Bill would apply caged hen rules to out-of-state eggs
03:28 PM PDT on Monday, May 11, 2009
By JIM MILLER Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO - California's upcoming ban on small cages for egg-laying hens would be extended to out-of-state egg producers if a bill moving through the Legislature becomes law.
The state's $648 million egg industry so far is neutral on the legislation, which is championed by the same groups that backed Prop. 2, the successful November ballot initiative that requires more room for chickens and other farm animals.
The bill, though, already has received support from legislators who opposed Prop. 2. They say it will help California's egg industry compete with out-of-state egg producers who, under current law, will not need to comply with Prop. 2 when its rules take effect in 2015.
"I think there's a general consensus out there that if our industries have to do certain things for the housing of poultry, then we don't think it's too much to ask the rest of the country to adhere to the same rules that we do, just to keep our folks competitive," said Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, a co-author of AB 1437. He opposed Prop. 2. Read More
Here is why HSUS is sponsoring this bill. They are using the same theory as is used to curb social behavior. The “sin tax” is used to tax products in order to make them expensive and curb their use. If California is only allowed to raise and sell eggs that have been raised cage free, this will drastically increase the price of eggs, thus lowering demand and forcing egg farmers out of business. HSUS has stated that they want to abolish animal agriculture and this is just one of the not-so-obvious ways that they are doing it.
No comments:
Post a Comment