Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Specialist

C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

CARRS Departent of Community, Agriclture, Recreation and Resource Studies

303 Natural Resources Bldg

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

Phone: 517-353-3542

Cell: 517-282-3557

FAX 517-353-3834

E-Mail:  [log in to unmask]

 

Don’t forget! A carrot a day may keep the doctor away but an ORGANIC carrot a day, grown locally will taste good, support your farmer neighbor AND may keep the doctor away!!!

 

From: Linking growers, consumers, and all those in-between [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jean Doss
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 12:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: MIRS Article Seed Bill on its way to Gov

Seed Bill En Route To Granholm
Some Senate Republicans voted against the caucus on a bill that would prohibit local governments from regulating genetically engineered seeds.

Most Senators voted in favor of  SB 0777, which was introduced by Sen. Gerald VAN WOERKOM (R-Muskegon), because it leaves seed regulation in the hands of the federal government.

Republican Sens. Patty BIRKHOLZ (R-Saugatuck Twp.), Bill HARDIMAN (R-Kentwood) and Nancy CASSIS (R-Novi) voted against the bill.

Hardiman and Cassis said they voted against the bill, which they originally voted in favor of, because of a House amendment that would allow local governments to talk to the agriculture commission to maybe get a certain seed prohibited.

Cassis said she didn't like the amendment because it would take local control away from local governments and would pit the Farm Bureau against townsh ips. Hardiman agreed.

The bill passed 24-12. Several Democrats, including Liz BRATER (D-Ann Arbor), Hansen CLARKE (D-Detroit), Bob EMERSON (D-Flint), Martha G. SCOTT (D-Highland Park), Gilda JACOBS (D-Huntington Woods), Buzz THOMAS (D-Detroit), Deb CHERRY (D-Burton), Ray BASHAM (D-Taylor) and Gretchen WHITMER (D-East Lansing) joined the three Republicans in their dissent.

The opposition to  SB 0777 has frequently said that the federal government's regulation standards aren't strict enough. The bill is headed to the Governor.