RE: Oppose SB 1056

Dear Senator ,

I am very concerned about SB 1056, a bill that will preempt local authority over seeds. I urge you to oppose this bill and defend the right of local governments to protect their farmers, environment and public health from the dangers of genetic engineering.

This bill would prevent counties and cities from developing local ordinances regarding seeds and nursery stock, by declaring that only the state has the authority to regulate seeds and nursery stock in general. The bill seems aimed at local ordinances banning or regulating genetically modified seeds because it was prompted by lobbyists working for Monsanto and because GMO-banning local regulation is the only such regulation passed in recent years. Ironically, though SB 1056 preempts local authority, the state has no rules or regulations to protect our environment and consumers from the possible dangers of genetically modified seeds.

As you may know, SB 1056 originally passed the Senate last year as a clean air bill, but after its passage and before it moved to the Assembly the entire text of the bill was deleted and wording was substituted to make this bill a revision of the agricultural code in an attempt to sneak through this prohibition of local regulations to protect the public from genetically engineered seed stock. SB 1056 is an anti-democratic attack on the rights of local citizens and local governments to act in a legal manner to protect their interests, which are not otherwise protected by law. SB 1056 addresses none of the legitimate concerns that have been raised by citizens through county initiatives and ordinances, but instead takes away the right of local citizens and governments to address their concerns by legal means.

Please oppose SB 1056 and do everything in your power to ensure its defeat.

Most Sincerely,

EAN Alerts Email List | Tell a Friend | Links | Contact | Site Map