Local Rules! The Feds Drool :-(

Local policy can make a huge difference in creating a sustainable economy (and is probably the only way to do it).  The San Luis Obisbo (CA) City Council just announced that 50% of new homes will be required to have solar panels by 2020. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispotribune/news/breaking_news/13990488.htm

Compare this to what our friends in Washington are doing.  The House of Representatives will vote on March 2 for a "national food uniformity" labeling law that will prevent states and localities from requiring labelling that specific foods or beverages are likely to cause cancer, birth defects, allergic reactions, or mercury poisoning. The bill would also prevent localities from requiring labelling on genetically engineered foods and ingredients.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2752

Comments

[Stephen Filler]

On March 8, the House voted to approve this bill 283 to 139.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle: "The vote was a victory for the food industry, which has lobbied for years for national standards for food labeling and contributed millions of dollars to lawmakers' campaigns. But consumer groups and state regulators warned that the bill would undo more than 200 state laws . . . " Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles said: "The purpose of this legislation is to keep the public from knowing about the harm they may be exposed to in food."

A state that wants stricter rules must ask the FDA for special approval.

As a result of California legislation, which would be preempted by this bill, bottled water companies have cut arsenic levels, and potassium bromate, a potential carcinogen, has been taken out of many breads, doughnuts and other bakery goods.

Corporate and trade groups constitutuents of the National Uniformity for Food Coalition -- backers of the bill -- have contributed more than $3 million to members in 2005-06 and $31 million since 1998.

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/09/MNGFMHL5921.DTL

[Stephen Filler]

According to Vote Smart:

On 3/9/06, Senate Passage Vote: No vote yet taken; referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=3802