Sen. Bernie Sanders called out Monsanto for killing his amendment that would have given states the power require GMOs to be labeled on our food.
Video:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Transcript:
Ed Schultz: I want to focus now on GMOs. your amendment to let states label GMOs, genetically modified organisms was voted down. Why don’t more senators get on board with this recognizing the danger involved here?
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Well, here’s what the story is. I think all over this country. people want to know the quality of the food they’re eating and what they’re giving to their kids is good quality. We just don’t know all that much about genetically modified food. So my amendment was a pretty conservative amendment. It said in states like Vermont and Connecticut and other states where legislatures are voting for labeling on food products that have GMO product, let them go forward. Monsanto and the other companies saying states can’t do it. It is a federal prerogative. My amendment said if California, Vermont, Connecticut, other states want to go forward, they should have the right. What we know is that all over Europe. we’ve got dozens and dozens of countries which do label GMO products. we should be able to do that in the United States as well.
Sen. Sanders offered an amendment that was championing states’ rights. He wasn’t trying to have the federal government dictate to the states that they have to label GMOs. His amendment was designed to take that decision out of federal hands, if it even belongs there, and give it to the states. His amendment should have passed the Senate with flying colors. Instead, it was voted down 29-71. The biggest surprise of all was that more Democrats (28) voted against the amendment than voted for it (24). Liberal/progressive heroes Sherrod Brown. Elizabeth Warren, and Al Franken all voted against the amendment.
At the time, Sanders placed the blame on companies like Monsanto, “An overwhelming majority of Americans favor GMO labeling but virtually all of the major biotech and food corporations in the country oppose it. Today’s vote is a step forward on an important issue that we are going to continue to work on. The people of Vermont and the people of America have a right to know what’s in the food that they eat.”
This should not be a controversial issue. People should have the right to know exactly what is in their food, and states should have the right to require that this information be made available to consumers on labels. This would be a win for everybody, except the biotech and food corporations who spend millions of dollars lobbying Congress.
PoliticusUSA
G+
Facebook
phooeyrat
Jun. 15th, 2013 at 10:02 pm
The big corporations don’t give a damn what they feed us peasants. We are all just like animals too them. In my opinion. They pay our Govt. leaders too do as “they” say; “or else”… We have to get some “new” govt. leaders in office who won’t be “afraid” of these sick evil people. In my opinion. Start raising-hell with our govt. leaders who support this evil-shit before they can “legally” poison us all. It’s us and our children who are at risk. How can we allow them to get away with this. It’s mind boggling. And its very scary to think that they are getting away with it. In broad day light.
loading...
Rho
Jun. 16th, 2013 at 5:49 am
another push here for my husband, a 3rd party candidate who is really going to try to get in on the 2014 ticket and take down that Monsanto monster. http://drummondforcongress.org/
they have just been poisoning us for too long, and they are using all kinds of slick and slimy ways of doing it.
loading...
robyn ryan
Jun. 18th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Kick your Legislators to the curb. They aren’t doing their job. Fire them.
It’s Congress’ job to keep us ‘safe’ from things like predatory corporations.
Fail. It’s not the president, it’s Congress.
loading...
Shiva
Jun. 15th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
First of all, I have decided the US will never catch up to Europe and that is embarrassing. We are left with morons running around behind trees thinking we are in 1875. We have far to many people who dont care about what we eat and to prove that I give you the people they(we) elect to represent us. We are guided to remain stupid. Why is the government mad at Manning? Because he gave us a peek inside the dark room. Why does Monsanto need us stupid? Thats obvious. So we eat their garbage and be quiet through being naive. Do you think even your most conservative leader is sucking that swill? I doubt it
Lets put Monsanto out of business through not using their products
loading...
Bubba C.
Jun. 15th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Eat the rich!!!
loading...
idic5
Jun. 16th, 2013 at 1:38 am
I see that this article is dated 6-15-13, but I have read that Maine and CT state legislatures have voted to require GMO labeling for food sold in their state. Did I mis-understand what I read or is this Sanders initiative and older piece of legislation?
loading...
Shiva
Jun. 16th, 2013 at 8:47 am
The actual vote was a couple weeks ago.
However, Maine and Ct are two states. In order for this to go into effect, 5 surrounding states have to pass the same law. In other words if just the two states you note pass it, it cannot go into effect.
loading...
UncaJoe
Jun. 16th, 2013 at 3:53 am
Where is the GOP’s outrage about “State’s Rights”? I thought the 2nd and 10th Amendments were their sacred cows.
loading...
Gauzebird
Jun. 16th, 2013 at 5:48 pm
every one who has posted is very brave and i agree with every thing you all have said please keep it up i will do what i can via word of mouth and good luck to you all
loading...
Notta Vailable
Jun. 17th, 2013 at 6:57 am
I wonder why the progressive senators voted against this. My guess is that they want it to become a national law first. If it has to wind its way through the states, it will take forever to become national law.
I agree with the above poster; why aren’t all the conservatives crying out about states’ rights?
loading...
djchefron
Jun. 17th, 2013 at 8:30 am
Pigs fed GM grain suffer health problems, study says
Pigs fed a combination of genetically modified soy and corn suffer more frequent severe stomach inflammation and enlargement of the uterus than those who eat a non-GM diet, according to a new peer-reviewed long-term feeding study published Tuesday in the Organic Systems Journal.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/chi-food-policy-gm-corn-and-soy-feed-cause-health-problems-in-hogs-says-study-20130611,0,2592361.story
loading...