If You Were in Congress: The Food Safety Modernization Act

[Yeggo]

Yes, there's more going on in Congress than FDA defunding and impending White House investigations, and in my continued (quixotic) attempts to discuss important things in productive ways, I want to know what everyone thinks about the Food Safety Modernization Act, which passed a cloture vote yesterday.

The gist, it expands the powers of the FDA to regulate food production and processing facilities in an attempt to save us from hideous bouts of salmonella-induced illness. It's supported by most of the major foodservice organizations, but opposed by small farmers and Republicans, who think it's either crushing bureaucracy or rampant big-government infringement on our rights to spend all afternoon in the bathroom. Of course, there's an amendment that would exempt small farmers, which should, in theory, mollify some of the opposition.

In theory.

Anyway, let me know what you think, and if you'd support this legislation:

http://conversation101.squarespace.com/food-safety/2010/11/18/walk-in-their-shoes-fda-food-safety-modernization-act.html

[laughingliberal]

1. Did they pass the amendment to exempt small farms? Yesterday, I read Tester was still fighting...

to get it in. Without that, it's a no starter for me.

[Yeggo]

2. I'm in the same boat

Tester-Hagan will probably come up for a vote during final passage. It's expected to pass, but as of now is not in the bill.

[frazzled]

3. Read Michael Pollan's (The Omnivore's Dilemma) support of it

He says it would be a tragedy if it doesn't pass. (And explains how the compromise with small farmers has been reached.)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/11/michael_pollan_on_the_food_saf.html

[FLAprogressive]

4. libertarians rail against it so it must be good