COOL: While Feds Fail, Montana Did It
Senator Conrad Burns’ office today issued a press release explaining the senator’s “disgust� with his own party’s refusal to implement country of origin labeling (COOL), despite overwhelming support of the agriculture community and consumers.
Earlier this year, Montana adopted its own COOL law, sponsored by and carried in the Senate by Senate President Jon Tester. The bill was considered the most important bill of the year by the Montana Cattlemen’s Association.
Senator Jon Tester had the following to say on the inability of Senator Burns and the administration to implement COOL:
“We’ve been waiting for COOL at the federal level for so long that we finally decided to do what we can here at home and pass it at the state level. COOL is a great idea because it gives consumers more information and trust that American consumers would prefer to buy American and Montana beef. I know I do.
“Unfortunately, Senator Burns, after 17 years in the Senate, talks a lot about what his seniority means for this state. It apparently doesn’t mean he has a whole lot of sway over the leaders of his own party, who have abandoned this issue once again.
“If we want to get COOL moving at the federal level, we need real leadership. And we need a U.S. Senator who can get the job done for Montana agriculture producers and consumers. COOL was a priority for me in Montana. It will be a priority for me in Washington.�
BACKGROUND
SENATOR BURNS DISGUSTED WITH INABILITY TO GET COOL ADOPTED: “ ‘I’m furious,’ said Burns. ‘Congress passed a law and this President signed it in 2002.’� [Senator Conrad Burns, “Burns ‘Disgusted’ With Anti-Cool Tactics,� 10/27/05]
SENATOR BURNS ACCUSES OWN PARTY OF BEING BEHOLDEN TO SPECIAL INTERESTS: “Now there are a few hand-wringers in Congress who are bowing to special interests and using backhanded maneuvers to block mandatory COOL.� [Senator Conrad Burns, “Burns ‘Disgusted’ With Anti-Cool Tactics,� 10/27/05]
MONTANA RANCHERS THANK SENATOR TESTER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON COOL: “Montana Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank both of you for your outstanding work in passing Montana COOL. […] To our MCA membership you are heroes!!!â€? [Dennis McDonald, Letter to Senator Tester and Representative Bergren, 4/14/05]
Posted on Friday, October 28th, 2005 at 10:46 am.
