This message was originally sent out by Teresa Opheim of the Midwest Sustainable Ag Working Group (MSAWG).  It refers to the packer ownership ban that Debbie Neustadt mentioned in her email on 2/11/02.  It might be a good idea to call/email Senators Harkin and Grassley and thank them for voting the right way.

In a 53 to 46 vote, the Senate has refused to kill proposed restrictions on processors' control of cattle, hog, and sheep supplies. So the Johnson-Grassley Packer Ownership Ban stands! Your senators' votes below.

The ban would keep packing companies from owning or having control of cattle, hogs, or sheep within two weeks of their slaughter. Packer restrictions are expected to be a major issue when House and Senate negotiators write the final version of the Farm Bill. The House version of the bill does not contain the packer measure.

MOTION TO TABLE (KILL) THE GRASSLEY AMENDMENT (Note: The nos are votes FOR the packer ownership ban):

ILLINOIS
Durbin-no
Fitzgerald-yes

INDIANA
Bayh-yes
Lugar-yes

IOWA
Grassley-no
Harkin-no

KANSAS
Roberts-yes
Brownback-yes

MICHIGAN
Levin-no
Stabenow-no

MINNESOTA
Wellstone-no
Dayton-no

MISSOURI
Bond-yes
Carnahan-no

NEBRASKA
Hagel-no
Nelson-no

NORTH DAKOTA
Dorgan-no
Conrad-no

OHIO
DeWine-yes
Voinovich-yes

SOUTH DAKOTA
Daschle-no
Johnson-no

WISCONSIN
Feingold-no
Kohl-no

Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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