The Food Safety Modernization Act S.510 is on the verge of a final vote in the Senate today. Yesterday, the Tester-Hagan amendment (making some vital fixes in the legislation to help out small farmers/local food producers) was added to the bill and it can now be supported by folks who were worried about the impact the legislation would have on small farmers. However, and probably also partly due to the addition of Tester-Hagan, in the last 24 hours big agriculture has decided to come down full force against S.510.
This is another piece of legislation that has been in the works for over a year. It is a big step forward in improving food safety as our food production systems become ever larger and more industrialized. The big producers weren't happy with the legislation due to the added regulation it was imposing but were willing to go along since it placed even steeper burdens on small producers. Now that Tester-Hagan has leveled the playing field they no long support it. In order to try to get this bill passed while Dems still have majorities, please call your Senators NOW and let them know you support S.510.
Thanks in advance.
And if you are from OK give Coburn some special attention. He is being his typical pain in the rear self on this.