--- begin forwarded text
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2001 02:10:55 EST
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Glickman Needs To Hear From You TODAY!!!!
US Hog farmers raised the necessary amount of signatures to challange the
manditory checkoff tax that goes to support The National Pork Producers
Council and National Pork Board. These two organizations push the interests
of the large factory hog farms. Secetary of Ag. Dan Glickman refuses to
announce the results of that vote. He needs to hear from you today!
1. Call Secretary Glickman TODAY at 202-720-3631 and tell him that he needs
to:
A) Announce the pork checkoff referendum results immediately.
B) Honor the hog producers' vote, and begin terminating the pork
checkoff
tax.
2. Call your U.S. Senators and Representative TODAY. Urge them to call
Secretary Glickman and tell him he's got to announce the vote results
immediately and abide by the producers' vote.
(You can get your U.S. Senators' and Representative's phone numbers by
calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121)
Tom Taylor
Organic Consumers Association
612.331.7309
[log in to unmask]
www.purefood.org
from the Campaign for Family Farms
Glickman Refuses to Announce Referendum Results: Immediate Action required
January 4, 2001
Hog farmers with the Campaign for Family Farms learned today that Secretary
of Agriculture Dan Glickman is refusing to announce the results of the pork
checkoff referendum at this time, even though USDA has known the results of
the vote since Christmas. On December 20, the USDA committed to announce
the results of the pork checkoff referendum during the first week of January
and reconfirmed that commitment as recently as January 3.
"We want Glickman to announce the results today, and to abide by the
producers' vote. If farmers voted to end the checkoff, Glickman should begin
termination procedures now as provided in the rules," says Jim Joens, a
Minnesota hog farmer and member of the Land Stewardship Project, speaking on
behalf of the Campaign for Family Farms.
The Campaign for Family Farms led the petition drive in which 19,000 hog
producers called for a vote to end the mandatory pork checkoff. The checkoff
voting ended on September 21, in which approximately 30,000 producers
participated. The ballots were counted on November 29th. According to the
published rules of the referendum, the mandatory checkoff will be terminated
if a majority of hog farmers voting, voted to end the pork checkoff.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is trying to block the
announcement of the vote results, and apparently the termination of the pork
checkoff tax, by calling for a government investigation.
"There is absolutely no reason to delay the announcement of this vote. Hog
farmers exercised their democratic right to have this vote to end the
mandatory pork checkoff. The USDA and NPPC should stop trying to stand in
the way of that," said Joens.
It has been 14 weeks since hog farmers finished voting in the referendum.
In that time, they have paid approximately $14 million to the NPPC and the
National Pork Board through the pork tax.
"Based on the overwhelming number of hog farmers who contacted us during the
voting period, we are confident that hog farmers have voted down the
mandatory pork checkoff. Why these delays? Secretary Glickman needs to
announce the results and honor the mandate of America's hog farmers. No
more delays and no backroom deals. Announce the results now," said
Minnesota hog farmer Paul Sobocinski, an organizer with the Land Stewardship
Project and the Campaign for Family Farms.
WE WON'T LET THE USDA AND THE NPPC STEAL OUR VICTORY!
WE NEED CALLS - RIGHT NOW!
1. Call Secretary Glickman TODAY at 202-720-3631 and tell him that he needs
to:
A) Announce the pork checkoff referendum results immediately.
B) Honor the hog producers' vote, and begin terminating the pork
checkoff
tax.
2. Call your U.S. Senators and Representative TODAY. Urge them to call
Secretary Glickman and tell him he's got to announce the vote results
immediately and abide by the producers' vote.
(You can get your U.S. Senators' and Representative's phone numbers by
calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121)
For more information, call the Campaign for Family Farms at:
Land Stewardship Project, 612-722-6377
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, 515-282-0484
Missouri Rural Crisis Center, 573-449-1336
Illinois Stewardship Alliance, 217-498-9707
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rex L. Bavousett
Photographer
University of Iowa
University Communications & Outreach - Publications
100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242
http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
voice: 319 384-0053
fax: 319 384-0055
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