It's no secret: The Senate Budget Resolution has been a shit show for the better part of a year now. It's been pushed back over and over again with the Nation's fiscal security on the edge of a cliff.
On Wednesday, the Senate finally got it together and passed an agreement. Unfortunately, anti-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms or Genetically Engineered) activists are not going to be happy about one particular section, 735: Which included a big prop up to the biotech industry.
Surprised? Didn't think so.
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The Farmer's Assurance Provision, section 735, of the Continuing Resolution Spending Bill--HR 933--has enraged environmentalist and food safety activists. Referred to as the Monsanto Protection Act, the biotech rider, would require the USDA to approve the the harvest and sale of crops from GMO seed even if environmental studies were ruled inadequate by a court. There have been past incidences in which Federal Courts have intervened to say that the USDA failed to sufficiently review GMO alfalfa and sugar beet seeds.
"According to legal experts, this provision would create a precedent-setting limitation on judicial review and is a dangerous assault on fundamental federal and judicial safeguards needed to protect America's farmers, citizens and the environment from the wanton approval of Monsanto's new GMO crops," said Food Democracy Now regarding the passage.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., attempted to overturn section 735 and some other agribusiness provisions on the Senate floor but was unsuccessful. Fellow Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Tim Johnson, D-S.D.; and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio also tried to prevent the section from making its way through. That's 4 percent of the Senate. Over 90% of US citizens have voiced support for Mandatory Labeling Laws. And we thought representatives were supposed to, like, represent.
The bill must be signed by President Obama to makes its way law. Activists are calling out for a veto.
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