by Anthony Gucciardi
June 03, 2013

from NaturalSociety Website
 

 

 

The Connecticut state Senate

has amended and passed GMO labeling bill HB 6527

by an overwhelming vote of 134-3 after days of negotiation.

 

 

 

A major step in the right direction, the bill signifies the growing opposition against Monsanto and GMOs at large within the United States that I have continued to support - but the bill does have a major flaw.

 

Coming right after the successful March Against Monsanto campaign, which was blacked out by the media despite an impressive turnout, the GMO labeling bill could not have picked a better time when it comes to support for the initiative.

 

That said, the bill actually requires four other states enact mandatory labeling before the Connecticut law goes into operation. In other words, there was likely some cash thrown around between the politicians as we've seen in the past that led to a ‘compromise' on the bill - one that effectively shuts it down.

 

We've seen similar things happen in the past, which is one of the reasons I published an extensive list (below insert) of politicians paid off by Monsanto:

 

 

 


Politicians Paid By Monsanto

May 28, 2013

from NaturalSociety Website

 

 

House of Representatives

Total paid by Monsanto to Democrats: $72,000
Total paid by Monsanto to Republicans: $190,500

 

Senate

Total paid by Monsanto to Democrats: $37,500
Total paid by Monsanto to Republicans: $85,000

 

Barrow, John (D-GA) $2,500
Bishop, Sanford (D-GA) $5,000
Boehner, John (R-OH) $10,000
Braley, Bruce (D-IA) $5,000
Camp, Dave (R-MI) $5,000
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $10,000
Clay, William L Jr (D-MO) $10,000
Cleaver, Emanuel (D-MO) $5,000
Conaway, Mike (R-TX) $2,000
Courtney, Joe (D-CT) $4,500
Crawford, Rick (R-AR) $2,500
Fincher, Steve (R-TN) $8,000
Gardner, Cory (R-CO) $7,500
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) $4,500
Graves, Sam (R-MO) $5,000
Griffin, Tim (R-AR) $1,000
Guthrie, Brett (R-KY) $1,000
Hanabusa, Colleen (D-HI) $5,000
Hannemann, Mufi (D-HI) $1,000
Hartzler, Vicky (R-MO) $3,000
Holden, Tim (D-PA) $1,000
Huelskamp, Tim (R-KS) $2,500
Hultgren, Randy (R-IL) $2,500
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $2,500
Johnson, Timothy (R-IL) $3,000
King, Steven A (R-IA) $2,500
Kingston, Jack (R-GA) $7,000
Kinzinger, Adam (R-IL) $3,500
Kissell, Larry (D-NC) $5,000

Labrador, Raul (R-ID) $2,000
LaMalfa, Doug (R-CA) $1,000

Landry, Jeff (R-LA) $1,000
Latham, Tom (R-IA) $10,000
Loebsack, David (D-IA) $5,000
Long, Billy (R-MO) $2,500
Lucas, Frank D (R-OK) $10,000
Luetkemeyer, Blaine (R-MO) $5,000
Lungren, Dan (R-CA) $1,000
McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) $1,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $1,000
Noem, Kristi (R-SD) $1,000
Nunes, Devin (R-CA) $3,500
Owens, Bill (D-NY) $2,000
Peterson, Collin (D-MN) $10,000
Rogers, Hal (R-KY) $7,500
Rokita, Todd (R-IN) $5,000
Roskam, Peter (R-IL) $1,000
Schilling, Bobby (R-IL) $3,000
Schock, Aaron (R-IL) $5,000
Shimkus, John M (R-IL) $5,000
Simpson, Mike (R-ID) $10,000
Smith, Adrian (R-NE) $5,000
Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) $5,000
Thompson, Bennie G (D-MS) $10,000
Thompson, Glenn (R-PA) $1,000
Upton, Fred (R-MI) $5,000
Valadao, David (R-CA) $2,500
Wagner, Ann L (R-MO) $10,000
Walden, Greg (R-OR) $1,000
Walorski, Jackie (R-IN) $2,500
Womack, Steve (R-AR) $1,000

Akin, Todd (R-MO) $3,500
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $1,000
Berg, Rick (R-ND) $10,000
Blunt, Roy (R-MO) $10,000
Boozman, John (R-AR) $5,000
Casey, Bob (D-PA) $2,500
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) $5,000
Fischer, Deb (R-NE) $5,000
Gillibrand, Kirsten (D-NY) $1,000
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $2,000
Hirono, Mazie K (D-HI) $1,000
Johanns, Mike (R-NE) $1,000
Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN) $5,000
Landrieu, Mary L (D-LA) $1,000
McCaskill, Claire (D-MO) $5,000
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $10,000
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) $2,500
Nelson, Ben (D-NE) $13,000
Rehberg, Denny (R-MT) $2,000
Risch, James E (R-ID) $3,500
Roberts, Pat (R-KS) $9,000
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) $8,000
Thompson, Tommy G (R-WI) $5,000
Wicker, Roger (R-MS) $1,000
Wilson, Heather A (R-NM) $2,500

 

 

Now that said, this is still headline-topping news that pushes the fight for food freedom to the next level. It also sets a powerful legislative precedent for further bills to come forward that activate GMO labeling in individual states as well as Connecticut.

