protect "big ag" CAFO pollution
Klobuchar and Smith are cosponsors of a bill to exempt "farms"
(including giant animal feeding operations, CAFOs) from reporting
"releases of hazardous substances from animal waste" and releases
from the "application, handling, and storage of "pesticide
products." A focus of attention has been two highly toxic and smelly
compounds emitted in large amounts from CAFOs: ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.
Read the bill
here:
https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/400ea859-eb96-4846-89a8-e42836eefaee/edw18106.pdf
. S. 2421 Read a gloating press release about it
here:
https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=7CEEE237-2600-4AF4-BE01-DD6D2FAD814D
.
S. 2421 has 29 co-sponsors, 12 "Democrats" and 17 "Republicans."
The ever-malevolent Farm Bureau calls the bill
"<https://www.fb.org/newsroom/emissions-reporting-relief-bill-a-breath-of-fresh-air-for-ag>A
breath of fresh air for
<https://www.fb.org/newsroom/emissions-reporting-relief-bill-a-breath-of-fresh-air-for-ag>
(Time out for a laugh.)
Consider the context: Minnesotans are experiencing lots of problems
from CAFOs: air pollution, water pollution, stinks, dust. Health
problems and diminished quality of life are what oversized animal
feeding facilities bring. One might think that Klobuchar and Smith
would be introducing legislation to get these problems under
control. But no, they are seeking to reduce the weak protections
environmental laws now provide.
Why do Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith seem to have no fear that
betraying their constituents could cost them their seats on the
Senate Gravy Train? Would it be different if we actually had a "two
party" system in which both parties competed to show how much they
could help the people. (Time out for laughing). I suppose they
don't fear the voters because they assume that no matter how often
they betray us we'll vote them back in anyway.
Neither Kobuchar nor Smith seriously supports controlling drug prices
or providing universal access to health care. They don't support
phasing out the hydrocarbon fuels that are cooking our planet. They
don't really oppose trump's relentless attacks on democracy and
governmental integrity. They will vote for increased war spending at
every opportunity. "Corporate Democrats."
ACTION steps you can take:
Make your calls and ask that Klobuchar and Smith WITHDRAW their
support for S.2421.
Call
Klobuchar:
<http://congressional-staff.insidegov.com/l/1357/tel:2022243244> 224-3244
Call Klobuchar's State Director, Benjamin J Hill, 612-727-5220
Call Smith: (202) 224-5641
Call Smith's State Director, Sara Jo Silbernail, (651) 221-1016
(Note: This is Smith's St. Paul office but has been going to voicemail.)
(Phone calls are generally more effective than emails because some
staffer has to take time to deal with them.)
Alan Muller
Red Wing, MN
<email obscured>
302.299.6783