Posted on 10/09/2014 5:27:45 PM PDT by ObamahatesPACoal
Congressman Steve King released the following statement in response to the California Egg Law lawsuit being rejected. This lawsuit was filed by the state of Missouri, along with five others, to eliminate a California law that prohibits the sale of eggs laid by hens held in cages they deem “too small.” Mr. King’s Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA), which the California lawsuit originates from, was attached to the House Farm Bill during markup in the House Agriculture Committee last year but was ultimately not accepted with the final Farm Bill Act of 2014. This act would prohibit any state from enacting laws that place restrictions on the means of production for agricultural goods that are sold within the state but are produced in other states.
"It is not surprising that the egg lawsuit was rejected by the 9th Circuit on a technicality. California's law regulating egg producers in other states is unconstitutional and anti-consumer,” said King. “It is trade protectionism for California egg producers who are handicapped by a foolish California policy that would regulate them out of business without protection from competition from Iowa and other states.
Now we renew our efforts at additional litigation and legislation. If we fall short of fixing this problem, the result will be trade retaliation from other state legislatures. It's hard to push for free trade with foreign countries when we have to admit that we can't, at least for now, maintain free trade between the states.
(Excerpt) Read more at steveking.house.gov ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/10/07/chickens-come-before-eggs-in-california-case/
Steve Forbes coined a phrase, “Food Luddites” to describe those who are against GMO foods.
This, of course, is different, it’s about the bird, but the end result is the same, higher prices, less selection, less freedom.
California has a whole bunch of laws that interfere with interstate commerce. Horse meat is illegal, for one. I know not many eat it but it is legal in other states. California also banned Fois Gras (goose liver). Said it is cruel to the geese. Not to mention the asinine and burdensome firearm laws, automotive laws - heck we even have laws banning certain types of hair products!
California is a huge agricultural state, so it wouldn’t surprise me if some of this isn’t good old fashioned protectionism at play. It probably should be illegal.
Already decided with California’s stricter auto emission standards.
Technically its called customs and the Federal Constitution’s Commerce clause does permit such a thing. The only thing Califorina can’t do is
A: prohibit the transfer of Good across California to other states.
or B: Levy a Tax upon such imports with money going to the State rather than Federal Tresurty, Such a duty is perfectly acceptable as long as California sees none of the revenue.
In theory were California’s own Constitution permissive of the measure, Californian could prohibit the sale of any Good inside the State of California regardless of where it came from.
It is only protectionism if Californians are at liberty to produce and sell the same good or Service within California.
As it is California producers are at denied this market access everywhere both at home in California and around the US and world. Leaving them at a huge disadvantage as the non-California market is incapability far bigger than the California Market.
Insolently this democrat and the lawless 9th circuit have gotten the Constitution dead wrong once again. Clearly their trying to force the politics of the issue into Washington’s court, while ignoring the very obvious contradiction that States are and always have been at liberty to ban any other Good or service from their local markets.
But i suppose it wouldn’t be the Federal employees in black robes we have all come to know if the written law were to have anything to do with their normally ideological and corrupt edits.
Aldi’s grocery stores have had several scandals about beef casserole and frozen dinners with “beef” actually being horse.
But you’re right, most people don’t knowingly go out and buy horse meat.
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