Pressure Builds on Bush Administration over Pork Checkoff Decision; Congressional Leaders Tell USDA: 'Honor the vote, end the checkoff.'

Contact: Paul Sobocinski, hog farmer, LSP, 507-729-9498
Mark Schultz, LSP, 612-722-6377
Martin King, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, 217-498-9707
Erick Davidson, Iowa CCI, 515-282-0484
Rhonda Perry, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, 573-449-1336

6/14/01
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill on June 13 that would restrict USDA from using any appropriated funds for the purpose of maintaining or implementing the mandatory pork checkoff. Authored by U. S. Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the amendment now goes to the House floor.

In a letter to House colleagues about the amendment, Representative Kaptur stated, "No matter what you call the checkoff —a fee, an assessment, or a tax—it was mandatory, hog farmers had no choice but to pay it, and they voted in a democratic election conducted by the U.S. government to get rid of it. Everybody knew the stakes: the future of the checkoff program."

The Appropriations Committee action follows on the heels of a front-page New York Times story reporting on sharp and increasing criticism of the Bush Administration and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman from hog farmers. Farmer criticism focuses on Veneman's backroom deal with the National Pork Producers Council to keep the pork tax alive and ignore the vote.

Meanwhile, U.S. Representatives Lane Evans of Illinois and James Oberstar of Minnesota have authored a letter to Secretary Veneman calling on her to reverse her decision to overturn a democratic referendum and instead honor the vote and terminate the mandatory pork checkoff program. Other members of Congress are expected to sign onto the letter as criticism of Secretary Veneman's decision continues to mount.

"We are not surprised that there are members of Congress who are willing to stand up for democracy and independent producers," said Minnesota hog farmer Paul Sobocinski, a member of the Land Stewardship Project and a spokesperson for the Campaign for Family Farms. "In fact, in a democracy, we should expect that every member of Congress would. This wasn¹t some poll or survey—it was a vote, and in America, votes count."

"Here's the main thing: Opposition to this anti-democratic action of the Bush Administration‹forcing hog farmers to keep paying the pork tax after we voted it down by a clear majority‹continues to grow"said Iowa hog farmer Ron Marth, a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and a spokesperson for the Campaign for Family Farms. "They ought to just recognize that Secretary Veneman made a bad mistake, admit they are wrong, and abide by our vote."