Updates on what's happening legislatively

Updates on what's happening legislatively...

SUPPORT HB3515

Here is what has been happening legislatively. Representative Glen Casada introduced the Raw Milk Bill into the TN House Ag. Committee on April 4th, 2006. Unfortunately, the bill was voted down in Committee. It would have changed the law in TN to allow farmers to sell their own raw dairy produce directly to the public. For some reason, this issue, this small food issue, became a very partisan issue. Most Republicans supported it, as they are for smaller government and less regulation in our state and most of the Democrats were against it. Hiding behind the notion of safety and "returning to the dark ages of food", the Dems consistenly all voted against allowing farmers the freedom to sell their own clean raw milk. There were 2 Republicans who voted with the Democrats, and they were Rep. Steve McDaniel, and Rep. William Baird. They need to hear from you!

Rep. Frank Nicely (R) was a HUGE supporter of our raw milk bill and tried to garner support from the Farm Bureau--but to no avail. They seem to be supportive more of big Agri-business than the small guy. If you are a member of the Farm Bureau, please make your voice heard to them. The bill will be re-introduced next session and we will NEVER, no NEVER give up. This summer I will bestarting a television ad campaign. There is a company that will give me about $10,000 worth of advertising every quarter for only $2500 a quarter. That is about $800 a month. If I can rally my raw milk friends and neighbors we can reach every single TV and radio station with the craw milk commercial which will greatly educate the public. If you would like to contribute to this ad campaign, please let me know through my contact address. Thanks!

WHAT YOU CAN DO: During the whole entire summer of 2006 and in January of 2007, contact the House Agricultural Committee Members at home and at their Nashville offices and tell them you support the Raw Milk Bill that will be re-introduced in the Spring Session and the small farmer's right to sell clean, organic, grassfed, raw milk of his own farm directly to the public. Let them know that you also want to be able to purchase produce, all produce including veggies and unprocessed poultry and beef directly from the farmer. You could write, call, fax, or best of all, visit with them. That makes the biggest impression. Believe me, they listen to you.

THANKS! We need everyone to do all that they can to get this measure passed.

Click here to see the listing for the Representatives on the House Ag. Committee. (Just as an aside Rep. Gene Davidson is not coming back to the House this Spring, so there is no need to call him, and Rep. Chris Clem will also not be returning--hate to lose him, as he was a great supporter of raw milk freedoms)

Click here to see a sample letter to write to the legislator.

*** Special Note*** If you live in any of the districts where there is an House Agricultural Committee member, it is EXTRA important that you take action. The bill has to get out of committee and if these men and women do not hear from you, it will not get out of committee.

For a listing of your representatives in general, click http://www.legislature.state.tn.us. This will take you to the TN General Assembly web site where you can choose District Maps. Once you do that, you can click on House or Senate and then on your county to see who is your representative.