Posted on 10/22/2010 12:39:24 PM PDT by La Lydia
Mississippi native J. Dudley Butler is a notorious plaintiff’s attorney who has filed numerous lawsuits against poultry companies alleging unfair marketing and procurement practices. Before his nomination by President Obama as Administrator of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) – an agency charged with monitoring the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat and other ag products and ensuring healthy competition — he was an attorney in the Butler Farm and Ranch Law Group in Canton, Mississippi and well-known to the meat and poultry industry. He was one of the “Johnnie Cochrans” of ag law: “Got a chicken? Got a case.”...
While Butler’s legal efforts to bring Packers and Stockyards Act cases against poultry companies failed, his nomination as GIPSA administrator made R-CALF and friends realize they had hit pay-dirt: The friendly lawye...now might be able to alter the very rules that had been an obstacle to success in court...
Butler saw language in the 2008 Farm Bill that mandated GIPSA rulemaking on “undue preferences” as the train to which he could hitch a giant regulatory caboose. Instead of restricting himself to what Congress mandated, the proposal he shepherded to the Federal Register in June 2010 included language to reduce the legal obstacles he had encountered in court. Under such a scenario, the private practice to which he might return could be far more victorious in court – and far more lucrative.
When the rule finally became public, its staggering scope and impact prompted sharp criticism, especially in light of its lack of a meaningful economic impact analysis. In a move that shocked those who understand “the rules surrounding rulemaking,” Butler’s agency issued a “misconceptions and explanations” document to defuse criticism – something considered highly inappropriate once rulemaking is underway...
It wasn’t long before folks in town smelled a rat.
In a highly contentious House Agriculture Committee hearing July 20, Livestock Subcommittee Chairman David Scott told Butler and Under Secretary Edward Avalos that they “very, very seriously overstepped their boundaries” and that was especially true, Scott said, given that some of the provisions in the proposed rule “were soundly rejected” by the House Agriculture Committee, the House, the Senate and conference committee during the 2008 Farm Bill debate. Reps. Minnick, Costa, Goodlatte and Chairman Peterson gave Butler a tongue-lashing that was likened by one member of the media to “breaking out a can of whoopass.”...
Just because they sued food manufacturers, it would be a mistake to assume 1) that they know anything about food production, or 2) that they give a damn about people dying from food poisoning. As trial lawyers, it’s a certainty that they mostly know about money.
Ask any Ukrainian what socialists do to food production and farmers.
Go to the link and look at the guy. If you have spent any time at all in Washington, DC, his picture speaks volumes.
I believe Obama looks for people who can hurt the United States and the agency he appoint them over and then appoints them to office.
There is an Arab proverb that says when god makes a fool, he gives him the face of a fool. The same must be true about oily ambulance chasers.
The best “regulation” for food companies, ANY companies for that matter, is the relentless rigor of the free market.
Actually, that is ALL that is necessary.
tongue-lashing or not, does the rule still stand?
La Lydia,
La Lydia,
Thank you so much for posting this article. I have had the equivalent (minus O44’s Administration—my underestimation once again) with regard to pharmaceuticals/medical on my mind for months.
The clouds parted and the sun has shown through….and looky here at what La Lydia brought…..yummmmmm!
Thank you!
BINGO!
BINGO, BINGO, BINGOOOOOO! And the crowd goes wild!
Yeah, THAT’s the face of a Leftist opportunist. One of those I rant about way too much that find it so lucrative to pick through the collection of crap, and junk that is Liberalism at the extreme cost to our society overall.
He joins with so many such people this country would do so well without. The World would do so well without actually. The Algore’s, the Clinton’s, the Soros’s, Lewis’s, Strong’s, and on, and on the list goes of the opportunists, the Leftist criminals IMO that feed off the sickness, the impairment that is Liberalism.
A tort skunk.
I’m sorry but I’m from Canton, Mississippi and have never heard of this guy or his law firm.
J. Dudley Butler
Butler Farm & Ranch Law Group,PLLC
P.O. Box 830
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: (601) 859-8465
Fax: (601) 859-9023
Email: jdudley@farmandranchlaw.com
American Arbitration Association
The food in America is getting more and more disgusting due to these factory farms, and yet, they pass the ‘regulations’ and are considered safe, but if an individual tries to sell milk or chickens or rabbits for food, expect SWAT to come knocking.
Which, is exactly by design. Federal oversight of agriculture was not a result of the ‘progressives’ or ‘muckrackers’, but long sought after policy by the larger of the food companies, who lobbied for the equivalent of the FDA at the time, and meat inspections, etc.
They did this to drive out competition from smaller firms, for whom bearing the costs of inspections and oversight is far higher. Plus smaller firms were more efficient and trusted than the larger firms. Hence ‘Gov’t approved meat’.
I won’t argue with you about that, except to point out the economies of scale. I, personally, do a lot of shopping at farmers’ markets from when they open in April until they close at the end of October. Luckily, many of the grocery stores where I live have local produce, dairy and meat sections so it is possible to have some idea at least where one’s food is coming from. Also helps to eat what is in season.
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