcement?

:shrug:

[ThomCat]

2. Always a good question.

When people demand good laws we often get toothless laws instead. :(

[LeftyMom]

3. The federal enforcement is a joke.

I doubt the state would be any better, they neglect labor laws in those same slaughterhouses.

[flvegan]

4. Gotta have a law first.

I expect then for Obama to step up USDA/APHIS resources for inspection, enforcement, etc. If he doesn't, I'll point my finger directly at him. Ultimately, that's what it's going to come down to. Then, California will have to figure a way to utilize those resources to enforce this.

Also, the next time a Hallmark slaughterhouse type issue comes up, there's no question of charges. No need to try to prove animal cruelty, etc.

[LeftyMom]

5. I do think a state law is potentially helpful.

As a general rule, our state law enforcement types tend to be hardasses, where the feds refuse to do dick on this issue.

But I'm fucking cynical, so I'll believe it does any good when I see it.

[silverweb]

6. Even I have to admit...

...though I'm not at all an Ahnuld fan, that he's not all bad.

Thanks, Gov!