Senator Feinstein Pussies Out on Food Safety

I have a longstanding problem with Senator Feinstein. She consistently makes the wrong choices on what's best for her constituents, or simply refuses to take a stance. I just wanted to share her email to me in response to my questioning her position on the recent food safety legislation. The proposed legislation gives extra police power to the head of the FDA regulation task force, who just happens to be a former executive at Monsanto (the corporate giant responsible for the sketchy and possibly dangerous genetically modified food that has been creeping into our food supplies while those in charge keep the public blissfully unaware).

The proposed legislation also requires farmers who raise livestock for meat to implant expensive ID chips in each animal. This rule is supposed to aid in the tracking of contaminated meat, however the law contains a convenient loophole for giant factory farms, which are the true origin of the increasing problems with contamination. The loophole allows industrial farming operations to use a single id chip for an entire herd, which CLEARLY defeats the entire purpose of the id chipping rule ... until you consider that the small, clean, family farms that provide locals with quality meats will likely be put out of business by the new regulations. With the small farms out of the picture, factory farms will have a monopoly on food production in the U.S.

Clearly a minion of big business, SenateWHORE Feinstein declined to take a clear stance on the issue when confronted with all of these details. I think she just doesn't want me to know that she plans to vote in favor of the giant corporations at the expense of her constituents.
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Dear Ms. South:

Thank you for writing to share your concerns about legislation intended to improve food safety. Your correspondence is important to me and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you know, recent outbreaks of food borne illnesses and concerns about the safety of imported food have prompted numerous legislative proposals to increase the safety of the U.S. food supply. While I am concerned about deficiencies in the U.S. food safety system, I believe that reforms must be well thought out to avoid unintended consequences.

On June 17, 2009, Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI) introduced the "Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009" (H.R. 2749) and on March 3, 2009, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act" (S. 510). Each of these bills would increase the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory powers over the national food supply and food providers. I am currently reviewing both pieces of legislation and will keep your thoughts and priorities in mind as the Senate considers the bills.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts and ideas with me. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to call my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841.

Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup.