Food safety bill defeated in House

[babylonsister]

Food safety bill defeated in House
AP

By MARY CLARE JALONICK


WASHINGTON – The House defeated a far-reaching food safety bill Wednesday after farm-state lawmakers complained it would be too invasive and others said it was pushed to the floor too quickly.

The legislation, which would require more government inspections and oversight of food manufacturers in the wake of a massive salmonella outbreak in peanuts, was considered under a suspension of House rules and needed a two-thirds vote for passage. The 280-150 vote was just a few shy of that threshold.

Democrats quickly scheduled another vote on the bill — under normal House rules, in which only a simple majority is needed — for Thursday.

The expedited process of suspending the rules allows limited debate and no amendments, and is usually reserved for non-controversial bills. But opponents of the legislation said the process was too rushed as most members had not been able to see the bill until early Wednesday.

At the same time, farm-state Republicans said the bill could threaten farm operations with too much government intervention.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090729/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_food_safety;_ylt=Ao8YgUC9a7MAJ2_lGwFx_Aus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFla2RpZ3NxBHBvcwM4NgRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3BvbGl0aWNzBHNsawNmb29kc2FmZXR5Ymk-

[TheWraith]

1. Why the hell did they suspend the rules?

It's not like you're going to gain that much time if we can pass it on Thursday.

[Union Yes]

2. Protecting corporate farm profits from the people is Rethug patriotism!

Gawd I hope the new bill will pass.