Roberts to Finally Unveil GMO Food Labeling Bill

Focus will be on Stabenow, other Dems who have fought efforts in the past

Sometimes you just have to make a decision and introduce a bill to find your proponents and opponents, and whether your opponents will push hard against you. Such is the case in the Senate with a much-delayed and controversial GMO food labeling bill.

Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) is finally about to reveal his measure. Roberts in the past has not only had to worry about getting panel Democrats on board some legislative initiatives (COOL repeal for meats, etc.), but also some populist Republicans on the Ag Committee.

It is the Democratic members this time that Roberts must convince relative to, among other things, preempting Vermont’s strict GMO food labeling law that goes into effect July 1. To meet the mandates in the Vermont law, the food industry says Congress has from six to eight weeks to deal with the matter. The timeline is due to distribution channels and other factors.

So how will Roberts deal with the state issue? His language would preempt Vermont from carrying out its law. One of the issues is states’ rights versus interstate commerce. Other details are subject to change but sources say the coming bill will include ways for consumers to find out more about the food they may purchase, via the Internet and other approaches. Those have not satisfied food activists, who keep insisting on an actual label on the food products relative to GMO. That was the hang up in the two meetings running about eight hours that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack had with all sides of the issue in an attempt to seek a consensus. That effort failed, no matter whether or not some said differences were narrowed.

Bottom line: After Roberts’ bill is introduced, watch what panel ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has to say about it, and whether or not she will actively lobby against it. Also, watch Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), known in Washington has a usual consensus builder, and a potential vice presidential running mate should Hillary Clinton be the Democratic presidential nominee.

“