Organic Consumers Assoc.: Is Vermont's Governor Surrendering to Monsanto? Bill H 722

[Patricia M. McBride]

And we are all in this mess.  Monsanto is putting genetically modified foods in the markets for us to buy and NOT labeling them for what they are.  Vermont and some other states want to force labeling that is accurate so they know what they are buying, and our federal government will probably support Monsanto if they sue the state for passing a bill requiring labeling.  This is horrendous, and Monsanto has too long run rough shawed over Americans (while other countries won't even allow genetically modified foods).  We have no idea what the long range prognosis is for the people and children who eat these foods as we only have Monsanto's word they are safe.  I don't know about you, but that isn't good enough.

................................................................

 

By Will Allen, Cedar Circle Farm, Vermont, and Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association Alternet, April 19th, 2012

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has less than two weeks to either stand with the 90% of his constituents who support a mandatory labeling bill for genetically engineered foods - or cave in to Monsanto's threat to sue the state if legislators pass H.722.
If the Governor's words this past week are any indication, he's already surrendered to Monsanto. But Vermonters, not known for backing down from a fight, are challenging legislators to take on the biotech industry. They're even offering to raise money for the state's defense.
Last week, thousands of Vermonters flooded the Governor's office with petitions, phone calls and emails, to make the case for GMO labeling of all food sold in Vermont and to demand a vote on the bill. Under Vermont's constitution, the Governor can extend the state's legislative session indefinitely, ultimately forcing a vote on the bill. If he doesn't extend the session, or urge legislators to vote on the bill, it will die in committee.
But while supporters were emailing and phoning and signing, Governor Shumlin was sending out a canned response to the thousands of supporters who emailed his office. In the Governor's own words:
"Dear Friend, 
"Thank you for contacting me about labeling genetically modified foods.  I agree with those who advocate for clear labeling of genetically modified foods. GMO labeling makes sense and would give Vermonters key information about their food choices. However, we know from attempts to pass similar legislation in the past that such a requirement would not stand up to federal legal scrutiny. I don't think it is fair to ask Vermonters to bear the burden of the cost of those legal challenges."

Read more here:  http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25270.cfm

And a related article Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont over GMO Labeling Bill can be found here:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25180.cfm