On August 21, 2008 I urged Governor Schwarzenegger to Veto SB 201. I learned a few moments ago that the Governor did just that. Makes a life long Democrat think about switching to the other team. Hopefully, the Senators will reconsider the bill and review some of the ideas I had outlined in a letter to them that I posted here on August 27, 2008.
Sometimes politicians do the right thing. Here is the "Governator’s" veto letter:
To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 201 without my signature.
This bill weakens food safety standards in California, something I cannot support.
Last year I signed AB 1735, which passed the Legislature unanimously and put into law food safety standards for raw milk. Those standards are now in question by the proponents of this bill. Looking past the lobbying techniques, public relations campaign, and legal maneuvering in the courts, one conclusion is inescapably clear: the standard in place has kept harmful products off the shelves and California’s raw milk dairies have been operating successfully under it for the entirety of 2008.
Based on fears with no basis in fact, the proponents of SB 201 seek to replace California’s unambiguous food safety standards for raw milk. Instead they have created a convoluted and undefined regulatory process with no enforcement authority or clear standards to protect public health.
For these reasons, I cannot support this measure.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
See Senator Florez’s response:Continue Reading Governor Schwarzenegger Veto’s SB 201 – The Raw Milk Bill is Dead