The Conference Committee, which is supposed to be working out a Farm Bill compromise, dropped hints that there might be an agreement by Thanksgiving.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Remember, the Farm Bill extension, which was passed last year after the 2008 Farm Bill expired, expired on September 30, 2013 at midnight. A joint committee of Representatives and Senators convened on October 30, 2013 and is supposed to be hammering out a bill that will be passable in both chambers. If they don’t find a compromise and they don’t act, the Farm Bill will expire for good (without any extensions) while we’re all shouting “Happy New Year!”
One part of the bill that will we want to watch closely is the so-called King Amendment. It was added to the bill by Representative King, in part, as a response to California’s new chicken housing standards. The standards impose certain housing requirements on any farmer who wishes to sell eggs in the state of California. The problem is that California’s law will be mandated not only for California growers, but also growers from any state that wish to sell in California. This is a direct violation of the Commerce Clause, which does not allow one state to regulate commerce from another state.
The King Amendment means to stop that by clarifying that one state cannot do this. Although the amendment shouldn’t be necessary, because a violation to the Constitution is a violation to the Constitution, it would be a lot easier than a lawsuit attacking the constitutional validity of California’s egg law.
Take a look at Rep. King speaking on this important issue:
It’s refreshing to see a representative stand up for animal agriculture. Hopefully, this amendment will make it into the Farm Bill and we can stop this state by state attack on our animal production and our Constitution.
To catch up on the on-going drama, click here.