 

There's no question that what we truly need to do is ban GMOs at large and criminally prosecute Monsanto for crimes against humanity (for more reasons than just GMOs), but sadly the United States government is Monsanto's #1 fan.

 

We are seeing major victories, such as in the markets of Europe, where Monsanto has actually stopped trying to even get into due to complete public hatred.

 

And we're seeing it here in the United States as well in the form of powerful activism, we just know that the United States government continues to openly support Monsanto.

 

So much so that the State Department has actually been caught funding Monsanto's marketing and overseas ventures. In fact, this has now been admitted by Reuters following data leaks. It's absolutely outlandish, but it's reality.

 

The bottom line is that this bill has flaws, but it will be highly effective at bringing awareness over the GMO labeling issue.

 

When it comes to real action, our activism is seeping through the cracks of the mainstream media compound and clobbering the corrupt politicians right on the noggin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Connecticut Passes...

GMO Labeling Law
by Eric L. Zielinski
June 5, 2013
from NaturalHealth365 Website

 

 

 

Eric is a peer-reviewed, published researcher.

His work on heart disease and autism has been accepted internationally at various scientific conferences through organizations like the American Public Health Association and Australian-based Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.

 

 

 

Just one week after the Senate powerfully rejected the "Sanders Amendment", Governor Dannel P. Malloy and caucus leaders announced that Connecticut is now slated to become the first state in the U.S. to require GMO labeling.

 

Specifically, it will require food that is either entirely or partially genetically altered to be labeled with the words "Produced with Genetic Engineering."

 

Although, to be fully instated, a bizarre set of circumstances must be achieved before the compromise House Bill 6527 is enacted.

 

 

 

 

Could House Bill 6527 be the start of something great?

 

Approved by the House of Representatives on May 24 by a vote of 114-7, House Bill 6527 originally contained two significant compromises.

 

At that time, it was required that five states with an aggregate population of 25 million were required to adopt a similar labeling provision. It was also determined by lawmakers that two of those five states had to border Connecticut or be New York and New Jersey.

 

After mounting pressure from anti-GMO campaigns like the March Against Monsanto, these requirements lightened up a bit.

 

According to the latest June 1 agreement between Mallory and caucus leaders, the final compromise is that only four states must pass similar legislation and one of those states must border Connecticut.

 

Moreover, legislatures are requiring that any combination of northeastern states with a minimum combined population of 20 million people must approve a similar bill.

 

Qualifying states include,

  • Maine

  • New Hampshire

  • Vermont

  • Massachusetts

  • Rhode Island

  • New York

  • Pennsylvania

  • New Jersey

 

 

 

The voice of Connecticut's triumph: An example for all politicians

 

Governor Malloy,

"We have vigorously pursued all opportunities to improve nutrition across Connecticut.

 

By increasing access to school breakfast for undernourished children, supporting local farmers, and strengthening how we market Connecticut grown products, we are making strides to get healthy foods on tables across the state.

 

This bill strikes an important balance by ensuring the consumers' right to know what is in their food while shielding our small businesses from liability that could leave them at a competitive disadvantage.

 

I look forward to working with advocates and stakeholders on this important issue, and thank legislative leaders for their work in crafting this legislation."

House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin & Southington),

"Consumers deserve to know what they are eating. I'm proud that Connecticut is taking a bold and sensible step to allow families to make informed decisions when purchasing food."

Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield),

"This law doesn't ban, or restrict, or tax anything. It simply let's Mom's and Dad's know what's in the food they're buying for their children. I'm pleased Connecticut is a pioneer in passing this common sense legislation."

 

"I urge Washington follow our lead."

Senate President Donald E. Williams (D-Brooklyn),

"This bipartisan agreement means that Connecticut families have all the information they need to make informed, healthy choices when feeding their families. There is mounting scientific evidence showing that genetically modified foods are harmful to our health."

Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden),

"Today is a significant victory in the fight to know what is in the food we eat and what we feed to our families.

 

Connecticut will be the first state in the nation to pass a GMO labeling law and this sets the stage for other states to join the growing movement to give consumers more choices. As a small state, Connecticut couldn't go it alone – this compromise strikes the right balance."

 

 

 

It's only a matter of time before the people win this battle

 

No doubt, Big Ag will do everything in their power to prevent House Bill 6527 from ever coming into fruition.

 

However, with the global shift against GMO's and social media being used to raise awareness, it is really only a matter of time before neighboring northeastern states are pressured to follow suit, thereby permitting Connecticut to mandate labeling.

 

Contact your local Senator today and demand that they support House Bill 6527 and GMO labeling.

 

 

 

 

Sources

 

 

NOTE:

See also How Can Kids Reach Out to Congress